Has this happened to anyone else? Ever since I unplugged my iPod to take it on a flight, it only plays now in the right channel. I think there's something off with my aux input. Should I take this into the dealership or does anyone know a workaround?
Check to make sure the cable isn't damaged. It sounds like something isn't making a connection with the ring part of the connector. Typically, the tip will carry the "right side" audio and the ring will carry the "left side" audio. Have you tried a different cable?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brandon @ Jul 7 2006, 07:56 AM) [snapback]282517[/snapback]</div> I just went out to the car and tried playing with it. It looks like neither side of the cable will slide into the aux control. It should just take a normal size mini connector, right? When I connect it, it's lose and is prone to falling out.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Zzyzx @ Jul 7 2006, 11:09 AM) [snapback]282521[/snapback]</div> Sounds to me you have a bunk connector. I bought one at Radio Shack for like $4. There is a micro connector, maybe that is what you have. The cable you need will fit very snugly in to the headphone slot on your MP3 player and the AUX input. It will be the same size as your standard head phone plug. Not like the big nice person ones they had in the 70's-80's, more like the Walkman size ones.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AlphaTeam @ Jul 7 2006, 08:32 AM) [snapback]282527[/snapback]</div> That's what I thought. Either side of the plug fits fine in my iPod but not into my aux connector. I tried plugging in a pair of headphones into the aux connector too and that wouldn't fit either.
Here's an example of what you might need: 12-inch (1/8" stereo male) to (1/8" stereo male) cable from RadioShack If a standard 1/8" stereo miniplug will not fit into the aux adapter, you should take it in to have it looked at.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Zzyzx @ Jul 7 2006, 11:37 AM) [snapback]282529[/snapback]</div> That is weird??? Inspect the AUX jack. Maybe put a mirror and see if something is lodged in there or if something came out of place. The same plug that fits in the headphone in the Ipod should fit the AUX jack. It sounds like something if not right with the AUX jack.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AlphaTeam @ Jul 7 2006, 09:16 AM) [snapback]282554[/snapback]</div> Well it's getting worse now - the car doesn't even notice that the cord is plugged in - so I just made an appointment at the dealership.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Zzyzx @ Jul 7 2006, 10:51 AM) [snapback]282516[/snapback]</div> Very simple solution to this. I had the same problem, and it turned out that I was using a mono connection cable, as opposed to stereo. No need to go to the dealer. Just go to radio shack and get a male/male stereo cable to run between the ipod and the aux input (mono cables have one ring on the male connector, while stereo cables have two rings -- subtle difference to notice, but a big difference in function). That will make things sound much better. Hope it works.
Good point - that is a common error. A stereo connection will have two visible "rings" whereas a mono connection will only have one: (Sorry, the attached image I created is no longer available) That said, if you successfully plug a mono connector into a stereo jack, the system will usually either be smart enough to output the signal to both left and right sides or it will just output to the left side (usually not the right side only).
The fact that the plug goes into the iPod fine but doesn't easily go into the AUX jack means that there must be something wrong with the AUX jack. Either there's something lodged in there, or there's something else broken about that jack. I think a trip to the dealer is in order. If you feel like it, of course, you can try to fix it yourself (or, at least diagnose the problem) by doing what AlphaTeam suggests and looking down into the AUX jack. . .
For those wondering, the radio shack cable I was using lost its tip in the Aux jack and that's what caused the problem. I need to replace that cable; I sure won't plug that end into the Aux side again.