(How To) Add Aux input to Prizm 2001

Ok, if you decide to do it, be aware that you are doing it at your own risk.
If you do not know what are you doing (or if you really depend on that stereo) it is simple, don't do it.


READ EVERYTHING FIRST. I kept it ~short and it is better to be safe then sorry.



First you need to take out the thing around the stereo. You need to remove the ashtray and press upwards near bottom, where there is the while plastic bracket.
http://people.umass.edu/glagji/Prizm2001/images/_mg_6742.jpg

TIP: Put something in the place near/below the ashtray to avoid scratchings when you take out the stereo.

Then you need to remove the bottom cover of the stereo. No need to remove the aluminum heat-sink.
http://people.umass.edu/glagji/Prizm2001/images/_mg_6751.jpg

You can use a flat screwdriver and you should see the following
http://people.umass.edu/glagji/Prizm2001/images/_mg_6752.jpg

What you are really interested in are the CD input cables
http://people.umass.edu/glagji/Prizm2001/images/_mg_6881.jpg

The black cable is the right channel. The thick black cable is the ground and the white cable next to it is the left channel.

After soldering the cables together you might get something like this.
http://people.umass.edu/glagji/Prizm2001/images/_mg_6882.jpg
It is not easy because you have very little space. I shaped the cables as hooks and then I soldered one by one as soon as I could.



You will need 5 cables, 4 to route the CD to a by-pass switch and 1 for the new input ground. I harvested the thin cables from an Ethernet cable.

TIP: Make sure to pass the cable through the cover holes otherwise to close the cover you will need to cut a corner or something similar.

Now for the audio jack i used this ( Model: 274-249) from Radioshack
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103452&cp=&pg=2&sr=1&origkw=1%2F8+stereo+phone+jack&kw=1%2F8+stereo+phone+jack&parentPage=search
You can probably find one to harvest from some old electronic thing you are about to throw away. I found one for example from an old CD drive after I have already used the jack from Radioshack. As you can see below in the comments there is a better jack available that has a built-in switch.

The switch part below is obsolete, see just above.
You will need also an DP2T switch, I used Model: 275-626
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062505&cp=&sr=1&origkw=dpdt+switch&kw=dpdt+switch&parentPage=search

For more info on the channels of the audio jack Wikipedia has this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRS_connector

Ok, after some soldering I got this
http://people.umass.edu/glagji/Prizm2001/images/_mg_6883.jpg



Keep in mind that the switch is thinner and you will need a smaller hole for the switch. Also the audio jack is short and you will need a slightly larger hole so the base of the audio jack can go in.

Some people might want to install a capacitor to reduce any noise when you connect the cable. For this reason leave the cable from the audio jack to the switch long enough. Or you can get a ground look isolator.


At the beginning of the photo gallery (http://people.umass.edu/glagji/Prizm2001/) I have a burned blower resistor that I replaced. The fan would work only in the Max setting. It was an easy fix.
You do not need to remove any cover, it is right underneath the passenger side dashboard, just stick your head there and you will see it.


Good Luck!

Feel free to use the info here or the pictures for non-commercial uses. I do not know for how long they will be available in the UMass server (probably 6 months) so If you want to put them somewhere else no problem.

I did this to my 2001 prizm but I used the 1/8" Stero Phone Jack part number 274-0248 from radio shack... this jack acts as a switch when you plug the cable in it breaks the CD connection.
same wiring as above basically just no need for the toggle switch.

Yeah, a coworker told me the same thing after he saw it. Thanks for the part number, hopefully it will be useful to people.