to a C6 Corvette

(revised 1/9/12)

Click here for main website

These modification alternatives will allow an auxiliary input to be added to the C6 Audio system:

Alternative 1.  You have an XM receiver installed but do not subscribe to XM

Alternative 2.  Adding a 3.5mm jack to plug in your music device

Alternative 3.  Same as Alternative 2, but connection at the radio or Nav unit

Alternative 4.  You have the factory external 6 CD changer installed 

PLEASE NOTE:

  Each of these alternatives to add an Auxiliary Input to your car require that you have an XM receiver installed.  You do not have to have a subscription to XM, but the working XM receiver provides the XM band on your radio that can be used as an Auxiliary Input instead of XM.  Without the XM receiver, your radio will not show an XM band.  Without an XM band, you cannot use these harnesses.

Alternative 1 - XM Receiver but no subscription

(The AUX-1 harness)

With the first option, you will use the XM audio input to your factory radio instead of the XM radio stations.

The Auxiliary In harness will allow you to plug in any music device that has a standard 3.5mm (1/8") stereo jack for headphone or speaker output.

Take a look at the harness below:

This AUX-1 harness plugs into your XM receiver between the OEM body harness connector and the receiver.

It intercepts the left and right audio signals normally coming from the XM receiver and instead inputs the audio signals from your music device.

Remember, you DO lose your XM audio input.

Here is how to install the AUX-1 harness.

Remove the XM receiver from its tray in the coupe or Z06 or behind the waterfall in the convertible.

(For detailed photos, click here for another website)

Remove the 16 pin connector from the XM receiver and plug in the same connector on the harness:

Then plug the original 16 pin connector into the body harness connector.

Here's a closeup:

Once you plug in the harness and your music device, you can listen to your device whenever you press the XM button on your radio.

Here's how the harness works.

The wiring for the XM receiver is as follows:

Pins 2, 3, and 10 are the audio left, right, and common signals from the XM receiver to the radio or Nav unit.

This harness simply disconnects these pins from the XM receiver and instead connects them to your music device though the 3.5mm (1/8") stereo connector plug.

You could do this without a harness, but you would have to cut the factory wires and solder or splice your connector cable leads to the factory wiring harness.  This custom harness allows a simple installation without any wire cutting or splicing.

For the XM receiver to be displayed on your radio or Nav unit, you must retain power and communication to the XM receiver.  That is why Pins 9, 11, 15, and 16 must remain connected through the harness.

Here are some more photos of the custom harness.

First, the XM connector and the Aux In plug to your music device:

A closeup of the Aux In plug:

Closeup of the XM receiver connector:

This is the same connector as the OEM body harness connector that you remove from the XM receiver.

A closeup of the back of the XM connector:

Here is the new body harness connector that you plug your original XM receiver connector into:

Note the red and white audio wires in Pins 2 and 3.

Here is the front of the body harness connector:

You plug your original 16 pin connector into this.

Another view:

A view of the cable ties of the harness:

These are important so you don't accidentally pull a wire out of a terminal.

Here is the entire harness:

The cable to the Aux In plug is 12' long so it will reach anywhere in the car.

Here is the complete harness installed:

The photo above shows the AUX-1 harness plugged into the factory external 6 CD changer connector, but without the changer, the harness connects exactly the same into the factory 16 pin body harness connector.

This Auxiliary Input harness will work with the factory changer and/or the GM PAL (Personal Audio Link).

The only thing you lose is the XM receiver audio.

Click here for Ordering Information

Alternative 2 - Adding a 3.5mm jack to plug in your music device

(The AUX-2 harness)

This Auxiliary Input AUX-2 harness is similar to the first harness, but it adds a jack that is made to mount somewhere near your center console.

When nothing is plugged into the jack, you receive audio from your XM receiver.

When you plug in your music device using a patch cable, the audio from the XM receiver is disconnected at the jack and audio from your music device is inserted.

Here is a photo of the AUX-2 harness:

Here is a closeup of the jack:

Click here for a .pdf file showing the jack and wiring details

When a 3.5mm stereo plug is inserted into the jack, audio from the XM receiver is disconnected and audio from the plug is connected.

When this AUX-2 harness is compared with the AUX-1 harness, there are advantages and disadvantages:

1.  The advantage is that you can maintain XM radio reception when your music device is disconnected.

2.  The jack is not quite as neat as the molded plug on the flexible cable of the AUX-1 harness.  Ideally, the jack should be permanently mounted somewhere using a 1/4" hole so the cable can be hidden.

3.  The AUX-2 harness is very time consuming to make because of the number of connections and the required soldering of the jack terminals.

Here is a photo of the jack wiring:

Like the Alternative 1 AUX-1 harness, this AUX-2 harness is connected between the XM receiver and the 16 pin body harness connector into the XM receiver.

Here are some additional photos of the harness and the connectors.

First the 3.5mm (1/8") jack:

The soldered wires are under the heat shrink tubing. 

Here is the XM connector (This one happens to be a Yazaki connector rather than Delphi):

And wiring from the rear of the connector (Delphi Micro 64):

Rear wiring for a Yazaki Connector (interchangeable with the Delphi):

Here is the body harness connector to accept the original 16 pin XM receiver connector:

And the wiring from the rear of the connector:

And a photo of both connectors:

Here is the AUX-2 harness connected in a Z06:

Here, the 12' cable is run to the front of the car:

The cable can be hidden under the carpet and run alongside the passenger seat or up inside the console.

Ideally, it should be mounted (perhaps on the side trim panel shown below). 

Otherwise you can leave it loose and available for connection.

Here is a photo of an HP Ipaq connected with the 2' patch cable, but most any music device can be connected:

This AUX-2 harness has a 12' cable to allow the 3.5mm jack to be mounted anywhere near the center console.

The two male and female connectors will be located at the XM receiver.

The XM receiver is located above the left rear wheel well in the coupe and Z06.

Since the XM receiver in the convertible is located behind the waterfall between the seats, a short version of this harness is available with a 5' cable.

The patch cable with a stereo plug on each end will connect the jack to your music device.

Here are some photos of Les Wilson's Aux Jack installation

(he chose to mount inside the center console):

On the left, above, is the Aux In jack mounted in the console.

All you need is a 1/4" hole.  But note that the threads on the jack are pretty short and the jack is really made for a panel about 1/8" thick.  

Les used a Dremel tool to grind a bit of the console to make it a little thinner so the jack would fit.

Click here for Ordering Information

Alternative 3 - Adding a 3.5mm jack to plug in your music device, but connecting at the radio or Nav unit

(The AUX-3 harness)

This alternative is basically the same harness, but using different connectors to allow connection at the back of the radio.

This is a bit neater solution because the cable is shorter and mounting the jack will usually require removal of the center console anyway.  The shorter cable can be run directly from the radio or Nav unit to the jack location, thereby hiding the cable and protecting it as well.

The Alternative 3 harness is almost identical to the "NAV-3" harness that I offer to allow installing a switch to disconnect the Speed Sensor of the Navigation Unit.  This feature allows you to enter destinations while you are moving.  It is described in a separate website - 

Click Here if you are interested in this Navigation modification.

Here is a photo of the AUX-3 harness:

 The AUX-3 harness can be used on non-Nav radios as well.

Here are some closeup photos of the AUX-3 connectors.  First, the 12 pin connector to plug into the back of the radio/Nav unit:

This connector is identical to the OEM radio connector, Delphi part number 12064799.

It uses Delphi Micro 100 female terminals:

Here is the connector wiring:

Note that Pins H, J, and K are the audio wires we need to intercept in the harness.

The wires from the 3.5mm jack connect to Pins H, J, and K.

Here is a photo of the body harness connector that accepts the OEM radio connector:

This connector is a Delphi 15356627.  It mates with your original 12 pin radio connector (12064799).

Here are the male Micro 100 terminals for this connector:

 Here is a closeup of the connector:

And the wiring from the rear:

Again, the wiring from the 3.5mm jack is routed to Pins H, J, and K - shown on the connector as positions C3, 4, and 5.

Here is a photo of the AUX-3 3.5mm jack and included patch cable:

Here's a closeup photo of the jack:

And the jack wiring:

And a wired jack closeup:

The AUX-3 harness makes a nice neat solution to adding an auxiliary input if you subscribe to XM radio.

It is compatible with the external factory 6 CD changer and PAL (Personal Audio Link).

Here are some photos of Les Wilson's Aux Jack installation

(he chose to mount inside the center console):

On the left, above, is the Aux In jack mounted in the console.

All you need is a 1/4" hole.  But note that the threads on the jack are pretty short and the jack is really made for a panel about 1/8" thick.  

Les used a Dremel tool to grind a bit of the console to make it a little thinner so the jack would fit.

Ordering a custom harness:

From the wiring diagram shown above, you can see the wiring is pretty simple.  The hard part is finding the connectors and terminals and putting together the harness.  If you want to wire your own harness, please email me if you have any questions.

FOR A KIT TO BUILD YOUR OWN HARNESS:

The AUX-2 and AUX-3 harnesses are labor intensive, so for those of you who have the experience to build your own, I can offer a complete kit of parts to build either harness for $25 plus $5 for Priority Mail shipping.  The kit will consist of the following:

Male and female connectors for either harness (16 pin or 12 pin)
Terminals to fit the connectors
3.5mm switched jack
4 conductor plus shielded 22 gauge stranded wire (10' for AUX-2, 3' for AUX-3)
2" piece of heat shrink tubing for the jack
3 nylon cable ties

To install the terminals, you will need a crimp tool.  If you don't have one, click here for a suggested tool from Ballenger Motor Sports.

FOR A COMPLETE HARNESS:

If you are interested in a complete harness, I'll offer the AUX-1 harness for $25 plus $5 for Priority Mail shipping to any U.S. address.  (I can ship to other countries as well.)  The AUX-2 and AUX-3 harnesses are $75 plus $5 for Priority Mail shipping.  The AUX-2 and AUX-3 harnesses include a 2' patch cable with a male plug on each end.  I also have 6' patch cables if you would prefer the longer length.

You can either use Paypal to my email address or send me a check or money order.  Email me with your complete shipping address, and I will fabricate a complete harness and ship it to you as soon as I receive your payment.  

When I receive your Paypal payment or check, I will email you to let you know I received payment and again when I ship.

Click here for a new ORDERING PAGE

If you have any questions, you can email me at ray@kawal.net 

Alternative 4 - You have an external CD changer and retain XM

In this case, you have a couple of ways to add an auxiliary input.  One utilizes a custom harness similar to above and the other splices into the left and right audio wires at the changer.

The custom harness will look similar to the one shown above, but instead of eliminating the left, right, and audio common wires to the XM receiver, the Aux In connector is spliced into them.  This allows the XM receiver to provide audio as well as your music device.  But to silence the XM audio (so you don't hear both at once), you use the PAUSE button on the radio or Nav unit to pause the CD.  You can then hear only your music device.

For connecting at the changer, here are some photos:

Here's the factory 6 CD changer:

Here's the back of the changer.

The OEM cable below plugs into the changer.

This connector assembly comes off after removing the right gold screw.

This harness is plugged into the XM radio receiver, located behind the driver's side rear speaker.

Inspecting this plug shows it is divided into two sections.  The smaller section has four pins.

The outside red lead is right channel input to the navigation/ sound system.
The next clear lead is the left channel input.
The next black lead is the common input for both channels.

These three leads are what you want to tap into.

I added the 9 pin female connector and connected only the three leads - right channel, left channel , and common -

to the wiring inside (after removing the one screw holding the assembly on the changer).

I cut it in half to provide about 10' of cable and added the 9 pin male plug to the three leads inside the cable - 

right channel (red), left channel (white), and common (bare)

(behind the carpet where the changer wires also are located).

Then the cable is routed to behind the passenger seat and along that seat, leaving the stereo plug available

to plug into an Ipod, or in my case an HP Ipaq, or any music device with an audio output.

To use the auxiliary input, you go into the Source nav screen and select CDX (for CD changer).

If a CD is playing, simply hit the Pause button to stop the sound from the changer.

Plug in your sound device and enjoy whatever is playing. 

 If you have any questions, please email me at ray@kawal.net.