Factory Aux not working-- 2008 GX
 

Posted this in the Audio specialist forum, but not got any response, as yet. Thought I'd try here, as well.

This is a 2008 GX470 with navigation and the factory Aux plug. I've done a LOT of searching in the archives here and can't find anything that addresses my situation, though some things come close.

The audio is not recognizing the Aux input. Either when using the Mode button or when pushing the DVD-Aux button on the head unit. So far I have tried:

Replacing the Aux plug with a new one, since this seems to be the most common failure point. No joy.

Different aux cords with iPhone attached. I've tried it with the iPhone connected and playing something and with only the cord connected. No joy.

I tried "resetting" the Aux by turning the audio off when set on FM, turning off the car, then plugging in the iPhone into the Aux, turning on the car and turning on the audio (this was described by someone in the forums as working for them). No joy.

I tested both seat heaters to make sure they were working (someone had the seat heater plug plugged into the Aux by mistake). Seat heaters work fine.

Haven't tried yet:

Someone indicated something was unplugged on the head unit. I hadn't tried that, yet, since it involves tearing the console open.

Someone else had to have their head unit replaced. Sounds expensive.

I recently bought this vehicle and the Aux hasn't worked since I bought it. Note that the dash replacement service was done soon before it was traded in. It is possible that the tech screwed something up in the process of replacing the dash, but I have no way of knowing that.

Any suggestions?

More than likely the connector wasn't plugged into the head unit properly or a wire has broken, they are small diameter wires that are twisted up fairly tight.

You won't know anything more until you take the dash apart. It's very easy to do, there are guides all over the place. You start by carefully removing the wood strips, and the rest becomes obvious as each piece removed will reveal more screws that need to come out. A set of trim removal tools like this one can help prevent damage:

If I were in your position I wouldn't worry about it and instead I would get a bluetooth audio interface like the Vaistech. The installation is about the same as taking apart the dash to check your wires.

Thanks, LoneHiker. I think you're right that my next step will involve tearing the console apart, though it might be tough to figure out what exactly is wrong.

I had thought about the Vaistech system as a patch-around, but since the 2008 already has Bluetooth for the phone and the factory Aux it would be an unnecessary step and expense if I could just get the Aux to work. I'm also a little concerned that if there is something wrong with the head unit then the Vaistech system might not work properly either.

BTW, where are you in Colorado? I'm in the process of moving to Steamboat Springs, which is why I bought the GX in the first place.

Update-- tore apart the console tonight. Inspected the plugs and wires in the back of the head unit. Didn't see anything amiss. No obviously broken wires, though an internal break would be near impossible to find. I carefully reset the plugs in their respective sockets and put everything back together. No change.

To clarify -- when you try to switch over to the aux input, the stereo never changes to it (indicating 'aux' on the display)?

That's correct. It cycles through DVD player to AM without recognizing Aux. This happens regardless of whether I push the Mode button on the steering wheel or the Disc-Aux button on the head unit.

I initially had trouble playing iPhone music through aux until I realized that phone cover wasn't allowing pin cable to fully seat in phone.

I'm in the Golden Gate Canyon area, which is west of Golden. Steamboat is an awesome place, I'm up there at least a few times a year. Congrats on the move, and hope you can get your aux input figured out.

Thanks, it is looking more and more like Vaistech will be the solution. Paying someone to trouble shoot and fix it would probably cost at least as much installing the Vaistech.

Saw your posts on the Duratracs, too. Sounds like that will be another purchase for me in the Fall...

Discount Tire typically runs promos in their eBay store in March and October. I've had Discount Tire match their eBay discount with their in-store pricing (which is lower because no shipping is involved). Something to consider.

Are you SURE the device you're trying to use for the Aux sound is feeding audio to the truck? I know in my ES, if I don't feed anything into the Aux port, the system will ignore that as a source. Perhaps it could be a bad cable, plug, or not fully seated into the device?

Thanks, but, yes, I'm very sure. I've tried three different cables. The only way I could be even more sure they were fully seated is to hit them with a hammer. I'm using my iPhone as the source and it is clear that the music or podcast is playing while it is plugged in. Ear buds work fine in the iPhone, so I'm sure it isn't something on that end. I wish it were simply one of those things!

Found the problem. While installing a Vaistech Bluetooth device I discovered an empty electrical socket under the console directly below the Aux and seat heater switches. It was on a module with a sticker that said "Display Filter." Looking a little further, I found a small green plug underneath the module. I plugged it in to the socket and tested the Aux and the head unit now recognizes it. I think that someone unplugged it when doing the dash replacement and forgot to plug it back in.

Awesome!! Thanks for posting an update!

This may be a dead post but it helped me a bit. In my case the aux would only work if the cord was plugged in right and would switch to dvd if touched, I removed the aux plug in “box” from the center console and cleaned the inside contacts and noticed the points were spread out too far making a loose connection with the aux cable. In my case I was able to get them closer together by spinning a q-tip inside which jammed the fibers to the outside of the contacts making them come closer together. This way is effective but would be a lot safer to go in with a pic and just move them in. As of now the aux is working and is a lot tighter than it was previously.