elindholm

How is the satellite radio installed on a 2007 Mazda3? I bought the car (new) in June planning to get satellite radio put in, but no one seems to know how to do it.

Dealer #1 says they can do it only by irreversibly redoing a bunch of other wiring, and even with that, they aren't sure they can save the steering wheel audio controls. Their price is $500.

Dealer #2 says they can do it by either (a) disabling the center console "media" (MP3 player) port or (b) installing a large, ugly "switch box" on my dashboard. Their price is $720.

My stereo controls have separate buttons for "Sat" and "Media." What's the problem? How is it that Mazda sells this car as "satellite ready" without, apparently, any clear directive on how the radio is supposed to be put in? And if the whole thing is going to be gerryrigged anyway, why shouldn't I just go with a cheaper after-market (third-party) model?

Thanks for any insight.

By the way, thanks as well for the code to unlock the trip computer. Great!

_Kansei_

Dealer 1 is obviously retarded, as is Dealer 2.

The dealer 2 situation (having to disable the center console media port) is theoretically possible, but what #1 told you is just BS.

Here's what you need for satellite radio in your car:
1. a sat tuner.. small box, dunno where they stick it OEM, I've seen them in various places in different cars (including the trunk)
2. a sat antenna (again, not sure where the OEM placement is)
3. a cable from the tuner to your factory radio. This would come with the tuner.

p.s. it's $305 for the actual kit: http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...catalogid=3987

I think the 'switch box' is only needed if you want the factory iPod integration unit as well as satellite radio. It is $113.60
http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...tegoryID=96477

free shipping on all that stuff of course

If they are cutting wires, they're doing something wrong.

elindholm

Thanks a lot for the response.

Can you clarify what you mean by "factory iPod integration unit"? Would I have any reason to want such a thing, if I already have the center console media port? Dealer #1 also asked about the iPod (as well as whether I have a navigation system, which I do not), so they're clearly just as confused as I am about how all of these things do or do not combine.

_Kansei_

If you are using an ipod through the audio jack, you still have to control the ipod using.. the controls on the ipod. plus you have to deal with adjusting the audio volume on the ipod so that it is 'right' (which is around 90% volume on most ipods btw). The factory kit lets you control it through the factory radio controls (including the steering wheel audio)

elindholm

I see, so you mean it's something iPod-specific, rather than for just an arbitrary MP3 player or something else with an 1/8" plug. No, I don't have that. I can control the volume to some extent with the normal radio controls, but the iPod's preamp volume I have to control on the iPod.

So ... that means I don't have (or need) the integrated thing. Maybe this will make sense to Dealer #1 (which is who I bought the car from) when I call them tomorrow. They were awfully hung up on my iPod use, but probably because they didn't understand the two different ways of setting it up.

_Kansei_

I believe that the 1/8" plug you have plugs into a different place on the head unit than the ipod adapter and satellite radio --they share a plug, hence the switchbox.. which I don't think requires you to see any switch, just an electronic switchbox to allow 2 devices on one plug.

icspots

Dealer #1 is on crack as installing sat radio is completely plug and play. All steering wheel controls remain intact, and you'll even be able to control the sirius with them.

Dealer #2 is correct that installing sirius would disable the ACI (Auxiliary Console Input) as both utilize the same port on the back of the HU for input. They are however incorrect on what the switchbox does (see below). The switchbox (per Mazda's own install instructions) mounts in the dash basically to the right of the stereo and the left of the glove compartment Definitely not on the dash. If they give you lip ask them if they'd like you to bring in a copy of Mazda's pdf install instructions that say how and where it's supposed to be installed and I'll e-mail you a copy.

Here's the thing. Mazda has very detailed instructions on how and where all of these things are supposed to be installed it's just a combination of the dealers not knowing what they're talking about and..... well really that's about it. Price wise Dealer #1's quote is pretty standard as installing the tuner and running the antenna wire involve disassembling a great deal of interior panels. It's not hard, just time consuming and time is what they're charging you for. Dealer #2 is way off base with that price though. Personally I would install it myself. It's cheaper and there's no better way to get to know your car then to take it apart and put it back together.

Let me clarify the switchbox for you. It allows you to connect the ACI and one of the following: ipod adpater, phatbox, sirius to the HU at the same time. It plugs into the back of the HU, and then the sirius (et, al) and ACI plug into it. Both modes are accessed by pushing the applicable buttons (SAT/MEDIA). One of the ports on the switchbox only works with the ACI, so you CAN'T plug in both the ipod adapter and the sirius. Just to clarify, if you have sirius installed and you don't get the switchbox then you won't have an input in your console anymore. Doesn't mean you can't add it later though.

Like Kansei said the ipod integration adapter allows you to control the ipod from the stereo controls. It plugs into the dock connector on the ipod and charges it at the same time as well. There are lots of aftermarket adapters that do the same thing and most of them do it much better. Oh, and they've been around longer than the OEM one too.

OEM in the 5-door is in the cargo area behind the right hand panel (above the gas tank). OEM in the 4-door is in the trunk behind the left hand panel.

Nope, all three use the same port on the back of the HU. Again if you install sirius/ipod/phatbox then the ACI is disabled unless you get the switchbox. Also again the ipod adapter and sirius are not compatible with each other even with the switchbox.

_Kansei_

Am I correct that the 'switchbox' is head unit controlled, not needing a physical switch in the cabin (it's pretty ghetto if it needs a switch in the cabin)

thanks for chiming in with all that info. As I'm a Protege owner, one who only had their stock head unit in for 3.5 hours (the drive back from the dealership), I just have to go by product literature haha

icspots

Yes, the switchbox is completely head unit controlled. All it is is a box with three plugs on it, two to receive and one to go to the HU.

elindholm

Super, thanks a lot for all of this. Kansei's parts provider emailed me the installation pdf. I don't think my dealer has gotten the switchbox, which is part of their confusion. I'll tell them I need it, then be on hand when the installer does the work so I can follow the instructions and back-seat drive. I'm sure he'll appreciate that.

Funny story to finish this off: When my dealer finally confessed they didn't know how to do the install, I asked why they didn't refer to the official instructions, and they said that written instructions didn't exist!

icspots

Wow, just wow. If only they looked in the computer database available to all mazda dealers. Did you go through Jason at www.onlinemazdaparts.com?

EDIT: Just double checked the link and you are indeed dealing with jason. he's a great guy and takes wonderful care of his customers. He's actually where I got the pdf instructions in the first place. Tell him Remi says hi.

_Kansei_

wow! stay far away from that dealership! onlinemazdaparts.com is a dealership, and a GREAT one at that from all my dealings with them (just ordering parts online). It's Montgomery Mazda in North Carolina.

icspots

More specifically in Charlotte. But really, Jason's a great guy and has gone a long way to make sure that I've been happy with stuff before.