A4ATLANTA

This weekend I started the install of my Phatbox and Coolbox (refridgerated glovebox). I picked up the phatbox from 1stVWPARTS.com, the cable (radio to phatbox) from Marc@Maxxedoutmotors. (Phatbox was $119 and the Cable was $92 shipped)

After running out to Home Depot to pick up a socket extender (which isn't needed, but I'm guessing will make putting back the glovebox easier) and the proper socket bit I removed the glovebox. Needforsleep covers this really well, so I won't reinvent the wheel:

<a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a4gen2/msgs/534991.phtml">https://forums.audiworld.com/a4gen2/msgs/534991.phtml</a>

Once the glovebox was removed (approx 10 minutes) I made the modifications for the cool box:

First I removed the padding covering the hole where the hose will go and tucked it under itself:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/93649/removing_padding_from_glovebox.jpg">

Next I used a screw driver and a hammer to punch out the circular insert:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/93649/removing_insert_from_glovebox.jpg">

The finished Product:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/93649/glovebox_with_hole_punched.jpg">

The glovebox was then placed to the side, as the parts for the rest of the coolbox should arrive by Tuesday. (This will be covered in Part 2).

Now to wire the phatbox...

I decided the easiest route, since I had already removed the glovebox was along the passenger side of the car.

The first steps I took were to remove the net and cover over the spare tire in the trunk. I also removed the cubby liner from the back right corner of the trunk. Then I removed the rear seats. To do this, slide the front seats forward (this will give you more room to work) and then simply lift on the front of the seats. You will hear a snap as they pop out, one on each side. Put the seat somewhere clean.

Now the wiring starts. I started in the front by running the wire loosely from under the glovebox around the front passenger seat on the floor and up onto the backseat and across to the drivers side in the back seat. Then lowered the back seat to slide the wire through to the trunk and to the rear cubby. Then the tucking starts...

First I tucked the cable in the trunk under the side of the trunk liner:

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/93649/tucking_cable_in_trunk.jpg">

Next I ran the wire from under the trunk liner through to the cubby in the back right side. This required lifting up on the trunk liner from the cubby side and pushing the wire through (with header still on) into the cubby. This can scrape your fingers up a bit, but is a simple process and once the wire is through you can connect it to the phatbox wire:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/93649/connecting_to_phatbox.jpg">

At the same time, I connected the ground wire to the screw sticking up from the cubby:

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/93649/trunk-ground.jpg">

I'm not sure if this is a proper ground, check this thread for updates to make sure:
<a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a4gen2/msgs/851367.phtml">Click Here</a>

Now the next step was to route the cable through the back seat:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/93649/cable_wired_through_to_trunk.jpg">

Running across the backseat and tucked behind the seatbelts:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/93649/cable_wired_across_back_seat.jpg">

Then I tucked the wire along the side of the car by lifting the plastic wire and tucking the cable under it. This was very easy and hides it perfectly:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/93649/tucking_cable_back_passenger.jpg">

Continue this process up into the front seat and finish by tucking it into the plastic piece under the glovebox on the side of the car. This piece slides out, simply pull back on the vertical part running up the side and it will pop out and just as easily right back in:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/93649/phatbox_cable_front_passenger.jpg">

Finally I used industrial strength velcro to hold the phatbox in place, though I plan to eventually make a custom mount for the rear cubby out of wood and felt covering:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/93649/velcro_in_trunk.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/93649/velcro_on_phatbox.jpg">

Final shot:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/93649/phatbox_in_trunk_01.jpg">

What's left:

Once the parts arrive for the coolbox I will put them into place and put the glovebox back in the car. This is documented in the link above, so I probably won't go into much detail there. I plan to go by the local radio shop or dealer today and ask them nicely to pop out the stereo so I can connect the phatbox up and hopefully it will all be working.

As always, this is what I did to my car. Anything you do to your car is not my fault. You are responsible for your actions.

I am relatively new to this process, so if you see anything I've done wrong, or have any advice for the rest of the process, please let me know!

Jeffrey

shadyraven

Looks nice - thanks for sharing!

heateris

nice, that Tourag Tourch can come in handy!

A4ATLANTA

I finally was able to get the radio pulled out thanks to a local Audi shop (non-dealer) and am ready to plug in the phatbox cable. The cable Marc made basically has the same "radio end" as the CD changer harness". There are three horizontal slots and one vertical. From the diagrams I've seen, it looks like the CD changer/phatbox cable should plug into the top slot, but all three of the horizontal slots have something in them. The vertical slot is empty, but looks different.

I have pictures of the back of the radio and the cable as well. (if needed).

Thanks,

Jeffrey

Avantadrive_Original

sounds like you did a pretty good job! one strong piece of advice that I have that will save you lots of future trouble is go to crutchfield.com and get 2 sets (4 total) of their radio removal tools (each one has 3 heads on it). I did this a while back, and boy has it saved me the hassle of going somewhere to get the radio pulled everytime I move or install something. It's still a pain in the *** once you have the tools, but when you've done it a bunch of times (and get the tools form-fitted to the quirks of your particular head unit) you'll be able to pull it in seconds. Great for the person who's never satisfied and always rearranging!

A4ATLANTA

I ordered them (I only need one set because I have the concert radio) but they haven't arrived yet. The local shop is only about 2 minutes away, but it will be nice to have them going forward as I have a parrot system on the way.

Jeffrey

A4ATLANTA

I believe according to the wiring diagram that I have the phatbox wired in correctly. I removed the top [ slot (1) ] cable which had a few wires connected to the CAN section and the LINE OUT sections of that slot. Marc's wire came with a pass-through harness, so I plugged that original wire into the passthrough and plugged the other end into that top slot (passthrough + CD changer wiring).

I followed the instructions to wire the phatbox and it did not power up. I tightened the connections and tried again, still nothing.

I had originally planned to do a glovebox install, so I fetched that wire and use that to create the connection in place of Marc's wire to make sure that Marc's wire wasn't the problem, and that also did not produce any power to the unit...

So I guess my question is, what should I do now? How can I test the various components; wires, phatbox, to determine where the trouble is. Assuming I wired everything correctly, I'm guessing the trouble is with the Phatbox. I suppose it is also possible that I blew a fuse, but the radio still works...would they be separate fuses and how would I test that if it was a possible point of failure?

[UPDATE] When holding down Preset 4 and turning on the radio it gives the NO CDC display, which confirms that the Phatbox is not getting power/being detected.


Thanks for any help you can give!

Jeffrey
dissmissedasdrone [AT] yahoo [DOT] com

A4ATLANTA

Turns out the problem was the ground wire in the trunk. Even though the loop was around the screw, the screw seems to be lightly coated, which was perhaps preventing a quality conection. Following Projekt 8E's advice, I scraped the screw and reconnected the ground (and saw a few sparks as I reconnected it) - which meant the power was there, and sure enough the phatbox lit up.

Such a wonderful thing to hear the firmware updated phatbox voice coming through the radio... Now to load on the MP3's!

Jeffrey