There's no denying the iPod is a great little gadget, and it's no wonder Apple's creation is so popular. The problem with the IPod is that you need headphones or ear buds to listen to it, and that isn't convenient or safe while driving. Couple that with the fact that only one person can hear the tunes, and you can understand why other people along for the ride wouldn't be happy campers. The ideal situation, therefore, is a way to get the IPod to play through the Jeep's stereo system while still giving you full control of the tone, balance, fader, provide a convenient way to see what track is playing, and control the little wonder without having to fumble around with the device itself. The solution is the Drive+Play by Harman/Kardon.
The Drive+Play consists of three major components: the brain, which is the heart of the system; the display unit; and the controller, including all the cables you'll need to hook it up. The iPod plugs into a cable that connects to the brain that powers it and transmits song data to the display unit, which shows the song, artist, track, time, and other pertinent information. Another cable leads to the controller that lets you control the IPod much in the same way its own controller wheel does, but it's more tactile and easier to use.
We mentioned three components, but there's also a fourth one: the iPod itself. You're going to have to decide where to place all these items. The brain gets hidden, so that's an easy one; the display should be placed where you can see it without difficulty; the controller has to be located where you can reach it conveniently; and because the iPod connects to the Drive+Play, you'll have to decide where you want to put it as well. The display and the controller come with a variety of mounts that give you some choices for their possible locations, but free space in most Jeep cabins is pretty well-spoken-for already.
For our installation, the brain and the bulk of the excess wiring gets tucked away inside the center dash console (adjacent to the radio), the display resides under the console in the recess that houses the cigarette lighter, the controller mounts in front of the armrest at the top of the parking brake, and the iPod itself nestles inside the armrest console (out of sight and harm's way). This provides a clean installation, aside from a small channel cut into the inner tray of the armrest console to accommodate the iPod connection cable.
Here's the backside of the...
Here's the backside of the radio. The antenna connector at the right has a proprietary plug that requires using adapters to mate with the Drive+Play and the wired FM adapter we're using. The electrical connector at the left can be unplugged at this time because the radio gets in the way while we hook up everything else.
Here's the finished installation....
Here's the finished installation. To listen to the iPod, dial the radio to any FM frequency you program into the controller. The controller provides complete iPod functionality without having to touch the iPod itself-very convenient and efficient.
Luckily, there's a lot of...
Luckily, there's a lot of room inside the dash cavity, so the Drive+Play brain unit can easily stow next to the radio in the cavity. It does get a bit crowded in here, however, when all of the wiring is tucked in.
The optional direct-wired Harman/Kardon FM Transmitter Adapter is highly recommended because it really improves the FM transmission performance and doesn't add any additional work to the installation. You don't need this adapter to install the Drive+Play because it has its own built-in FM transmitter. The built-in transmitter, however, can have reception problems and other unwanted audio junk. The proximity of high-tension electrical lines and other such variables can be the cause. The wired optional adapter totally eliminates all of these interference problems.
One more thing: If you're installing the Drive+Play in a late-model Jeep (DaimlerChrysler vintage), you'll need antenna adapter cables because the Jeep stereo radio uses a proprietary mini antenna jack, and the Harman/Kardon unit uses a standard socket. These are available from the dealer you purchase the Drive+Play from or from www.bestkits.com.
Bear in mind that although this installation was done on an '05 Liberty, just about everything shown here applies to a Wrangler or Cherokee as well, aside from taking the console off and removing the radio. All the electrical work is the same, regardless of Jeep model.
Tools required: Phillips screwdriver and flat-blade, wire stripper/crimping tool, file, cable ties, and spliceless electrical connectors.
Time: 1-2 hours, depending on your skill or experience level.
The center console fascia...
The center console fascia of the Liberty is held in by a single Phillips screw next to the cigarette lighter and snap-on clips; fascia removal varies according to Jeep model. Once it's free, unclip the fan, temperature, and cigarette-lighter connectors. The radio is held in place with four Phillips screws (two on each side). After removing them, you can pull the radio free of its mounting space.
You can use the cigarette-lighter...
You can use the cigarette-lighter power adapter or you can hard-wire it (for a cleaner installation), which leaves the cigarette lighter available for other uses. We used quick-splice connectors to tap into the 12-volt power and ground wires of the cigarette-lighter connector. The yellow wire (marked "battery") connects to a constant 12-volt power source (the "hot" wire of the cigarette lighter); the red wire (marked "ignition") was connected to the #21 fuse (radio); the black wire (marked ground) is quick-spliced to the lighter's black ground. That's all there is to the electrical connections for the hook-up.
If you're going to position...
If you're going to position the IPod connector inside the armrest console and have the controller in the same area as ours, you'll have to pop off the shifter console cover (pry gently because it's held in place with snap clips) and snake the two cables through the console to their destinations. This is a good time to remove the cupholders and the lid/interior of the armrest console. The cupholders merely pull loose; the lid and interior of the console is held in place with Phillips screws.