ipodinterfaceforholdencommodorevyvz-sixc

iPod interface for Holden Commodore VY/VZ - six CD

head unit modification instructions

author: Vlad Apostolov

email: udc.aus@gmail.com

Melbourne, Australia 2009

Version 1.2

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Disclaimer

The installation of this kit is a complex procedure and carries potential risk of damaging your audio head unit as well as the iPod interface. The installation requires advanced soldering skills. All necessary measures to prevent electrostatic damage to the sensitive components comprising the kit and the head unit should be taken.

All iPod interface boards manufactured by Unique Design Concepts have passed testing before shipment.

Unique Design Concepts does not assume any responsibility if the kit does not function as anticipated in your car. It is the responsibility of the person installing the kit to ensure that all steps of the installation process are carried out with utmost care and all necessary precautions are taken to ensure that the car, the head unit, and the iPod interface are not damaged.

Unique Design Concepts does not assume any responsibility and liability for damages and side effects to the car or personal injuries in the process of installing and using the iPod interface kit.

Unique Design Concepts reserves the rights to change the kit and the installation instructions document at any time without prior notification. The document is prepared with every intention to be correct, but it is not guaranteed to be free of errors.

The iPod interface kit is designed to provide seamless integration with the factory head unit. Although it is extensively tested, it is not guaranteed to be bug free. There could be operational scenarios when the interface may not behave as expected.

Sales inquiries and technical support

For sales inquiries and technical support please email to udc.aus@gmail.com

Getting started

Before starting the iPod interface installation, the head unit has to be removed from the car. Detailed instructions of how to remove the head unit from the car are given here:

holdenvyvzheadunitremovalinstructions

 

Please read this document thoroughly before starting any work.

 

The iPod interface conversion is done in four steps. The last step is to verify that the implemented functions work as expected. Do not install the radio in the car until the last verification step is completed successfully.

The iPod interface installation steps are:

 

Figure 1 shows the contents of the iPod interface kit.

 

Figure 1

The kit contains the following parts:

Disassembling the head unit

Figure 2 shows six CD head unit for Holden Commodore VY/VZ.

Figure 2

Undo the four screws holding the head unit front facia. Figure 3 shows two of the screws circled in red. The screwdriver tool (size T8) could be purchased from Farnell:

http://au.farnell.com/wiha/71508/tools-hex-bits-hex-bits-torx-screwdriver/dp/1000239?_requestid=12086

Figure 3

Unplug the facia connector as shown on Figure 4.

Figure 4

Undo the two screws (circled in red on Figure 5) holding the bottom head unit cover.

Figure 5

Remove the bottom cover as shown on Figure 6.

Figure 6

Figure 7 shows the head unit after the bottom cover has been removed.

Figure 7

Undo the four screws (two on each side) holding the CD enclosure (two of them circled in red on Figure 8). The screwdriver tool (size T10) for these screws could be purchased from Farnell:

http://au.farnell.com/wiha/71510/tools-hex-bits-hex-bits-torx-screwdriver/dp/1001361?_requestid=12425

 

Figure 8

Take apart the CD enclosure as shown on Figure 9.

Figure 9

Carefully push the CD ribbon cable connector locks as shown on Figure 10. Important: Applying too strong force on the connector lock could break the lock!

Figure 10

Detach the CD ribbon cable from the connector as shown on Figure 11.

Figure 11

Soldering the 16 way ribbon cable to the head unit PCB

Partially split the ribbon cable in two between the purple and blue wires as shown on Figure 12.

Figure 12

Insert the six wire part of the ribbon cable in the slot circled in red on Figure 13.

Figure 13

Figure 14 shows the cable on the other side of the slot.

Figure 14

Solder the six wires to the head unit PCB as shown on Figure 15. The lengths of all wires but the red one are trimmed accordingly. Important: Do not trim the length of the red wire or the ribbon cable would become too short to reach the iPod interface PCB.

Figure 15

Figure 16 and Figure 17 show closer views of the connection points.

Figure 16

Figure 17

Figure 18 shows the approximate position of the IDC socket considering where the iPod interface PCB would be attached later on. The excess ribbon cable wires length could be trimmed in the next few steps considering the IDC socket position on Figure 18.

Figure 18

Split the purple, gray, white and black wires and solder them to the head unit PCB as shown on Figure 19.

Figure 19

Figure 20 shows closer view of the four connections.

Figure 20

Split the brown, red and orange wires and solder them to the head unit PCB as shown on Figure 21. Some head units have slightly different PCB layout. The alternative PCB layout and connections of the brown, red and orange wires are shown on Figure 22.

Figure 21

Figure 22

Figure 23 and Figure 24 show closer view of the three connections for the first head unit PCB layout. Figure 25 and Figure 26 show closer view of the three connections for the alternative PCB layout.

Figure 23

Figure 24

Figure 25

Figure 26

Split the yellow, green and blue wires and solder them to the head unit PCB as shown on Figure 27. Figure 28 shows the same three connections on the alternative PCB layout version.

Figure 27

Figure 28

Figure 29 shows closer view of the three connections. Figure 30 shows closer view on the alternative PCB layout version.

Figure 29

Figure 30

Connecting the iPod interface PCB with the ribbon cable and the iPod cable

The photos in this section are taken from 1-CD head unit but the described steps are the same for the 6-CD head unit. Make threads in the two holes circled in red on Figure 31 with the provided self tapping screws.

Figure 31

Rotate the screwdriver slowly forwards and backwards without applying much force until the screw fully goes through the hole (Figure 32).

Figure 32

Connect the iPod cable and the ribbon cables (circled in red on Figure 33) to the iPod interface PCB. Note the orientation of the ribbon cable – the blue wire end is on the left, the brown wire end is on the right. . Important: If the ribbon cable connector is connected backwards, the iPod interface PCB will be damaged when the head unit is powered up.

Figure 33

Figure 34 shows closer view of the two cable connections.

Figure 34

Attach the iPod interface PCB with the provided two self tapping screws (circled in red on Figure 35).

Figure 35

Figure 36 shows the location of the iPod cable inside the head unit enclosure.

Figure 36

Insert the provided cable tie in the head unit enclosure hole circled in red on Figure 37. Note how the cable tie head is oriented upwards.

Figure 37

Insert the cable tie end in the second hole circled in red on Figure 38.

Figure 38

Figure 39 shows the cable tie loop from the outside of the head unit.

Figure 39

Insert the iPod cable in the tie loop as shown on Figure 40.

Figure 40

Figure 41 shows the layout of the iPod cable inside the head unit enclosure before the cable tie is tightened.

Figure 41

Tighten the cable tie as shown on Figure 42.

Figure 42

Figure 43 shows the tighten cable tie from the outside of the head unit.

Figure 43

Assemble back the head unit. Figure 44 shows the assembled head unit with the iPod cable.

Figure 44

Testing the iPod interface

Figure 45 shows the Holden VY/VZ head unit connector pinout diagram.

 

Figure 45

To test the iPod interface with the head unit on a bench (before it is installed in the car), the following items are required:

 

To get the head unit working on the bench:

 

The head unit will power up and ask for PIN code. Enter the head unit PIN code. Connect the iPod to the iPod interface cable. The iPod should start playing through the speakers and the head unit LCD should display IPOD. Next perform testing of the iPod functionality as per the demo video bellow:

 

Use the 1.2K resistor to simulate steering wheel MODE button press. Verify that the iPod is charging. Verify proper operation of the left/right audio channels by changing the head unit volume balance.

Once the iPod interface is verified to work as per the video, it is ready for installation in the car. The following link points to the instructions of how to install the head unit with the iPod interface into the car:

holdenvyvzheadunit(withipodinterface)ins