My Overhead Console XM Satellite Radio Install

[GA-matt]

I've finished installing my Delphi Skyfi2 XM radio in the overhead console. Below are photos I've posted from the install. I started by installing the small magnetic antenna on the roof just in front of the third brake light. I have it installed about 1" away from the brake light seal and it picks up great. I ran the antenna cable through the opening for the third brake light... as many others have done. Had a week of heavy rain following install and no leaks!

Next I partially removed the overhead console from the rear cabin and ran the antenna cable through the roof of the truck to the front compartment of the overhead console (see xm-2.jpg). For the XM source cable, I used a 6 foot 1/8" stere mini-plu to stereo RCA cable from Radio Shack. I ran that cable from the front overhead console, across the roof behind the head liner where it meets the windshield, and finally behind the pillar to get behind the dash board. The plastic pillar cover pops off and back on fairly easy after you remove the grab handle.

Next I installed a fuse tap (see xm-4.jpg) into the fuse block located on the passenger side of the dash board. You can get these at Pep-Boys for about $8.00. I tapped into the outlet which provides power to the stereo with the key in the ignition. This way the XM unit will only turn on when the key is in the ignition. This little accessory works great! I then ran a new power wire back up behind the pillar, behind the head liner at the windshield, and across to the overhead console. Behind the overhead console there is a good amount of free space. There I installed an aux 12 volt power adapter from Radio Shack. This allowed me to use the stock Delphi power plug which converts a 12 volt power supply to a 6 volt power supply. The adapter is grounded to the roof framing using a self tapping sheet metal screw. The adapter and all wiring is concealed within the free space of the overhead console and hidden by the cover to be kept out of view.

Next I removed the face plate to the stereo compartment on the dash. I then cut the wires for the aux input going into the stereo. Then I got a set of RCA adapters from Radio Shack, soldered them to the cut aux input wires going into the head unit and mounted the adapters into a plastic plate located within the stereo compartment of the dash, behind the face plate (see xm-3.jpg). They're located below the head unit to the right side. This now allows me to have an RCA input connection for aux connections to my head unit.

Next I attached the same type of RCA adapters to the aux input wires from the face plate adapter. These RCA connectors are also soldered and then taped down to the back side of the face plate (see xm-5.jpg). This now allows me to continue use of my stock aux face plate input and have an RCA connection behind the dash.

I then take RCA patch cables and run a set from both, the aux face plate RCA and head unit aux input RCA, under the dash and over to behind the passenger side of the dash board. Here I use a RCA Y-adapter and tie in my XM unit RCA cables to the aux face plate RCA patch cable. I then run that into a PIE (line input amplifier). Then I connect the output from the PIE to the RCA patch cable going to the head unit aux input.

In the cover for the overhead consule I mounted the swivel bracket which came with the XM unit. Then I drilled a small hole for the antenna cable, source cable, and power cable to connect with the XM unit cradle/base (see xm-6.jpg). The unit works great in this location for several reasons. The swivel bracket allows me to rotate it for a better view or for a passenger to see the screen. The unit is up and out of the way... I don't have to worry about it getting hot on the dash from the sun, taking up dash space, or being hard to read due to sun glare. Plus its less noticable and less likely to get stolen when mounted up high. The location also works well by still allowing me easy access to both overhead compartments located in front and behind the unit. I also still have the functionality of removing the unit from the cradle very easily... to use in the house or office at work.

I'm very pleased with the unit and service... probably will never listen to regular radio again!

[lizardking]

Goood job!

[P-Kidd]

Well Done!!!

[hkusp45]

I love it!! you want to do another!!??

[Pugsly]

where did you run power for the pie adapter? any photos of that and where is the pie adapter mounted(behind the pass dash?)

so i am also asumming by the install that the aux port still works and that you can have 2 units going through that at once? (your hardwired xm and an external aux plug imput?)

[GA-matt]

Sorry that I don't have any photos to show it... but I spliced off the new power wire for the XM to power the PIE adapter. I may provide a more permanent mount in the future, but for now it's just tied up to a steel dash support bar with wire ties in the area behind the glove box. Seems to work okay in that position for now. There's no interference and no vibrations that I hear.

Correct, the aux port on the dash still works and you can have 2 sources connected at the same time. However, since the sources combine into one input for the PIE adapter (with RCA Y-adapter), you wouldn't want both devices sending signal at the same time... I'll have to power off the XM to use the aux dash port.

[Pugsly]

Is his the rca adapters you used?

http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...t%5Fid=274-346

and also arn't there 3 wires coming from the aux plug (left, right, ground)? What did you do with the ground wire from the plug?

[GA-matt]

Yes, those are the RCA adapters I used. Yes, there are 3 wires coming from the aux dash plug... (left, right, and ground/common). I connected the left and right wires from the aux plug to the center signal connector of the 2 RCA adapters. Then I spliced the ground/common wire from the aux plug and connected one to each outter ground/common connector on the 2 RCA adapters. If you use these adapaters, just make sure you solder them well... you don't want to have to pull off your faceplate to fix them again. Also, be sure to secure the wires to prevent them moving around and breaking the solder connection.

[Gusecu]

Where did you get the Pie line input amplifier, and how much was it? I keep searching for a line amp, but I can't seem to find one.

[GA-matt]

You can do a google search on "PIE LD-1" and you'll find a bunch of places that have them. I got mine from www.discountcarstereo.com for about $35. It took me about a week to get it in after I placed the order.

[Rocket67]

Can you still access the sunglases holder easily?

[GA-matt]

Originally Posted by Rocket67

Can you still access the sunglases holder easily?

Yes. With the unit insalled in this location, I can still get into the holder behind the install and the holder in front of the install... both holders fold down normally.