2001 GMC Sierra ipod hookup

jonnymac44

jonnymac44

Joined
Sep 27, 2007
Messages
7,680
Hey guys,
I have a huge collection of CDs and have always resisted the ipod craze. I've finally gotten to the point where I am tired of always switching out discs from the truck to the wife's car to the stereo to the computer.........I am ready to get an ipod to load my nearly 900 CD collection onto so I can take it whererver.

I have a 2001 GMC Sierra pickup with the factory radio/CD player installed. Can anybody recommend the best way to play an ipod through my truck's radio? I've always noticed the 2001 GMC radio has a button for "aux". Is there an input in the back of the unit where I can hook up an ipod with the proper adapter? Do the adapters that run off an FM signal work well? How's the sound quality?

I love electronics and gadgets, but I'm laggin' behind in the ipod scene. Help me out fellas.

Thanks a bunch!!
 
It's your radio, and you should know, but it seems like the input should be on the face of the radio if you have an aux option. If not, then surely there must be something on the back. If there's nothing in back then you need a new radio along with that new ipod. I've not had much success with fm transmitters, either.
 
You know they have these nifty "Wireless iPod FM Transmitters" that a guy could almost like hook his iPod upto, select the radio station it broadcasts to and then like actually listen to his iPod without digging around behind the Radio for the RCA Aux hookup....

Head on down to your local WallyWorld or BestBuy and look for a Belkin FM transmitter for your iPod, it should run you around $30 or so but you can take it from your vehicle to the wife's to the rental car...etc...etc...etc. (Amazon Link [you could get one for less used from amazon from a dealer]: http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-TuneCast-Transmitter-Players-Black/dp/B0001F22PA)

As for the Stereo in the house...Pickup one of these (3.5mm - RCA male) http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...d=10218&cs_id=1021804&p_id=665&seq=1&format=2

Then for your computer...well you get a cable for that with the iPod :D


:NOTE: A FM transmitter will not provide the best quality compared to a hardwired alternative, but a decent quality (like belkin) that allows you to pick the FM frequency to broadcast can offer a damn good sound quality...Oh and as a bonus if you get the right one you can override a FM signal in someones car to play your own music...Not that you would do that when riding with the wife and she puts on some bad music or anything...

I've got a chinese knockoff transmitter that works decently that I could send your way as a "passaround" for you to tinker with...Its a cheapo $3 FleaBay special (that does work though not all that well) so I'm not to concerned about what happens to it.
 
Last edited:
MutedRaccoon said:
You know they have these nifty "Wireless iPod FM Transmitters" that a guy could almost like hook his iPod upto, select the radio station it broadcasts to and then like actually listen to his iPod without digging around behind the Radio for the RCA Aux hookup....

Head on down to your local WallyWorld or BestBuy and look for a Belkin FM transmitter for your iPod, it should run you around $30 or so but you can take it from your vehicle to the wife's to the rental car...etc...etc...etc. (Amazon Link [you could get one for less used from amazon from a dealer]: http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-TuneCast-Transmitter-Players-Black/dp/B0001F22PA)

As for the Stereo in the house...Pickup one of these (3.5mm - RCA male) http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...d=10218&cs_id=1021804&p_id=665&seq=1&format=2

Then for your computer...well you get a cable for that with the iPod :D


:NOTE: A FM transmitter will not provide the best quality compared to a hardwired alternative, but a decent quality (like belkin) that allows you to pick the FM frequency to broadcast can offer a damn good sound quality...Oh and as a bonus if you get the right one you can override a FM signal in someones car to play your own music...Not that you would do that when riding with the wife and she puts on some bad music or anything...

I've got a chinese knockoff transmitter that works decently that I could send your way as a "passaround" for you to tinker with...Its a cheapo $3 FleaBay special (that does work though not all that well) so I'm not to concerned about what happens to it.
Click to expand...

Thanks for all the info guys. Raccoon, I was well aware of the "FM transmitter thingy" already!:D:p I was just asking about performance! No worries with the home stereo or the computer. My Pioneer receiver has a built in ipod dock and computer....well I can find my way around one of those;)

As for the truck, there is no jack for aux on the front of the radio, looks like I'm gonna have to dig around the back to look for one. There must be one there if there is an aux button on the front. It was probably originally there for hooking up a cd changer, but I'm hoping there is something out there that could use it for an ipod.

Smegs, thanks for the link. I'll look into it:thumbup:
 
jonnymac44 said:
Thanks for all the info guys. Raccoon, I was well aware of the "FM transmitter thingy" already!:D:p I was just asking about performance! No worries with the home stereo or the computer. My Pioneer receiver has a built in ipod dock and computer....well I can find my way around one of those;)

As for the truck, there is no jack for aux on the front of the radio, looks like I'm gonna have to dig around the back to look for one. There must be one there if there is an aux button on the front. It was probably originally there for hooking up a cd changer, but I'm hoping there is something out there that could use it for an ipod.

Smegs, thanks for the link. I'll look into it:thumbup:
Click to expand...

If you can't find one let me know and I'll loan you my cheapo FM transmitter for you to play with.
 
If your vehicle has a cassette player that is the best way. I have owned two of the FM transmitters and they both were crappy. I drive a 2001 Tacoma and cassette works great. That is how my XM works also.
 
David M said:
If your vehicle has a cassette player that is the best way. I have owned two of the FM transmitters and they both were crappy. I drive a 2001 Tacoma and cassette works great. That is how my XM works also.
Click to expand...

No cassette, just a single disc in dash cd player. I might take it by the dealer and see what they suggest......and then buy the hardware someplace else!!:D
 
Just throwing in my two cents. Orrey44's is the best/cheapest option. Have two friends that have gone that way and it is tip top.
 
If you're looking for the best option, you'll want something like this:

http://www.icarkits.com/product_info.php?products_id=48

In addition to getting clear signal (the antenna splitter will also do this, and is much cheaper), you'll also get charging and control from the factory stereo.

It's just a question of what you want the adapter to accomplish. I haven't used that particular product (just Googled it), but I've used similar and have been quite pleased with the results. Less wires, less fumbling with ipod controls while driving = better.
 
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