I've had the factory MINI Aux input adapter installed on my stock headunit for the past 2 years with no problems - until now. I normally use the aux input for my XM radio, which means my headunit is always switched to this input. The headunit always "remembers" that I was last using the AUX input and thus powers up in this state. Lately, I notice when starting the car, the headunit has reverted back to FM, and I have to manually switch back to the AUX input. One time, the AUX input was not available and I had to try this a few times until the AUX input was recognized.

Has anybody seen this behavior? Is it an issue with the headunit or the AUX adapter?

Thanks!

 

The aux mode disappearing is a common problem, when the device is also connected to power (cigarette lighter). For example, see this. You can fix it by using a ground loop isolator.

 

Thanks very much!

 

...I have a set of cables I use for isolating these kinds of gremlins -- break the ground (shield) connection and put a low-value (less than 10 ohms) resistor between the shield segments. Think I used 3.3 or 4.7 ohms on the ones I built. (And for $18, the crutchfield ground loop isolator can't be using a pair of wideband transformers!)

 

My Aux input had some static/whine noise happen a week or so ago. I figured it was a loose plug between the iPod charger/line-out cable. Unplugged it at the Aux jack, plugged it back in, fixed.

Today I was leaving from work, no whine/static, no nothing, the head unit would not even display Aux mode. Did a search of this forum, found this thread. By unplugging everything, then plugging it back it, all is well. But I think I need to get one of those ground loop isolators.

Weird how it has worked fine for 2 years, now it gets flaky

Thanks for the help

Mark

 

And all this time I thought I was alone!! I play my XM Roady XT through the AUX input w/ cigarette lighter power and often times, now, it will switch from the AUX to either the CD player if there is one or the radio if there is no CD. To get the AUX back I have to unplug the AUX line from my XM player, switch the Harman Kardon to AUX again and then plug the minijack back in to the XM radio. Really annoying - especially when motoring!

I will purchase a Ground Loop Isolator. Thanks for the heads up!!!

Just purchased the Ground Loop Isolator from the Crutchfield link above. Thanks, emcguy and rkw!

 

This past Saturday morning, regular radio was selected and playing upon starting the car. I had last been listening to a station on Sirius XM. Looking further, I saw where the Aux icon had disappeared completely, and the satellite icon was grayed out and was unselectable. I didn't have a CD or USB device in the car at all, so I can't speak for those. After about 15 minutes, everything started working just fine, and I've had no problems since. My car has chosen regular radio instead of what I'd last been listening to all by itself upon startup before, but each time previously I'd been able to select Sirius, or Aux, or whatever I really wanted to listen to with no problems. I'll try the Ground Loop Isolator for the Aux input, but does anyone have ideas on the Sirius problem?
Thanks!

Britton

 

So I just bought a 2006 MCS and it has nav and the HK stereo. I just installed a aux input which was taken from a 2008 model it has three wires a yellow black and clear. I saw a post on which pins to connect them to and to move my nav voice to the same connection and it worked... PROBLEM... I am only getting the vocals from the passenger side. Mid range and bass are working but not vocal. It works perfect with a cd mp3 and the radio but not with the aux.... Any suggestions?