[Sam Kapasi]

That is a fairly standard spade type lug and will be available at any auto electrical store.
however what you need is not individual lugs, but a DIN socket. Individual lugs will not fit and there is danger of shorting.

[fedexp]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

That is a fairly standard spade type lug and will be available at any auto electrical store.
however what you need is not individual lugs, but a DIN socket. Individual lugs will not fit and there is danger of shorting.

Thanks for the suggestion, Sam. I have gone through a lot for creating this cable and plugging out the stereo - I was encouraged by the success achieved by people like racer_m using these lugs. So, at this point, its either "mission abort" or make what I have somehow work. I don't think I'd want to go shop for DIN sockets now, people out here in Hyderabad, don't seem to be well-informed or they are not very friendly about selling lugs or soldering services. So, if you are telling me that this won't work and its not worth the risk, I'll probably go buy that cable from Ford.

[fedexp]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

That is a fairly standard spade type lug and will be available at any auto electrical store.
however what you need is not individual lugs, but a DIN socket. Individual lugs will not fit and there is danger of shorting.

Again, about the danger of shorting - when does it exactly happen? When these lugs come in contact of each other accidentally or is it when I connect the wrong pin to the wrong lug? I've read on this other forum that people experimented with the DIY and they had no trouble when they connected wrong pins to the wrong lugs - the usb didn't work, but they were able to get it working once they got the right combo. So, are you saying that well-insulated lugs could short if they come into contact accidentally?

[vina]

Originally Posted by fedexp

Again, about the danger of shorting - when does it exactly happen? When these lugs come in contact of each other accidentally or is it when I connect the wrong pin to the wrong lug? I've read on this other forum that people experimented with the DIY and they had no trouble when they connected wrong pins to the wrong lugs - the usb didn't work, but they were able to get it working once they got the right combo. So, are you saying that well-insulated lugs could short if they come into contact accidentally?

Don't worry too much - while shorting can happen and is bad, USB specification requires ALL devices to survive any kind of shorting within the cable for min. 24 hours and recommended indefinitely - all devices in the market tolerate indefinite shorts (designing and testing 24hrs protection is more expensive than designing and testing indefinite protection)

Once you have experimented and get it working, you just need insulation so that nothing else shorts to the lugs - but while experimenting no harm will come to the system.

[fedexp]

Originally Posted by vina

Don't worry too much - while shorting can happen and is bad, USB specification requires ALL devices to survive any kind of shorting within the cable for min. 24 hours and recommended indefinitely - all devices in the market tolerate indefinite shorts (designing and testing 24hrs protection is more expensive than designing and testing indefinite protection)

Once you have experimented and get it working, you just need insulation so that nothing else shorts to the lugs - but while experimenting no harm will come to the system.

Thank you, vina. That is very encouraging. I will give it a try now.

[fedexp]

ok.. here's a quick update. Taking vina's advice, I tried it out and... it didn't work.
The fast on connectors, I guess, are one size bigger than what I want. They wouldn't really sit will on the pins well enough for it work :-(

So, I guess my whole effort, is a flop. I have to go back and find one size smaller connectors and get them soldered again - This is going to be one heck of a task (coz it seems so non-trivial). And, I even survived a keycode scare - the keycode was printed incorrectly (alpha numeric) - and it locked me out for a good 30 minutes (in the dark of the night with mosquitoes), until I figured out the right code on the 7th attempt.

A Big Thank you for all those who have been of a great assistance in doing all this - even though I didn't get there eventually, this was a good learning.

[vina]

Originally Posted by fedexp

ok.. here's a quick update. Taking vina's advice, I tried it out and... it didn't work.
The fast on connectors, I guess, are one size bigger than what I want. They wouldn't really sit will on the pins well enough for it work :-(

So, I guess my whole effort, is a flop. I have to go back and find one size smaller connectors and get them soldered again - This is going to be one heck of a task (coz it seems so non-trivial). And, I even survived a keycode scare - the keycode was printed incorrectly (alpha numeric) - and it locked me out for a good 30 minutes (in the dark of the night with mosquitoes), until I figured out the right code on the 7th attempt.

A Big Thank you for all those who have been of a great assistance in doing all this - even though I didn't get there eventually, this was a good learning.

You should have bought the pins of the correct size in the first place as someone advised.

The effort is not a flop - not yet at least.

Also, you don't have to do a trial and error if you don't want to - borrow a multimeter and use it for "connectivity test" - you'll know which wire of the 5 is which. rest is given in the Audio manual already.

[Sam Kapasi]

I must apologise for not going into detail: Detail that can help you. I was posting from my phone.

First, the info you need. The back connector of your Ford unit is not unique to Ford. It is an International standard called ISO. (ISO 10487 to be precise) This is most commonly used by ALL cars from Europe, including Mercedes, Ferrari, BMW and more.

This is how it looks.






As I suspect you have already discovered, socket A contains connections related to power (+12V, ignition, illumination, ground etc) - B (B is brown) contains all 4 speaker connectors.

All the other stuff is accomodated in socket C. This could be an Aux in, or a CD changer, or in your case, a USB cable in. This depends on the manufacturer.

The one manufacturer in India that followed this standard was Blaupunkt.

Sometimes it is not only just the wires that connect to the socket but a connection, looping or intentional shorting within the socket can actually "trigger" the USB on (meaning the head unit will simply not go into USB mode until the right socket is inserted)

The socket for your Ford looks like this. In fact this is the cable you need to buy. You can get it not only from Ford India but from various places on the internet.


Reading your posts I gather that you are not an advanced user. I recommend you pop out the HU, insert the required socket and pop the HU back in, no more.

Modern cars have complex electronics and ECMs that fail. When an electronic unit fails, most auto companies scan the car to find fault, or to pass the blame. At that time, bare wire sockets popping out of your head unit will not go unnoticed.

This is my advice. Mind you, I too am a big fan of DIY and I daresay you might even succeed in bypassing the requirement for this USB cable. But I think that it isn't worth it.

[vina]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

...

First, the info you need. The back connector of your Ford unit is not unique to Ford. It is an International standard called ISO. (ISO 10487 to be precise) This is most commonly used by ALL cars from Europe, including Mercedes, Ferrari, BMW and more.
...

So if I want to buy this connector, will it be available on (at least) specialised electronics stores where my lab guys go to buy their connectors?

[Sam Kapasi]

Originally Posted by vina

So if I want to buy this connector, will it be available on (at least) specialised electronics stores where my lab guys go to buy their connectors?

This is an automotive connector. It will only be available with an automotive person/store.
You can also find it online.

[fedexp]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

I must apologise for not going into detail: Detail that can help you. I was posting from my phone.

First, the info you need. The back connector of your Ford unit is not unique to Ford. It is an International standard called ISO. (ISO 10487 to be precise) This is most commonly used by ALL cars from Europe, including Mercedes, Ferrari, BMW and more.

This is how it looks.

Attachment 858148

Attachment 858149


As I suspect you have already discovered, socket A contains connections related to power (+12V, ignition, illumination, ground etc) - B (B is brown) contains all 4 speaker connectors.

All the other stuff is accomodated in socket C. This could be an Aux in, or a CD changer, or in your case, a USB cable in. This depends on the manufacturer.

The one manufacturer in India that followed this standard was Blaupunkt.

Sometimes it is not only just the wires that connect to the socket but a connection, looping or intentional shorting within the socket can actually "trigger" the USB on (meaning the head unit will simply not go into USB mode until the right socket is inserted)

The socket for your Ford looks like this. In fact this is the cable you need to buy. You can get it not only from Ford India but from various places on the internet.

Attachment 858150
Reading your posts I gather that you are not an advanced user. I recommend you pop out the HU, insert the required socket and pop the HU back in, no more.

Modern cars have complex electronics and ECMs that fail. When an electronic unit fails, most auto companies scan the car to find fault, or to pass the blame. At that time, bare wire sockets popping out of your head unit will not go unnoticed.

This is my advice. Mind you, I too am a big fan of DIY and I daresay you might even succeed in bypassing the requirement for this USB cable. But I think that it isn't worth it.

Thank you for your detailed response. I am kind of convinced that I should buy it from Ford. However, I am sure they will tell me that they are out of stock - which is what the dealer has been telling me for over 6 months. Do you know where I can order it online in India?

[vina]

Originally Posted by fedexp

Thank you for your detailed response. I am kind of convinced that I should buy it from Ford. However, I am sure they will tell me that they are out of stock - which is what the dealer has been telling me for over 6 months. Do you know where I can order it online in India?

If you are open to spending the money, why don't you get it from Fortune Ford? They offered to sell it to me 6 months ago when I bought my Figo.

I decided that using Bluetooth is a cheaper and better option.

[fedexp]

Originally Posted by vina

If you are open to spending the money, why don't you get it from Fortune Ford? They offered to sell it to me 6 months ago when I bought my Figo.

I decided that using Bluetooth is a cheaper and better option.

:-) well.. it goes like this..
I took a TD from Fortune Ford, and then received a better quote from Mody Ford 6 months ago and I bought the car from Mody Ford. My car is a ZXI and it ships with the bluetooth option - however, with bluetooth, there exists a perceivable loss in audio quality (IMO). Now, Fortune guys know me as a customer they hunted (infact, they equaled Mody Ford's offer, but I rejected it) - I don't really like the idea of stepping back into their showroom and get those looks (not that they would, but I guess I would feel awkward about it). With Mody Ford, well.. I slammed their service - wrote about it everywhere: team-bhp, facebook what not - wrote to their highest office - They remember me well now - I swore that I will not go back to them for anything.

[fedexp]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

This is an automotive connector. It will only be available with an automotive person/store.
You can also find it online.

Do you have an online link for buying one in India, Sam?
Oh btw, I had a chance to checkout your blog - some great write ups in there - loved your road adventure on Rx :-)

[vina]

Originally Posted by fedexp

:-) well.. it goes like this..
I took a TD from Fortune Ford, and then received a better quote from Mody Ford 6 months ago and I bought the car from Mody Ford.....

Seriously - they don't care. This happens so much they can't hold it against you anyway.

And in any case they have three showrooms in the city - go to a different one if you feel uncomfortable.

As far as audio quality via bluetooth is concerned - I found it quite adequate. What kind of music are you planning to play? If your answer is MP3 and you think Bluetooth can't do justice, well you try it out first.