MatraSport Forum

Hi,
In my '98 3.0 RXE I have seen a cassette addon that fits in the centre storage unit and there is an AUX input on the remote. Could this be used for an MP3 input? If so where would be the best place to 'patch' in to it?

Thanks

Anthony

I'm quite interested in an AUX input too, but sadly I don't have any real knowledge... but apparently there's some electrickery under the Drivers seat on the Right hand drive ones...

Does that help?

Hi!
There is radio box under the front passenger seat. In my '97 3.0  I found one input (mono but I can hear music from all speakers) and probably two amplituner outputs. You have remove front right seat,  rear slat, rear seats mountig points and take up the lining. When I was trying to do it, I couldn't remove rear seats bolts so I broke  the lining :). When you find radio box, you have to connect one chinch cable.
Have fun ;]

There is an easy no wires solution for this. You can use an FM transmitter or modulator.  This plugs into the headphone socket of the cassette deck and transmits on an FM frequency  that you tune your radio to, all in stereo.

I have  one which I use for my MP3 player and it works very well. These units used to be banned in the UK but are now legal here so presumably that goes for the rest of the EU too.

They are about 10€ on ebay.

Thanks for the replies so far.
I was thinking that as there was an official cassette player available as an option (i don't have this fitted) that there would be a connector available for this to plug into for power and audio. I was hoping to make use of this but maybe it's not so easy.

Probably not - but I can follow up on Will's suggestion by mentioning that Maplins here in the UK have such a iPod-2-FM thing on sale this week at 20£.  (Called a GrooveTraveller :-/ )

Now, - what we *really* need is such an mp3player-2-FM box which transmits the song titles as RDS info, so it could be displayed on the dash :-)


/Lennart

I've got a feeling that the cassette player was fitted instead of the cd changer, so they may have used the same input on the amp. But I agree that I'd expect to find some wiring in the centre box.

I went through this problem when I found my OE CD changer was faulty, unrepairable and 750€ to replace, - only available from Renault.

Eventually having failed to find a suitable universal socket I bought a Sony changer with an FM modulator that plugged into the antenna lead.

I have a 98 RXE and this is the tape player I had fitted in the dash.And the other pic is of the cables that connected to it.The round connector is the same as the one for my mutichanger in the boot.The power lead only has +12v when Aux is selected on the stereo.There is another connector that is in the dash(last pic the round metal one)but this was not connected to the tape player.I think it is speaker inputs for fitting an aftermarket head unit.

Thought this may be of help ??? ???

Hi all.

Most phase 3 Espaces are fitted with a radio/amplifier(amplituner) located under the passenger seat(non UK) This is normally a Pioneer unit, and has connectors for both tapeplayer(like the one pictured above) and a CD-changer(located in the booth).
The amplituner comes in 3 or 4 versions, and some of theese feature an aux input which, sadly, is designed for handsfree phone systems only. (mono + narrow frequency band)

The cd and tape inputs require that the units connected to them, have the PBUS system. This is for track info and such. The amplituner will  mute any audio from the CD/tape-unit if it does not recongnize it as a PBUS unit.

This leaves 5 choices for connecting some AUX-equipment like MP3's in your Espace:
1.-buy a FM transmitter.
2. buy a "cdplayer-imitator" (dont know the english word for this adaptor...) Connects to the CD-input and has two RCA-input for your IPOD or such. theese are expensive and hard to find(?). Also you'll loose the use of your cd-changer.
3.-Modify your TAPE-player: Rip out the noisy mechanics, and solder some suitable wires/plugs to where the mag-head is connected. May require some resistors to adapt the signal-level.
The amplituner will not care, as  the PBUS-system is still in place.
4.-Modify the amplituner. Requires complete schematics, and some electronics knowledge.

I've performed alternative 4 in my car. Works just fine.
See detailed information here(in norwegian only- will  translate if needed): http://www.renaultbiler.no/forum/viewtopic.php?id=2214

For norwegian-reading Renault-owners - Check out  www.renaultbiler.no  Lots of useful info.
the forum pages now also contain an english section. Few posts yet, but give it a try!

Roger

 

Hi Roger,

Thanks for that information. Could you give me a bit more information on choice 4), please. I can read Norwegian fairly well, but when I clicked on the links in the PDF I didn't get anywhere. ???

Anyway, just a bit more information would be appreciated. I don't know if it's too complicated for me, but I'd really like to know.  8)

Thanks!

I like your modification of the AUX imput to accept stereo!

The link to it in one of the PDF's seems to be incorrect, though, so here's the correct one (for all us Norwegian reading people ;) ):

http://www.hint.no/~roa/Espace%20mp3/Bygg%20om%20AUX%20til%20stereo%20(SCU2556).pdf (http://www.hint.no/~roa/Espace%20mp3/Bygg%20om%20AUX%20til%20stereo%20(SCU2556).pdf)

- Anders 8)

Thanks for your comments, and for the link-help, Anders.

Fixed the faulty link, so the original link now works.

Hope you find the information you need, theJoker. If not, just ask.

In my car I've done both the modifications as described in choise 4.
Hooked up a dvd/mp3 player to the TAPE input, and a handsfreeset/line out for my SonyEricsson walkman/mobilephone ,to the aux input.

Roger,

Yes, I did read it, thank you! It doesn't seem that difficult at all. Do you have any more pictures than there's in the PDF? I'm especially interested in how you've soldered the cables onto the circuit board, and also how you've connected the rest of your equipment (MP3 player and phone).

I'm very pleased that this can be done, maybe it's time for me to acquire a real hefty MP3 player that can store all my music!?  8) ;D

Consider it "vaulted" :-)

/Lennart

The soldering is quite straight forward. Locate the right track on the printboard, then follow it until you find a pad big enough for soldering onto. This could be at some component connection ,  but  the best is to find a  test point/pad. I believe you can see this in the pics in my pdf. Dont have any other pictures tough.
Be careful not to short circuit or cut anything else than described. Recommend a good quality solderingstation and a steady hand...

Found an similar and even simpler way of mod'ing the unit(see attachment). Have not tested this but it seems ok. The attached image is from a forumpost at www.passion-espace-club.com (french)

Roger

Connecting my DVD-player: Made a cable with  the 13 pin DIN-plug in one end and standard RCA/cinch plugs in the other. PLugs into the TAPE input, and runs under the carpet up to the "Mega box" where the DVD is mounted under the tray. Had to drill a small hole in the bottom of the Mega box. Gets 12v and gnd from the handsfreesystem-connector(TELMUTE) in the storage compartment under/in front of the righthand frontseat

The aux  input connects with a standard cable(2 x male rca/cinch plugs to one 3,5mm stereo jackplug) to the headphone/handsfree unit of a SonyEricsson W800i .

Roa, you make it sound so simple and easy. :) I do know how to solder, so that's not a problem, but I don't read electrical diagrams etc, so when, or make it if, I get to do this, I'll ask more questions.  8) ;D

I'm very pleased that it can be done. Thanks!!

Hi All,

I'm so happy to find this info... for months now I'am trying to connect an MP3 player, but have a few questions.
Roger you state you connected via the TAPE connector, I've tried using an 13P DIN, connecting pin 1+2 and 3+4 , but as you stated earlier that some kind of PBUS signal is needed to set to operate input to TAPE. How did you fix that?

The other diagram from the French forum seems OK to but that needs shortcutting where FM is stated?

You stated in earlier post that the some units have a narrow frequency band when using your AUX solution, is that fixed when using your schemetic? Thanks very much for your help in advance!
Cheers

Hi all, and Happy new year.

Stevedragon: I used the TAPE input because I wanted  keep use of the cd-changer. Later I added the AUX-modification for my cellphone.
The amplituner in my car(SCU-2556) mutes all input signals unless the connected unit sends a valid PBUS ID. The muting is controlled by the amplituners processor by means of a small transistor circuit shorting the signal line to ground. I simply disconnect this control-line going from the processor to the transistor(s).
This can be done either by cutting  the track (with a knife), or by removing the diode as described in my link.
The only disadvantage is that I have to choose TAPE with the IR remote, as the steering wheel remote cannot activate non-PBUS inputs(thus muting the other sources!).

The french diagram uses a simpler approach.The Mp3/dvd/whatever audio signal is connected directly to the pre-amp input. Doing this will mix the connected audio with the currently active source(radio, tape or cd). Mr frenchy has then chose to use radio, and to mute its audiosignal by shorting it to ground through the switch labeled "FM mute".   

Some amplituners also has a AUX input. This is designed for handsfree systems and is a mono input with narrowed frequency band. My schematic rebuilds this into stereo, and normal frequency band.

If you decide to modify your amplituner, please be careful with the airbag connections when removing the seat......

Good luck!