Looking For A Flush-Mount 3.5Mm Socket

[Pitmonster]

Hi All,

I'm searching for a flush-mount 3.5mm socket to install in a blanking plate of my Mk2 Focus (next to the heated rear window switch, just ahead of the gear lever)

This will then be connected to the rear of my (non standard) head unit, so I can quickly connect & disconnect my iPhone or Mrs Pitmonster's iPod.

(I already have one iPod installed in the glove box, which is controlled from the steering remote - that's why I have a non-standard head unit - but sometimes need to install another depending on music choice)

The only flush-mount socket I can find is this one which I think is too big to fit.

I've had no joy with Maplin or RS Components.

So can anybody provide a link to a suitable flush-mount socket?

Note that it needs to have a cable with a 3.5mm plug at the other end, which will then connect to the rear of the head unit

Thanks for your help.

[Stoney871]

How about buying a standard ford aux cable then changing the connector on the end fot a 3.5 plug.

The socket end will sit flat and look stock. Part number - 1426121 (actually a fiesta part but will work just fine)

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item5ae357e704

This for the 3.5 end.

http://www.maplin.co...tereo-plug-1184

On one end of this cable is a square black connector which has a 3.5 socket in it and pushes into the 3.5 face plate.

The other end is a 12 pin block connector (c connector) which connects to the aux socket on the rear of the standard radio, the cable has 3 wires in standard stereo format (left, right, ground).

Just buy a 3.5 plug from maplins or any electronics shop and solder the connections yourself.

Probably about a ten to twenty minute job.

Was going to fit the cable myself but my bluetooth unit uses the same connectors as the cable so i can't fit an aux line as well, also the flush mount socket was broken out of someone elses car on scrapping and is no use any more but can't as far as i know be bought seperately. (they're a one time fit as they clip together and expand to fill the mounting hole and once clipped in can't be unlocked without breaking them.)

Hopefully going to rectify that in a few days with a visit to a local ICE shop. (Turnbulls in Plymouth), maybe they'll know what connections are possible.

Right - the photos.

The whole cable

The Face Plate

The plug that goes into the face plate

The plug that would go to the stock radio (the bit to cut off and solder the 3.5 jack to for connecting to your radio).

Blue / white - Left Channel Wire

Green / white - Right Channel Wire

Black - Common or Ground wire

Obviously you'll have to test the contacts on the 3.5 jack you get to avoid swapping the channels, Maybe plug headphones into the aux in socket, solder the black wire to the ground contact on the 3.5 plug (always the thickest base part of the plug) plug the 3.5 into a iPod etc and touch one of the wires from the cable to one of the contacts on the plug and work it out from there.

To mount the Face Plate you need to carefully drill a 20mm hole wherever you plan to place it.

Anothe roption which i think you'd rather try as you want to do it the same way as far as i understand - (it's written as from the point of view of fitting to a standard radio but as above, add your own 3.5 plug) (( info found on web))

Wiring a C-Max Audio Aux Input with a Visteon 6000cd

OK I have a 2006 Ford C-Max and unlike in some territories my C-Max does not come with the Aux input wired in, despite buying it from new!

So I set about finding a solution to plugging my iPod / MD / PDA into the head unit using the Aux Input.

First thing I did was ask Ford about plugging an iPod into the C-Max. Was told that that was not an option for the C-Max. Ugh!

Next I talked to the Dension dealer in my area about their ice>Link. I got told by various people at different times that a product was and was not available. This complete lack of help ended up with the only option from them being their universal FM product.

So I decided to wire in the Aux input myself, here is how I did it.

I decided that I wanted to have the Input in a convenient place that I could restore back to original when I sell the car. The options were limited and the one I settled on was the spare blanking face under the Front and Rear heated windows switches.

I contacted Ford Parts and got a spare cover easily from them. The Ford part number for it is 1356067 and should cost about £4.50 / $9.

It is a stock part and although my dealer did not have it, they got within 24 hours for me.

From Maplin I got a PCB mounting 3.5mm jack socket part number FK20W. I bought this part as it fits snugly into the Ford part that I was going to use. The socket cost about £2.50 / $5.

With all the parts in hand I then went in search of which connectors on the back of the Visteon 6000CD I needed to use to address the Aux inputs. For this info I went straight to the source, my thanks to those at Visteon who gave me the information, you know who you are. :-)

To remove the Blanking Face simply use a flat bladed screw driver and gently pry the face out of its housing. There is nothing holding it in except the fit of it in the housing hole.

The back of the 6000CD has only two connectors, the FM ariel lead and the Quadlok connector that takes care of everything else. Remove the Quadlock by locating the swing arm clip at the bottom of the connector. Use your nail to open the latch and swing the swing arm up, this eases the connector from the head unit.

As you look at the Quadlok the section that we are interested in is the C block, that is the white block on the lower left as you look at the connectors.

To more easily get access to the cables you need to use, look at the side of the Quadlok and you will see an access hole to the side of the C Block. Push the retaining flange in and the C Block will side out of the Quadlock. Getting to the cables is very much easier if the tape is removed that is holding the loom together.

To fit the 3.5mm Jack Socket to the blanking plate drill a hole in the exact centre of the face working it out to a 6mm diameter. Wire the Jack Socket, make sure you do not use the normalised points or you will get no audio when you jack in you iPod.

The Jack fits snugly into the blanking plate, you will need either very thin fingers or a pencil to push it all the way towards the drilled hole. It is also easier to work it into the hole with a pen or pencil guiding it from the socket end. Once pushed in place there should be 2 to 3mm of thread clear of the hole. Use the threaded cuff to secure the socket in place.

The cable that you have wired in needs to be at least 2 to 3ft in length, you will be cutting it down once the blanking plate in in place.

There is nowhere to easily use for strain relief for the cable. This is no a big issue as unless you are yanking the head unit in and out all the time. If that is the case use a small cable tie and drill a hole or two.

To get the head unit out you will need four keys. You can not get these from Ford but they are easy to find on line. I got mine from an e-bay seller, outlett. The keys came in from Germany and the seller was very helpful. When the first set went astray in the post, he sent a second set straight away. The Keys cost about £5 / $10

If you are reading this thanks again :)

Getting the 6000CD head unit out is easy, simply insert all four keys into the 4 slits above and below the buttons at the corners on the unit. The curved part of the keys always face in towards the middle of the unit. Using both hands insert fingers into all 4 keys and pull.

You can link into the cables in any which way you desire, I removed the crimp on receptacles from within C Block and used them with my cables. You could just as easily cut the cables and solder your cables onto them. Its completely up to you.

Remove the keys and reinsert the head unit and your done, one easy accessible Aux Input for your C-Max.

Please let me know how you get on even if just to know that i haven't led you in the wrong direction, although i'm sure i haven't.

[Pitmonster]

Thanks very much for the reply and the information, that;s great.

I looked at Maplin and only found mono stuff, maybe I wasn't searching with the right keywords.

I'm not so sure about soldering and doing the wiring myself, I've never done things like that before so I'll have to look into that more closely, but thanks for your help.

[Pitmonster]

Spoke to a mate and he'll do the soldering for me, and even get the bits from Maplin.

Result!

[Stoney871]

Glad to be of service.