How To: iPod integration w/ Text

[wannabe]

I recently purchased and installed an Axxess iPod integration kit. This kit is made by Metra, but for some reason is hard to find. The place I purchased from was very slow, so I will not even name the site...

Difficulty = 3
Tools = screw driver, 10mm ratchet with at least a 3-6in extension, recommended: zipties
Cost = $150 shipped
“O” Factor = 8 iPod w/ Text y0!

Heres what you get when you order the kit, with the iPod adapter (there are a few options, iPod, xm, aux, or any combination)

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z257/jdolluc/Axxess%20iPod%20kit/P8280036.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z257/jdolluc/Axxess%20iPod%20kit/P8280037.jpg
(beer) beer is much needed, as it was hot as hell out there....


If you have removed your console before, this is straight forward. Otherwise, read on.

Alright, first step, remove the cup holders and shifter surround. There are no screws, just clips, so just pull up on both to remove them. On the back of the ashtray are two plugs. The one attached to the cigarette lighter just needs to be squeezed like most other automotive plugs, but the light simply would not come apart for me, so I unscrewed it from the back of the ashtray.
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z257/jdolluc/Axxess%20iPod%20kit/P8280038.jpg

PUT THE SHIFTER KNOB BACK ON to avoid scratching the delicate surround.

Next, remove the glovebox. Open it, and on the right hand side you will see a string. Remove it by pulling down on it (under the clip)
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z257/jdolluc/Axxess%20iPod%20kit/P8280039.jpg

Behind the glovebox, you will see a single 10mm bolt attached to the radio. It will be behind the radio/below the lcd. Remove it.
On the bottom of the center console are 4 screws attached to the bottom of the radio surround. Remove all four (not sure if all four are required, but it worked for me)

Once all the screws are out, give the radio surround a yank, and it should pull straight forward.
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z257/jdolluc/Axxess%20iPod%20kit/P8280040.jpg

On the back, you will find a plethora of connectors. One of these is clipped to a piece of metal. Using pliers, squeeze the plastic tab sticking through the metal, and it will come right apart. Disconnect all the others and remove the radio from the car.

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z257/jdolluc/Axxess%20iPod%20kit/P8280041.jpg

Flip the radio over, and you will see an unused plug under the CD player. This is where the circuit board goes.
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z257/jdolluc/Axxess%20iPod%20kit/P8280042.jpg
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z257/jdolluc/Axxess%20iPod%20kit/P8280043.jpg
I personally did not feel this was secure enough, even with the strap of metal they give you to secure it in place, so I ziptied it to the radio.

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z257/jdolluc/Axxess%20iPod%20kit/P8280044.jpg

Then attached the strap.
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z257/jdolluc/Axxess%20iPod%20kit/P8280045.jpg

Next attach the wire the came with the unit to the board and the Axxess box.

I next tried to figure out where I wanted the iPod to live. We basically have two options. The armrest, or the map pocket. I decided to go with the map pocket. To remove it, simply remove the two screws under the LCD and pull forward. I then cut a hole in the bottom with my pocket knife to the size of the plug, then slipped the plug through.
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z257/jdolluc/Axxess%20iPod%20kit/P8280046.jpg

Now, you reassemble everything, remember to plug in all the connectors, especially the connector coming from the map pocket for your iPod.

turn the car on and see if it works
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z257/jdolluc/Axxess%20iPod%20kit/P8280047.jpg
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z257/jdolluc/Axxess%20iPod%20kit/P8280048.jpg
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z257/jdolluc/Axxess%20iPod%20kit/P8280049.jpg
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z257/jdolluc/Axxess%20iPod%20kit/P8280050.jpg


impressions:
works well so far :D
I have heard that the unit can overheat, so I will watch for that and report back if it does..Otherwise, I've got to figure out how to switch playlists and stuff, but it seems to be working well :D

[wannabe]

here are the part numbers you need:
Axxess control unit: XIA-I01
Mazda Specific adapter: XIAH-MZ1

Pick 1-3 of the following:
iPod cable: XIAH-IPC
XM cable: XIAH-XMC
RCA(aux) cable: XIAH-RCA

[kalte]

Nice. Thanks !!!

I plan to get one myself soon. Found it here (http://www.therpmstore.com/product_info.php?cPath=91&products_id=672)

Looks similar to yours...i think..hehe

Edit: wanabe, where did you put the axxess box ?

[wannabe]

Nice. Thanks !!!

I plan to get one myself soon. Found it here (http://www.therpmstore.com/product_info.php?cPath=91&products_id=672)

Looks similar to yours...i think..hehe

Edit: wanabe, where did you put the axxess box ?

very cool. I did not know that therpmstore carried these. i would have bought from them, had i known this..

i put the box behind the climate controls, basically under the radio.

[tlonon]

can you control your music from the iPod? or do you have to control it from your stereo?

[CX-7owner]

can you control your music from the iPod? or do you have to control it from your stereo?

When it's plugged in, no, but if you we're to unplug it and select a song it would pick up from where you left off before you plugged it in, unlike the Mazda unit which picks up where the car left off, and that's rather annoying, I had both and I give this AXXESS unit two thumbs up, and the Mazda unit 4 down.

[tlonon]

yeah
I made the mistake of getting the mazda one...

[tlonon]

I thought they would put in the auxillary jack like they do in the 3's, but the put in the integration thing instead

[tlonon]

they*

[kurfgator]

I have this same unit. Love it. Nice write-up.

[JumpingJackson]

Does this work with the iPhone?

[wannabe]

can you control your music from the iPod? or do you have to control it from your stereo?

you have to control it from the radio, unless you unplug it, change it, and plug it back in.

[wannabe]

When it's plugged in, no, but if you we're to unplug it and select a song it would pick up from where you left off before you plugged it in, unlike the Mazda unit which picks up where the car left off, and that's rather annoying, I had both and I give this AXXESS unit two thumbs up, and the Mazda unit 4 down.

(werd)

[wannabe]

yeah
I made the mistake of getting the mazda one...

I thought they would put in the auxillary jack like they do in the 3's, but the put in the integration thing instead

really? i've heard nothing but bad about the mazda unit.

I have this same unit. Love it. Nice write-up.

thanks!

[wannabe]

Does this work with the iPhone?

i have no idea. does it use the same type of connection as the iPod? if not, then it would work, but without the text. you would need the 1/4 jack instead of the iPod connector.

[PerformanceRacing]

At $175, not too bad. I can get it for about $150 as well as I am direct with Metra, I'll think about it. I have the one from eBay,works great. I can select songs via stereo, steering wheel, or iPod. Only downside is there is no text,but I can also switch playlists through the radio.

[wannabe]

At $175, not too bad. I can get it for about $150 as well as I am direct with Metra, I'll think about it. I have the one from eBay,works great. I can select songs via stereo, steering wheel, or iPod. Only downside is there is no text,but I can also switch playlists through the radio.


http://www.therpmstore.com/product_info.php?cPath=91&products_id=672

only $145 through RPM.

[KCDirtFan]

I just got my 6 2 weeks ago, and installed my axxess unit tonight. Took a couple of hours, but was simple overall. The write up helped....THANKS!

So far so good, but I don't get any text, maybe b/c I have the iPod Nano instead of the "normal" iPod?

[wannabe]

I just got my 6 2 weeks ago, and installed my axxess unit tonight. Took a couple of hours, but was simple overall. The write up helped....THANKS!

So far so good, but I don't get any text, maybe b/c I have the iPod Nano instead of the "normal" iPod?

really? did you get the iPod connector version? or the regular audio jack?

[KCDirtFan]

it is the ipod connector version. Having some issue today w/ recognition. seems I have to have the ipod unhooked when turning on the ignition for the system to recognize the aux/media.

Maybe just b/c I'm a cheapskate and bought a 6i.......

[CX-7owner]

Make sure it is securely connected, if it isn't it won't work properly, you could have a faulty unit too.

[Typhoidrummage]

I installed this unit today and it went in pretty smooth (completely different experience from installing a similar product in my wife's Honda Pilot). 2hrs. and 2.5 beers but I was taking my time. I routed mine to the bottom portion of the center console. Lots of features with this one, I'm really happy with it.
Thanks for the write up!
p.s. Be sure and have a fresh beer open when you get to the "plethora of connectors" part, you'll need it. This was the only PITA part of the install.

[wannabe]

I installed this unit today and it went in pretty smooth (completely different experience from installing a similar product in my wife's Honda Pilot). 2hrs. and 2.5 beers but I was taking my time. I routed mine to the bottom portion of the center console. Lots of features with this one, I'm really happy with it.
Thanks for the write up!
p.s. Be sure and have a fresh beer open when you get to the "plethora of connectors" part, you'll need it. This was the only PITA part of the install.


glad the write-up helped :)
and yes. beer is always a good thing (beer)

[tunersteve]

Does this work if you have Sirius? Thought about getting the Mazda one for a second, starting to seriously rethink that since I've done some research.

[Typhoidrummage]

It does work with Sirius. By all indications on the RPM site (where I bought mine) the Axxcess unit is for XM but they assured me it would work with Sirius and it does! I've been really happy with mine so far.

[tunersteve]

It does work with Sirius. By all indications on the RPM site (where I bought mine) the Axxcess unit is for XM but they assured me it would work with Sirius and it does! I've been really happy with mine so far.

Well I have the factory equipped Sirius. I know with the Mazda iPod adaptor, you have to have the switching box to use both SR and iPod stuff.

[Typhoidrummage]

Nothing like that with the Access unit. Just hook it up, tuck it away and the rest is seamless.

[tlonon]

now that I've figured out the mazda unit it's not too bad, but it's still a pain.
It came with no directions, so I had to figure out how to change playlists, change artists, etc. for a good 4 hours on a saturday.
The main difference between the unit you bought and the unit that I got from mazda is that on the mazda if you unplug the ipod, choose a song, and plug it back in, it doesn't pick up. It goes back to where it was before you unplugged it.

[tlonon]

oh, and there is no text :'(

[wannabe]

Nothing like that with the Access unit. Just hook it up, tuck it away and the rest is seamless.

yup.

now that I've figured out the mazda unit it's not too bad, but it's still a pain.
It came with no directions, so I had to figure out how to change playlists, change artists, etc. for a good 4 hours on a saturday.
The main difference between the unit you bought and the unit that I got from mazda is that on the mazda if you unplug the ipod, choose a song, and plug it back in, it doesn't pick up. It goes back to where it was before you unplugged it.

oh, and there is no text :'(

i'm happy with my purchase still :)

the only problem i have seen is there was one road trip where it stopped working when i unplugged it to change to a specific artist. when i plugged it back in, i just got static. i pulled the unit out from behind the radio, unplugged and replugged the cables, and viola, working again.

[Parad0x01]

Installed this tonight, pretty easy install and it works great. However I have navigation so I had to use the arm rest. And much like the map pocket you have a cut a hole for the wire.

Edit: Anyone else notice improved sound quality and loudness over CD's? Cause I turned my subs on tonight and it was much louder than normal.

[BlackSix]

So I'm considering buying this from the RPM Store, as I've had the car for 2 weeks, and listening to cd's is already driving me crazy. I had a Pioneer Ipod Interface running to a Pioneer headunit in my old car and have loved the set up. I have to have it in my 6.

I've got a 2003 Mazda6i. Reading up on the rpm page about the axxess unit, it says it's not compatible with the vehicles that have Clarion head units. It says you have to pull the head unit out to see what the manufacturer of the unit is on a white sticker on top of theunit. Is there any other way to tell, who is the manufacturer of my head unit with out ripping the dash apart and pulling it out? I'd just rather not have to go through this twice.

Edit.. Hmmm if I read it a little closer(i'm too tired for comprehension apparently) it seems to say only the 2006-2007 "Clarion" units aren't compatible.

Does this mean I'm in the clear if I've got a 2003?

[wannabe]

So I'm considering buying this from the RPM Store, as I've had the car for 2 weeks, and listening to cd's is already driving me crazy. I had a Pioneer Ipod Interface running to a Pioneer headunit in my old car and have loved the set up. I have to have it in my 6.

I've got a 2003 Mazda6i. Reading up on the rpm page about the axxess unit, it says it's not compatible with the vehicles that have Clarion head units. It says you have to pull the head unit out to see what the manufacturer of the unit is on a white sticker on top of theunit. Is there any other way to tell, who is the manufacturer of my head unit with out ripping the dash apart and pulling it out? I'd just rather not have to go through this twice.

Edit.. Hmmm if I read it a little closer(i'm too tired for comprehension apparently) it seems to say only the 2006-2007 "Clarion" units aren't compatible.

Does this mean I'm in the clear if I've got a 2003?

as far as i understand it, you should be fine. you have a media button and what looks to be an expanable bay, right?

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z257/jdolluc/Axxess%20iPod%20kit/P8280041.jpg

[BlackSix]

Actually mine looks like this. It's the button to the farthest right. It reads "Tape/MD" I'm guessing it's very similar. I have no tape deck/satellite radio/disc changer, so right now the button serves no function whatsoever. I'm thinking it will be my "media" button and switch to my ipod if I get it.

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m118/jhall0408/Mazda/P2180803.jpg

The car goes in for a new digital display unit, since this one has a few lights that don't light up correctly. It's covered under my 30 day warranty on the car since I just got it. I plan to have them check to see what kind of cd player unit is in it, while they have it out, so I dont have to go through the trouble of pulling it twice.

[Parad0x01]

Should work. In the little manual that comes with the adapter it actually says Tape/MD not media button.

And I know the pain of pulling it twice...tried to use the glove box as a place to hold the ipod...didnt work out.

[Speed Kid037]

need a little help guys installed mine today it works but it doesn't come up on the text screen what is playing does anybody know whats going on.

[wannabe]

need a little help guys installed mine today it works but it doesn't come up on the text screen what is playing does anybody know whats going on.

is the sound working? try disconnect and reconnect the cables to the axxess box

[Speed Kid037]

yea the sound works find the only thing not working is showing the name of the song on the text screen.

[wannabe]

yea the sound works find the only thing not working is showing the name of the song on the text screen.

(scratch) what shows on the display? i'm assuming you've hit the disp button....does that do anything?

if not, it sounds like you might have a defective unit. i would try to exchange it through whoever you bought it from

[Speed Kid037]

i disconnect and reconnect and now its working thanks for ur help.

[Vicspeed6_AZ]

Just wanted to double check, but this will work .. for an IPOD solution if you already have navigation and the sirius radio hooked up???

[tunersteve]

I think I'll be going with this now. The Mazda switching box isn't designed to have two input signals that are similar to the CD changer or sat, and it doesn't like me when I hook up the NEO kit and the sat radio.

[Vicspeed6_AZ]

I ordered mine a while back, I am just waiting for RPM to get some of the parts back in stock so I can get mine already!

[tunersteve]

I ordered mine a while back, I am just waiting for RPM to get some of the parts back in stock so I can get mine already!

Yeah, i went to the site last night and noticed it was on national back order...boo!

[mazdaspeedster3]

Steve, do you still have that neo? I dont have satellite, will that plug and play for me? Maybe I will buy it off you.

[wannabe]

(doh) backorders suck.

[Street Sleeper]

nice!

i just purchasedd the axxes ipod integration kit from rpm. hopefully its not still on back order or wont be for long. i dont think i would have ordered one if i didnt have detailed instructions like this. thanks!

[tunersteve]

I'm gonna put my NEO and my switch box up for sale soon, then once both are sold I'll order my Axxess kit.

[Street Sleeper]

man, i finally got the kit in the mail today. took awhile as you can see from my post date just above.

[Street Sleeper]

well, successfully installed, but i have no text either. i have the ipod connector cable. it just says MD and the song length and track number. it says to push the 'text' button, and the only text button i can find is the tuner button, when i press it, it just goes to the acl/bass/treble settings...??

connected and disconected multiple times but no luck. the circuit board design fits VERY loosely on the radio, so the zip tie to the radio is a great idea. i just put a wedge between the bracket and board to make it snug-makes it easier to connect and disconnect frequently.

might be faulty unit, so i'll contact axxess or the retailer for troubleshooting. thanks for the hand write -up!

time to install was about 1.5-2 hours.

[wannabe]

heres what to do:

unplug the ipod
change your input to radio
plug the ipod back in
change back to aux

and the "text" button is the button directly above the bass/treble/etc button. its not labeled text.

[Vicspeed6_AZ]

Woo Woo mine is scheduled to arrive tomorrow .. I can't wait!

[Street Sleeper]

got it working.

basically, i was pressing the tune button, which says text. the button above that says 'display' gets the text to show up. then use the tune button to scroll thru the titles.

the axxess instructions are a bit vague and confusing, implying that the tune button is the text button (since 'text' is next to the tune button, not the above display button). the display take as few seconds to show up, and after you switch songs, it goes back to MD, but wait like 3 seconds and it goes back to the text.

kind of obvious after the fact, but this info might help if anyone else is confused.

werd. audio quality sounds fantastic! AND it charges the ipod. woohoo

[Vicspeed6_AZ]

Awesome, where did you put your ipod??

[tunersteve]

Awesome, where did you put your ipod??

Good question. I'm thinking of running the wire up through the cup holder section. Any other suggestions/pics?

[Street Sleeper]

i put the ipod in the map (lcd compartment).-seemed like the easiest way to get it vs. having to take your arm off the arm rest to get it, although i had considered the console area too. the axxess box itself is behind the climate control. plenty of room.

[TiGraySpeed6]

You can always pull the cable out by the e-brake 'till you decide on a location. No holes needed that way....

[Vicspeed6_AZ]

Good point, I have the factory nav so I can't use the tray on top. I am thinking of getting a proclip mount for it .. I'll figure something out.

[peteh]

I have the same color combo floor coating in my garage - I used Muscle Gloss...

[wannabe]

I have the same color combo floor coating in my garage - I used Muscle Gloss...


mines that duplicolor kit from lowes or homedepot...

[Vicspeed6_AZ]

Well mine is installed, I have the cable coming up through the center console, I don't really store anything in there so I have my ipod in there ... this thing rocks!

[peteh]

oh... and thanks for the good how-to... I'm about to do this myself - plan to put the iPod in the upper part of my center console - and these pictures will help


Cheers,

PeteH

[marvin75841]

hey guys! i'm definitely interested in doing this ipod upgrade stuff. my stereo isn't the mp3 model thou, does that mean no text for me? also, nobody mentioned the iphone yet! that's the reason i wanna do this. i want to put my iphone up top in that map box crap. then i can use it for iphone nav too. also, does this integrator charge the ipod while its hooked up or do u need a secondary charger? Wannabe, you've been answering these questions for over a year, so i'm looking to u buddy.

[wannabe]

hey guys! i'm definitely interested in doing this ipod upgrade stuff. my stereo isn't the mp3 model thou, does that mean no text for me? also, nobody mentioned the iphone yet! that's the reason i wanna do this. i want to put my iphone up top in that map box crap. then i can use it for iphone nav too. also, does this integrator charge the ipod while its hooked up or do u need a secondary charger? Wannabe, you've been answering these questions for over a year, so i'm looking to u buddy.

nope. this works for just about every mazda, regardless of the radio (just not nav i think)

[marvin75841]

Thanks man. i went on that rpm website and it says that for the Axxess, any ipod or iphone 3g purchased after sept 8,2008 will not charge with the included wiring, just play.

i'm gonna go ahead and order anyway just for shits and giggles and see what happens.

if people are interested, i'll throw some pics up of my progress. hopefully kill 50 birds with the iphone stone.

[izackary]

"Would you say I have a plethora of pinatas?"
(Sorry, couldn't help it!)

Anyways, good find!! An ipod interface that uses the MEDIA button?? (After all, wouldn't that make sense, since there's MEDIA on an ipod, and not SATELLITE RADIO??!) So much for my AuxMod plans to plug my Sirius S50 into it using the Media input, and the ipod into the Sat input using whatever other interface is available. And 2 thumbs up for the text alone! One reason I'm keeping my factory head-unit (and just the head unit!) is to have the display closest to my view of the road. I guess the milk in Mazda's ipod kit has gone bad with the 4 thumbs down. (Nyuk.)

Nothing like some Yuengling and Twisted Sister on a hot summer day! Crank it up, brother! (rockon)

[BADFISH6]

I have just two questions, where do you put the white plastic axess interface box? And if you turn off the car with the ipod plugged in will the ipod eventually turn off or drain the battery? thanks

[wannabe]

I have just two questions, where do you put the white plastic axess interface box? And if you turn off the car with the ipod plugged in will the ipod eventually turn off or drain the battery? thanks

the iPod turns off when you turn the car off. i had originally placed the Axxess box behind the climate controls, kinda just under the radio. after a couple months i started getting a random issue where the music wouldn't play and the iPod wouldn't go into "axxess" mode, the fix is just unplug and re-plug at the axxess box, so i moved it to behind the glove box.

[wannabe]

Nothing like some Yuengling and Twisted Sister on a hot summer day! Crank it up, brother! (rockon)

missed this post originally (band)

[BADFISH6]

I managed to squeeze mine in the space under the CD player where the tape playyer would go. Probably a bad idea since the cable and connectors are squeezed and kinked like crazy, but no problems yet. Thanks for the help

[Vicspeed6_AZ]

I squeezed mine next to my shifter :) So if I have to get to it, I just pull the bezel up ...

[wannabe]

I squeezed mine next to my shifter :) So if I have to get to it, I just pull the bezel up ...

thats a good idea. i might relocate mine there.

[brianguild]

Guys, I am trying to understand how the Axxess ipod integration kit compares to the Audio Link ipod integration kit shown here http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=4274855

It appears they both do Text, but it looks like the AudioLink hooks up to SAT port (and audio is then accessed via the SAT button), and Axxess hooks up to TAPE/MD expansion port via a circuit board (and audio is then accessed via the MEDIA button).

Any other feedback on the two? The sticky thread on stereo upgrade didn't have specifics on the Axxess kit, so I was surprised to find this as a seperate thread. 06 MazdaSpeed6 here.

Thanks!

[wannabe]

first off, your link is broken.

second, the AudioLink only displays folder and track numbers. so, it will break down your iPod into multiple numbered folders (playlists i believe) and tell you which one you are in, and which track number. The axxess unit will tell you the name of the playlist, and the ID3 tag info off the actual song (artist, track)

also, i updated the sticky to include this, i didn't realize it wasn't there.

[ghettoracingkid]

so with the Axxess unit. Can you have more then like 6 playlists?

I got the Grom for my Protege5 but looking for one for the Mazda 6 that my wife has.

[Vicspeed6_AZ]

I am not sure, but I will throw more than 6 playlists on mine tonight and I will get bakc to you on that :) btw, the verision I have the cable I have does not work with the 4th gen nano (Tried my wife's nano) .. so hopefully they have a new ipod cable out for the axxess for the 4th gen nano's.

[wannabe]

so with the Axxess unit. Can you have more then like 6 playlists?

I got the Grom for my Protege5 but looking for one for the Mazda 6 that my wife has.


yeah, it will play all of the playlists on your iPod, or you can select an artist on the iPod, plug it in, and it will play just that artist, same thing with genre/album/etc.

basically, when you first plug it in, it starts playing whatever you were last playing on the iPod before you put it in the car. if you werent playing anything, it just starts at the beginning of your library. if you use the disc up/down buttons you'll move through the playlists in alphabetical order. if you want to go back to what you were listening to before, you actually have to unplug it, change it, and plug it back in.

[ghettoracingkid]

awesome. thanks. Im game or it now.

jsut need the cash....

[BADFISH6]

the iPod turns off when you turn the car off. i had originally placed the Axxess box behind the climate controls, kinda just under the radio. after a couple months i started getting a random issue where the music wouldn't play and the iPod wouldn't go into "axxess" mode, the fix is just unplug and re-plug at the axxess box, so i moved it to behind the glove box.

Im think i am having the same issue. Every time i turn the radio off either the ipod wont go into axess mode or the radio wont recognize the ipod and nothing will happen when you press the media button. It works after i unplug and replug the box, but this is very annoying because it happens everytime. Did you ever get yours to stop?