Install Manual Page 6

Install Manual Page 7

Install Manual Page 8

Old CD Player Unit Top

Old CD Player Unit Bottom

Old Panel

the CD Player module is identical to the MP3 Player module. The only difference is the internals. You don't need to buy the Panel. The only difference is that the new one say's "MP3" on the left hand corner. Thing is they packaged the instruction manual /w the panel but since I just posted it, you can save yourself the $20. Hope this helps.

Thanks!
 

Thanks, man. I certainly won't be spending the extra bucks to get an MP3 logo. Do the operating instructions come with the deck or the panel?

Thank you so much Superfan, that is very helpful!

thank you Superfan, much appreciated!

like i said in another thread, i've went ahead and purchased just the MP3 player from Trussville at a total of $261.00 including shipping...you will need to call them as ordering from the website only allows you to purchase the entire set consisting of the module and trim plate which does indeed cost around $20

Operation manual comes with the panel/trim piece. I looked at the invoice I have from trussville and the trim piece is $15.60. You can skip the manual as the operation is intuitive. I'll see if I scan a few of the pages were the basic operation is described.

Thank you SO much Superfan! If Trussville is only charging $15 for the trim plate, I may go ahead and order the whole kit anyway, just so I'll have the printed user's manual. I thought I read somewhere that the trim plate cost a lot more than that (something like $60!)

Thanks Superfan. You rock! This is really helpful stuff.

Not smooth sailing
 

I installed my MP3 player tonight, and I had a bugger of a time.

My first problem was that even after removing the lower panel below the steering column, I still couldn't see the damned silver bolt anywhere. After about an hour of groping, peering, and twisting into all manner of unnatural positions, I eventually removed the metal panel that was revealed when I removed the lower panel, and lo, there it was! It was gold rather than silver, but it was unmistakable once I laid eyes on it. I'll attach a picture below.

The second problem I had was getting the head unit out far enough to get a hand behind it to unfasten the connectors. After disconnecting the two heater control connectors I was able to pull it out a little further, but still nowhere near far enough. After much cursing and gentle tugging, I was eventually able to shine a flashlight in behind, to discover that the wiring loom and antenna cable were both tied back to the main loom with blue tape, which was greatly reducing the available slack. After a bit more tugging and jiggling, I was able to get a kitchen knife back there and sever the tape, which finally allowed me enough slack to gain access to the plugs and disconnect them. Talk about a PITA! Perhaps not all cars have the looms tied back that way - I can't believe anyone could have gotten a hand back there with the minuscule amount of slack that mine had.

Anyway, once I'd overcome those two major obstacles, the rest was an absolute doddle, and I'm now mp3-enabled. :D

Re: Not smooth sailing
 

Oops, here ya go:

Thanks guys for all the instructions and tips. Now that you have the MP3 in operation, does it show ID3 tags? If it's not too much to ask, can you guys post pics of the MP3 in operation? TIA.

It's supposed to
 

Other folks report that it supports both ID3 and CD-Text, however mine says NO TITLE for every track, both on MP3 data disks and audio disks burned with CD-Text. I'm still tryng to ascertain whether I'm missing something or if I have a dud unit.

Option switch
 

Another thing I just thought of: before I installed the unit, I noticed a small slider switch labeled (unhelpfully) "1 2". It was set to "1", and I could find no mention of it in the installation instructions so I left it alone.

Can anyone who has their MP3 player but has not yet installed it, or has installed it but remembers what this switch was set to, let me know?

I think I see a reinstallation in my future. :( At least it won't take me so long next time.

Thanks to everyone for posting all this information on how to install the MP3 player. My install was essentially a snap. It took about an hour and a half, but I was taking my time not to scratch up too much. My biggest hangup was trying to get the clips released on the connectors. They're in an awkward position, and hard to press in. But once they came off, the rest of the install was a breeze.

eccles, I looked at the switch on the underside and it was set to 1. It would have been helpful if there was a sticker or an engraving as to what it was for. Nor did I see any description for it in the manual. So I left it alone. But my player picks up ID tags like a champ. Have you tried pressing the DISP button multiple times? I noticed that if it doesn't pick up a CD title, it'll say NO TEXT and stay on that for a couple of seconds. But press through that and song titles will come up.

Well, I pulled my unit apart again this evening, and tried it with the switch on 2. With it in that setting, the drive becomes even dumber - it behaves like a single-disk CD player with several hundred tracks numbered from 1 to n - it doesn't group them into "virtual disks" by directory, nor does it even attempt to display any information except track number and playing time - the DISP button does absolutely nothing, just as it did with the single-disk CD drive.

So I put the little switch back to 1 and reassembled it all again. Of course, it still resolutely displays NO TITLE. Pressing DISP rotates between CD#/Track#/Time - NO TITLE - NO TITLE - NO TITLE - CD#/Track#/Time, ad nauseum.

Okay, here is the lowdown on ID3 tags. I've just installed my mp3 unit (2 hours!!) and have played with discs bearing ID3v2 tags AND discs bearing ID3v1 tags. The v2-tagged discs displayed NO TITLE every time. The v1-tagged discs displayed titles, artists, and albums (after pressing the Display button). To summarize:

ID3: V1 ONLY!
Press DISPLAY to cycle through ID3 fields.

P.S. F&^@#*&in connectors!!!:mad: :mad:

Well, I pulled the ID3v2 tags out of a test set of MP3's (Media Center allows selective removal of v1 and/or v2 tags), and blew them to another CD, but still NO TITLE everywhere. Every piece of software I have tells me that the ID3v1 tags are present and valid, yet still nothing.

In an effort to isolate whether it's my software or the player hardware, I've blown an ISO image of this latest dud disk. If anyone is feeling charitable enough to download it, blow it to a disk, and let me know if your MP3 player can read the titles, please PM me and I'll send you the link.

Thanks, folks.

My Installation Notes
 

Wow, it took me an hour and a half to remove the audio unit, and 15 minutes to install it. My worst foe was the BIG main audio connector. Even after ripping the blue tape holding it with the other wiring, I still only a 1/4" gap (or less) between the top of that plastic tray and the bottom of the unit. Here is one thing that may help the next installer - look at the picture someone posted showing the rear of the audio unit removed. Note there are some heatsink channels on the underside one larger roud one, and a narrow one next to it. Note the proximity and angle from the groove to the connector clip. Insert your small screwdriver into that groove, try to match that angle, and push up and out. Keep trying, you WILL get it.

Also, when removing the red screws to switch the players, be sure to apply a LOT of pressure to keep the screwdriver in the slots. The screw heads strip very easily. If you opt to use a socket instead, you must still be careful, as the sides round off easily, as well.

After all is said and done - it is a great unit, and I'm glad I did it myself.

can someone please help me...i could NOT, for the life of me, get this bolt out...it's just so far in there...how did you guys get this bolt out??

http://www.rx8forum.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=86979

You just need to get an extender for your rachet set. Also, I noticed that mine was not screwed on too tight. Once a got half a turn in, I was able to unscrew with my hand. Also, take note of the hint to push from the back when you are pulling out the console. Much easier if you do it that way.

Thanks Superfan and eccles for the pics and the synopsis, it made the process a snap for me to install.