Suggestions for Sirius Installation

[ZoomVT]

Hey guys, let me start by saying i know there are better ways of getting sirius radio in the car, but this was unplanned.

Anyway, i got a Plug n Play Sirius Radio receiver for Christmas. I had not thought about getting sat radio, but i said cool! and went to put it in the car.

I need some suggestions on how/where to install it. I am not happy with how it is right now and want to hear if you guys have done something different.

I installed the antenna on the roof, about 3 inches from the edge of the rear window, closer to the passenger side. The wire is a PITA to deal with but i managed to get it in the space between the weatherstrip and the window. It wont sit there tightly by itself, so i routed it all the way to the trunk; once i got around the window, i tightened the wire so it was sitting flush around the window, and used a small piece of tape to secure it.
I routed the wire through the trunk, under the trunk carpet, around the side, and continue that way under the side sills all the way to the front.

The wires comes up to the front around right side of the passenger side, right under the plastic trim. that is until it gets close to the windshield. Thats where im at a loss where to hide the damn wire. There is a space between the dash and the windshield, but the damn wire wont stay in there.

My 2nd problem is where to put the mount. I put it on the windshield, and i am not sold on the location. it is kinda bulky, and i put as low as i could and it doesnt take much visibility out, but i am not satisfied.

Even if i were happy with it, then i run into the problem of power. The cig lighter is used for my radar. Disconnecting my radar is not an option. yes i could get a 2-to-1 adapter and plug both radar and sirius there. i just think is bulky and sh*tty. The other option is to run the sirius power from the 12v adapter in the dash. I currently use that 12v for multiple applications such as charging my cell, ipod, BT headset. I could plug the sirius there as well as i have a 4-1 adapter. The problem is the wire would be coming down across the e-brake, shifter, up over the climate controls, etc. It just looks terrible.

Finally, even if i managed to get it installed neatly, i like the place is mounted, and i can hide all the wires. I still dont know what to do with the remote control. I know it can be just kicking around the cup holders, etc. I dont like it. I was thinking of finding a spot to velcro it to, so i could grab it while driving and just put it back when its not in use. I want a place that is not further than an arms length for the driver.


Anyway, thank you for taking the time to read my nonsense. Any, and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

 

[derrick1623]

ok, let's see... for power, i tapped into the cig lighter, but in the back...behind it, the wires going into the lighter. the antenna wire can be ran behind the glovebox, and dash trim, and i keep my remote next to my shifter.(drive2)

 

[icspots]

First off post some pictures of where you have it mounted. "On the windshield" leaves a lot to be imagined. Is the spot you're trying to get the wire hidden next to the windshield between the black part of the dash and the gray A-pillar cover? To address your power problem here's my suggestion. Get a cheap two in one cigarette lighter adapter that's connected by wires (I know I know, just wait and see the idea), Walmart has them for about $6. Next remove the cupholders, gear shift surround and the ashtray section. run the power wire from your sat. radio unit into the dash (again where is it?) and down to behind the ashtray. Next take one of the female DC ports from the adapter you bought and cut off the wire (leaving about 4" to work with). Take two wire taps and connect them to the hot/ground wires of the cigarette lighter behind the panel. Then just plug the power cord from your satellite radio into the newly wire-tapped DC outlet and not only do you have power, but you can still use the power port from the front.

how's that sound?

 

[ZoomVT]

thanks for replying guys. let me answer:

derrick. I follow you. That is an idea i have for power. Even though this car is a lease. i dont think they will ever look in there...
As far as the antenna wire. Do you mean pull out the glovebox??? you say behind the dash trim. If i understand correctly you are talking about the trim piece that you have to take out to remove the head unit? I think i understand but i am not sure.
Where does the wire come out to hook into the sirius head unit? My preferred setup would be to somehow get the wire into the glove box, and from there get it into the air ducts so the cable would come out of the air duct on top of the dash near the windshield. I think that would be the cleanest install. Just not sure i could get it in there.


icspots. Sorry for the generic idea. It is just that it doesnt matter where it is on the windshield. it presents the same problem. Yes and no. SInce the antenna wire is coming from the ground, i was able to bring it to the top of the dash. the wire fits snug between the base of the a-pillar and the dash; it is once you go past the a-pillar you have a gap between the windshield and the dash. Makes more sense?
My plan was to hide the wire there and then it will show up around the middle of the dashboard where the sirius head unit is mounted right now though it may not stay there.
As far as power, i agree with your idea. See my reply above.

As i said before. i thank you guys for replying.



One thing i forgot to ask. The sirius head unit has a line output. My car has line in jack. The line in jack is in the center armrest. I do use the line in for my ipod sometimes. What do you guys think?
Best case scenario would be for me to find a way to run the line out behind the radio and climate controls, under the shift box and cup holders, into the center armrest. At that point i would like to have a 2-1 line in converter (is there such a thing?) so i could switch between my ipod or sirius if i wanted to. This is not a huge deal if i have to use the FM Transmitter. but it would be great if it could be fixed.

 

[derrick1623]

the line output option works, but the sound seems deadened. here:

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123689056

 

[ZoomVT]

hey man. i did come across that thread before. I think it looks fine; but it wouldnt work for me. First, the GF assumes all radio control when she is in the car. and i do have some people riding with me quite often; so i would like it installed on the dash, right above the radio; as low as possible on the windshield. Running it through the headliner is a great idea; but it wont work for me here cause i would see the wire running down to the dash.

Is there any way, to get into the air ducts coming from the passenger footwell? if thats the case then i would actually like to do that; with the wire coming out of the air vent right by the windshield. As far as power. i could do the same thing; tap into the power and run the wires the same way.

 

[icspots]

ZoomVT, don't worry about removing the glove compt, it's really easy. Once you have the dash strip off then just remove two more screws and pull the entire thing down and back.... it is just held on by tension clips after the screws are out.

As to the ant. wire between the a-post and the center of the dash there are a few things you can do. One you could pop off the panel above the center A/C vents and run the wire up under that and have it come out the front (right by the windshield) and go to the unit. Two you could put a couple very small dabs of silicone to hold the wire down between the front of the dash and the bottom of the windshield. If you place it correctly it will never be seen due to the black silk screen around the edge of the glass. Three you could run the wire above the headliner and mount the sirius controller above the rearview mirror.

Oh, another option for mounting would be to get one of the mounts from www.proclipusa.com. They make two for the 3, neither of which require drilling holes. One clips to the frame of the left center vent, and will block the vent. The other mounts between the HVAC controls and the right side of the center console and has a slight tilt towards the driver, but not enough to keep a passenger from using the controls. Either way you can easily run wires to and from it.

For the auxiliary input (ACI) in the console you can most certainly use it. One thing you should know is if you are charging whatever you're playing (which you will be) you'll need a ground loop isolator to avoid alternator whine. Crutchfield.com sells a 3.5-3.5mm one for about $17. To run the wire to the ACI try this. Open the center console, set the ebrake, grab the front edge of the compt. and pull upwards. This will release the tension clips holding in the cupholder section and the entire thing will come off (the gear shift surround might come up too, but they can be separated from each other). You can run the audio cable up over the edge of the console and then put the cupholder section back in place. It'll be tight the first few times, but I know it can be done without damage to the cable. Then the cable will come into the center console compt. but there won't be any visible cables running to it.

 

[ZoomVT]

icspots. thats exactly what i was thinking.
I didnt know it was that easy to remove the glove box. Do you think i will be able to get behind it coming from underneath? If so, then there must be air vent access there; so i could run the wire that way and it will come out through the air vent right by the bottom of the windshield.

I am taking a look at the proclip. i may not need it but its good to know.

As far as power. i was leaning on taking power from the cig lighter by clamping onto the wires from behind. that way i can still use the cig lighter for my radar.

I only thought about running a cable from the line out of the sirius unit into the line in in the console. Is the line out sound better than the FM? i would expect so.
My only issue is that my ipod is using the aux in; so i would have to have some kind of splitter to have both and then choose from one or the other. it may be just too much.

Thanks for the replies.
much appreciated.

 

[derrick1623]

sirius does sell a wired fm connection, it eliminates all static picked up by the wireless signal, but it's an extra wire to run (totalling 3)

 

[ZoomVT]

well if i can hide the wire through the air vent; behind the climate controls; under the shiftknob and cupholders into the center armrrest, then no problem.
i'll look into it later.

im gonna try to hide those wires this weekend (if i dont get lazy).
thanks for the help!

 

[icspots]

I imagine that it is possible to run through the air vents, but why would you want to when there are easily removable panels that you can run the wire under?

The line out signal will be much better than the FM transmitter... it will also be better than the FM modulator that derrick mentioned. If you're not using the transmitter though you'll have three wires to run in any case.

For the splitter..... well you could put in a splitter.... or you could just open the armrest, unplug the sirius and then plug in the ipod. Or you could replace the whole thing with an ipod integration module (let's say the new DICE module for conversation). You control the ipod through the stereo, and plug the sirius into the auxiliary 3.5mm port on the DICE module (since the ACI would be disabled). Then you change between ipod and sirius by using the..... I think "6" button on the stereo while in ipod mode. Granted that's a more expensive route.