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How many owners are using an ipod interface, what brand, where did you order,and any major problems.
Ipod Interface
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I purchased the SMARTPARK iPOD interface p/n GMCL21600 at TECHNI-CAR which the local Caddy dealer subs their radio work to. They charged me one hour labor and ran the cable into the console. The interface was mounted next to the XM module mounted behind the console that sits upright between the seat backs.
The Cadillac dealer quoted me something like $230 for labor and wanted full retail ($285) for the interface so I saved a bit going to Techni-car which has a lot of locations.
My early generation iPOD wouldn't work (as expected); only the later 4th generation and newer will work correctly with the interface. I have picked one up but haven't installed it yet. A NANO I tested did work but be warned the song titles and artist info may very well be seriously truncated as the Caddy screen only allows a small space for this info between the band indicator and the on screen time.
I will probably get this thing tested at length this weekend.
The Cadillac dealer quoted me something like $230 for labor and wanted full retail ($285) for the interface so I saved a bit going to Techni-car which has a lot of locations.
My early generation iPOD wouldn't work (as expected); only the later 4th generation and newer will work correctly with the interface. I have picked one up but haven't installed it yet. A NANO I tested did work but be warned the song titles and artist info may very well be seriously truncated as the Caddy screen only allows a small space for this info between the band indicator and the on screen time.
I will probably get this thing tested at length this weekend.
Let me not recommend Cadillac Integration. I have waited since early December for my cable. I was told it was shipped twice via email. Today I finally got a note that I will be getting a refund. To say that I am irritated about waiting this long and getting nothing is an understatement. No explanation either!
Grrrrrrrrr....
Now I have to start over somewhere else!
Grrrrrrrrr....
Now I have to start over somewhere else!
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259 Posts
What is the iPOD "CADILLAC INTEGRATION?"
Although the unit I installed does work, you better memorize your playlists! I have about 4000 songs on my iPOD and it is next to impossible to navigate with the touch screen. The song info scrolls ONCE and disappears. You have to figure out which XM on screen graphics duplicate the iPOD functions. The supplied instructions aren't even for the XLR! I have nearly $500 invested trying to play MP3s...this method is such a disappointment.
It is absurd that DENSO hasn't released a firmware upgrade to allow MP3s disks to be played in the in-dash changer. They did it for the 2005 Corvette, why not the XLR:rant
Is the CADILLAC INTEGRATION the same thing I installed in my XLR? Made by SMARTPARK; plugs into the XM box between the seats and is p/n GMCL21600 ?
Although the unit I installed does work, you better memorize your playlists! I have about 4000 songs on my iPOD and it is next to impossible to navigate with the touch screen. The song info scrolls ONCE and disappears. You have to figure out which XM on screen graphics duplicate the iPOD functions. The supplied instructions aren't even for the XLR! I have nearly $500 invested trying to play MP3s...this method is such a disappointment.
It is absurd that DENSO hasn't released a firmware upgrade to allow MP3s disks to be played in the in-dash changer. They did it for the 2005 Corvette, why not the XLR:rant
New interface arrived yesterday. American International Industries Neucleus NC-X2i interface and NC-GM32T 03-06 XM Tuner Harness. Ordered through Logjam Electronics for $189 with $8 shipping.
I reviewed the other iPod posts here to be sure of the location of the XM radio stuff. The information below is based on an 04 XLR and may vary in other years.
Open the back storage area between the seats and take out 4 torx screws holding in the compartment. It comes out easily.
As you look up inside the compartment the XM unit is the larger of the two units, metal, on the passenger side. Unplug the back plug of the unit. If you use a mirror you will see that it matches the harness plug. First back out the blue clip, then pull down on the black while pushing the plug out.
Follow the enclosed directions to plug the harness, brain, and XM radio together. I put the unit to the side of the roll bar extension and taped the wires and unit to the bar with friction tape so it wouldn't rattle.
I then led the wire and connector for the iPod out the bottom of the cabinet opening and under the console cover to the compartment there. You can see a white wire for 1" between the console cover and back cabinet cover but I felt this was preferable to cutting holes in the interior parts.
Follow the instructions again and let the system go through its startup and handshake protocol. Once you have the unit working correctly and have made sure it works, replace the cabinet with the four screws.
The good news. The unit can be operated from the iPod or the stereo. The stereo can access playlists, albums, songs, etc. pretty much all the functions seem to be there.
The bad news. The steering wheel control does not work to change tracks up and down. It's like the stone age folks! I have to reach the extra five inches to the radio to press the button! I jest, but then I would expect to know if there were any problems with the installation and function of the unit. I did check with the manufacturer and they confirmed that some of their systems do not work with the steering wheel mounted controls.
I also do not have an XM subscription so I cannot comment on how that is affected by this unit. Hopefully someone else will be able to post that information.
I hope this is helpful and welcome any questions.
Paul
I reviewed the other iPod posts here to be sure of the location of the XM radio stuff. The information below is based on an 04 XLR and may vary in other years.
Open the back storage area between the seats and take out 4 torx screws holding in the compartment. It comes out easily.
As you look up inside the compartment the XM unit is the larger of the two units, metal, on the passenger side. Unplug the back plug of the unit. If you use a mirror you will see that it matches the harness plug. First back out the blue clip, then pull down on the black while pushing the plug out.
Follow the enclosed directions to plug the harness, brain, and XM radio together. I put the unit to the side of the roll bar extension and taped the wires and unit to the bar with friction tape so it wouldn't rattle.
I then led the wire and connector for the iPod out the bottom of the cabinet opening and under the console cover to the compartment there. You can see a white wire for 1" between the console cover and back cabinet cover but I felt this was preferable to cutting holes in the interior parts.
Follow the instructions again and let the system go through its startup and handshake protocol. Once you have the unit working correctly and have made sure it works, replace the cabinet with the four screws.
The good news. The unit can be operated from the iPod or the stereo. The stereo can access playlists, albums, songs, etc. pretty much all the functions seem to be there.
The bad news. The steering wheel control does not work to change tracks up and down. It's like the stone age folks! I have to reach the extra five inches to the radio to press the button! I jest, but then I would expect to know if there were any problems with the installation and function of the unit. I did check with the manufacturer and they confirmed that some of their systems do not work with the steering wheel mounted controls.
I also do not have an XM subscription so I cannot comment on how that is affected by this unit. Hopefully someone else will be able to post that information.
I hope this is helpful and welcome any questions.
Paul
Hi XLRAT,
Congrats on a successful install.
I installed the SMARTPARK harness mentioned earlier in this thread.
Recap Limitations:
1)Title / artist info scrunched in upper left corner of screen once during song play. On the www.SMARTPARK.net website a TAHOE screen is used for example. My display is NOTHING like the neat graphics information you see there.
2) To get to a song in a particlular file (example "JAZZ") you have keep hitting the scan up hard button until you find the song. And the display doesn't keep up so you always overshoot or undershoot; and if you don't know where the song is in the file you are really screwed. Maybe there is a better way but since the instructions that came with the unit aren't for an XLR...
3) iPOD unit functions disabled once plugged into the harness.
3) In other words, an iPOD with 4000 songs will likely be the cause of an accident trying to find what you are looking for.
Hope navigating with your unit is easier! Any more info on your unit will be appreciated. I can't recommend mine at this time to anybody even though install was easy (like yours).
I paid $200 plus installation (total $280 with tax) and was told I got a very good deal. The fact Cadillac sells this in the parts department was the deciding factor to buy. I'm ready to pull the damn thing out and try something different!
Congrats on a successful install.
I installed the SMARTPARK harness mentioned earlier in this thread.
Recap Limitations:
1)Title / artist info scrunched in upper left corner of screen once during song play. On the www.SMARTPARK.net website a TAHOE screen is used for example. My display is NOTHING like the neat graphics information you see there.
2) To get to a song in a particlular file (example "JAZZ") you have keep hitting the scan up hard button until you find the song. And the display doesn't keep up so you always overshoot or undershoot; and if you don't know where the song is in the file you are really screwed. Maybe there is a better way but since the instructions that came with the unit aren't for an XLR...
3) iPOD unit functions disabled once plugged into the harness.
3) In other words, an iPOD with 4000 songs will likely be the cause of an accident trying to find what you are looking for.
Hope navigating with your unit is easier! Any more info on your unit will be appreciated. I can't recommend mine at this time to anybody even though install was easy (like yours).
I paid $200 plus installation (total $280 with tax) and was told I got a very good deal. The fact Cadillac sells this in the parts department was the deciding factor to buy. I'm ready to pull the damn thing out and try something different!
XLRAT: I looked on Logjam Electronics site for the unit you installed and I was somewhat confused that it listed compatibility for only the 2004 and 2005 XLRs. You stated that your XLR was a 2004 so I guess that is good for you, but I wondered if you knew of anyone who has tried it on a 2006. I will try to call them on Monday to see if they have any additional informatio
If anybody else knows about 2006 compatibility with this unit please let me know.
Thanks
If anybody else knows about 2006 compatibility with this unit please let me know.
Thanks
If you are looking for information on the unit I would call the manufacturer. Logjam gave me conflicting information on what vehicle the unit would work in. Go straight to the horse's mouth [email protected] is their tech support email address. The name of the manufacturer is American International Industries.
I have not used it enough to be able to give great feedback on the operation of the unit. Thus far my only problems have been remembering what to do and the lack of ability to switch on the wheel, which may be different in other years.
The space for your data is quite small as most of the screen is used for the nav system. Your information area is the same as it would be for listening to a radio station that broadcasts music data.
With this said the iPod can also be used in manual mode allowing you to control songs, playlists, artists, etc. right from the unit. This is a great advance over the one in my Durango which quite frankly sucks. Get yourself a holder and you would be in business. The cord for the system is about 4' long so it could probably be mounted anywhere you find convenient.
The one interesting and universal thing about the companies that offer this equipment is that they all have the same "no returns" policy. I would like to have that in my business, to imagine that they will only give you your money back if the package is unopened!
Sorry, just my rant on customer service and the lack of it these days...
Paul
I have not used it enough to be able to give great feedback on the operation of the unit. Thus far my only problems have been remembering what to do and the lack of ability to switch on the wheel, which may be different in other years.
The space for your data is quite small as most of the screen is used for the nav system. Your information area is the same as it would be for listening to a radio station that broadcasts music data.
With this said the iPod can also be used in manual mode allowing you to control songs, playlists, artists, etc. right from the unit. This is a great advance over the one in my Durango which quite frankly sucks. Get yourself a holder and you would be in business. The cord for the system is about 4' long so it could probably be mounted anywhere you find convenient.
The one interesting and universal thing about the companies that offer this equipment is that they all have the same "no returns" policy. I would like to have that in my business, to imagine that they will only give you your money back if the package is unopened!
Sorry, just my rant on customer service and the lack of it these days...
Paul
Just one more thought that came to me after clicking "submit." DO NOT pay anyone to install this unit for you. If you really work at it you can take longer than 30 minutes to do it, but that is probably only if you have to take a 20 minute phone call. This is literally a plug it in installation with only four screws to be removed and reinstalled.
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259 Posts
You use the "SCAN +" button on the left hand side of the wheel to FF... or hit it twice for next track.
The right side's "PRESET +" or "PRESET -" don't do anything with the Neucleus unit.
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