ES350 iPhone dock in ashtray DIY
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ES350 iPhone dock in ashtray DIY
Custom DIY ashtray iPhone Dock for Lexus ES350. *This was my way of making the dock fit in the ashtray space without having wires and cords hanging everywhere. *It charges and plays music over the AUX input instead of an FM modulator that normally gives a lot of static. *I don't have Nav so I used a power cord/Aux cable combo I bought at RadioShack. It's a Y style cord where the single end becomes a iPhone connection. *I removed the entire middle console and arm rest, disconnected the power outlet and Aux cable and moved it under the cup holder/shift area. *Plugged in my RadioShack cord and routed the iPhone end to a hole I made in the ashtray. *I made the hole big enough to fit a black adapter I had to hold the iPhone. *Put it all together and some epoxy... iPhone Doc complete! *Works great, charges phone and plays music over Aux input. *And the ashtray closes up perfectly without showing any cords. *Clean!*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz_5-...e_gdata_player
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz_5-...e_gdata_player
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Diy
I took Pics of the process but my computer is being a jerk face. Basically I used a small black plastic "insert" that came with my alarm clock. It came with several "inserts" to fit different iphone/ipod models. The standard dock is too big but the little plastic "insert" is small. I made the hole on the bottom bigger to fit the iphone charging cord through it and glued them together.
As for Step by step. The hardest thing was figuring out how to remove the center arm rest. Take off the rear A/C vent. Then you will see two bolts holding arm rest down. The front comes out just by pulling on it as it is held together by clips.
Now on the underside of the center armrest you can see the power outlet and aux outlet. Use a flat head screwdriver to just pop them out of there holder. Now that they are loose you can plug in your power cord/Aux cable. (the outlet is still working its just not connected to the plastic hole in the armrest anymore.
Next run the cord with the plug and aux to any point out of the way near the cup holder area. Run the charging end up to the ashray area. Bolt everything back down in place.
With the ashtray out. Place the Insert in the lower left corner and trace around it with a pencil. Take a dremel tool or whatever you have and CAREFULLY drill out the space needed to place the "insert". Leave a small lip on the front of the ashtray for you to glue the "insert".
And that's really it. I hope that was helpfull enough. It took me a few hours to do it all but the hardest parts here figuring out how to remove the center armrest and drilling out the ashtray. Im trying to upload the pics but it keeps crashing.. Sorry. I'll try again later.
Good luck,
Dennis
As for Step by step. The hardest thing was figuring out how to remove the center arm rest. Take off the rear A/C vent. Then you will see two bolts holding arm rest down. The front comes out just by pulling on it as it is held together by clips.
Now on the underside of the center armrest you can see the power outlet and aux outlet. Use a flat head screwdriver to just pop them out of there holder. Now that they are loose you can plug in your power cord/Aux cable. (the outlet is still working its just not connected to the plastic hole in the armrest anymore.
Next run the cord with the plug and aux to any point out of the way near the cup holder area. Run the charging end up to the ashray area. Bolt everything back down in place.
With the ashtray out. Place the Insert in the lower left corner and trace around it with a pencil. Take a dremel tool or whatever you have and CAREFULLY drill out the space needed to place the "insert". Leave a small lip on the front of the ashtray for you to glue the "insert".
And that's really it. I hope that was helpfull enough. It took me a few hours to do it all but the hardest parts here figuring out how to remove the center armrest and drilling out the ashtray. Im trying to upload the pics but it keeps crashing.. Sorry. I'll try again later.
Good luck,
Dennis
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Ashtray Dock iPhone ES350
I made the opening just barely wider on the plastic insert. I basically had to shove the plug in from underneath. Then I used Super glue from the bottom and after that dried I used some epoxy all along the bottom. It's holding very well. Just give it time to dry. Before adding any glue i did plug my phone into it to find the correct height to have the cord come through the plastic insert. Then I gently pulled my phone out and glued that bad boy in place.
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Details on the Radio Shack cable
Hey Dennis,
Great Job !
Can you give more info on the radio shack cable ? part no ? sku no ? etc.. or even the complete name ?
Thanks,
- Sam.
Great Job !
Can you give more info on the radio shack cable ? part no ? sku no ? etc.. or even the complete name ?
Thanks,
- Sam.
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Iphone charging plus Aux cable
It something like this or similar. I don't have the exact name of the one I bought at radio shack but its just like this one. Make sure the cable is long enough for the aux to plug in and the charger and run the long end with the iphone connector all the way past the shifter and up the ash tray. Hope that helped.
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