After nearly a year of waiting for an aux-in module, I finally received mine. I've decided it would be for the benefit of everyone if I documented my experience, and wrote a how-to. It is highly recommended that two people work together to remove the HU, but one person can do the job.
The aux-mod can be ordered from Sylfex for $50 plus $5 shipping. Currently, there is a wait list due to low supply and high demand.
Sylfex has an install guide for the aux-in module. However, the guide is not a comprehensive install guide because it is written for both the Mazda6 and RX-8.
This guide will provide instructions on installing the aux-mod. To keep the readability of this guide to a maximum, I will not describe all steps in detail. Instead I will reference to both the
instructions on removing the HU are provided at 6 tech and module install in the Sylfex guide.
How the 6tech guide is used:
The 6tech guide will be used for removing the HU. Please familiarize yourself with the instructions down to removal of the Head Unit(HU). You will not familiarize yourself with the rest of the document because there is no need to remove wiring/LCD panel for the aux-mod install.
How the Sylfex guide is used:
The Sylfex guide will pickup from HU removal to aux-mod installation. Look in appendix A for mazda6 HU removal instructions.
What you will need for the aux-mod install:
1. 10mm socket and 6 inch extension.
2. 10mm wrench to disconnect battery
3. Phillips screwdriver
4. Audio cable for running audio from your device to the HU.
You will need ~1 hour for the install of the module. However, it took me a day to do the install because I went insane routing cables afterward.
Perform the following:
1. Disconnect the negative terminal of the battery. Use a 10mm wrench.
2. Remove: Cup holder, shifter and glove box. The cup holder comes out if you open the cup holder and pull at the "handle" located on the passenger side. The shifter comes out if you remove the shift knob and pull up on the plastic trim. (Anyone know how to remove the atx shifter?). The glove box comes out if you remove the string on the right side, and squeaze both sides of the glove box.
3. Remove the"hidden bolt" behind the glove box. Use a 10mm socket and extension.(6tech guide)
4. For auto-climate: Remove the screws at the bottom of the HU.
for non-auto climate: Pull off the three knobs. Behind the left and right control knobs, there are 2 exposed screws.
5. Wrap a towel around the shifter rod. If you are lazy, put the knob back onto the shifter.
6. Pull out the HU by lifting out, then up. (Be sure to watch the video from the 6tech
guide).
7. With the HU out you will see several connectors on the back. Press down on the tabs and pull the connectors out. They are in there pretty tight, but be persistent and they will come out. DO NOT pull ON THE WIRES themselves, or you may destroy the harness. (connector locations are in the Sylfex guide)
Have a 2nd person support the HU as shown in the picture while you unplug the harnesses in the back.
-There are 3 harnesses plus the antenna coax to remove on non-autoclimate models. Here are the 4 connectors to give you an idea of where the connectors are located:
-There are 4 harnesses plus the antenna coax to remove on the autoclimate models.
8. Now, the HU is free, carefully remove it from the car.
9. Skip this step if you do not have a tape/MD module. Remove tape/MD devices that may be in the lower deck.(Sylfex guide)
10. It is now time to "ground yourself".
11. Remove the aux-mod from it's anti-static bag and check to make sure that it was not damaged during shipping- broken off parts, etc.
12. Find the connector on the bottom of the HU. Test fitment of the module on the HU. The back/paper side of the module should be contacting the metal "wall" of the HU. The connectors should line up perfectly, and the module requires zero force to insert.(Sylfex guide).
13. Once it is verified the module fits, it is time to clean the mounting surface with rubbing alcohol.(Syylfex guide)
14. Peel the paper off the back of the module, insert the module and press the module so it makes a solid mount. Please make sure the mounting surface/module are ~room temp so the adhesive works best.(sylfex guide)
15. Plug your audio cable into the module and secure the cable with zip ties. You want to secure it in such a way that if the cable is tugged on, the zip ties take the force, not the module. This is how I ziptied/ran the cable.
16. Plan a way to route the cable from the HU to your source (iPod/XM, etc).
17. Feed the other end of the audio cable through to the removed glove box. This will allow you to retrieve the aucio cable eaisly later.
18. Insert the HU back into the car. Be sure the audio cable is sitting in the U shaped tunnel at the bottom of the HU.
19. Line up the HU and push top, sides, bottom.
20. Replace the 2 screws/bolt, reconnect battery.
21. Route your audio cable.
The aux-mod in action:
The aux-mod can be ordered from Sylfex for $50 plus $5 shipping. Currently, there is a wait list due to low supply and high demand.
Sylfex has an install guide for the aux-in module. However, the guide is not a comprehensive install guide because it is written for both the Mazda6 and RX-8.
This guide will provide instructions on installing the aux-mod. To keep the readability of this guide to a maximum, I will not describe all steps in detail. Instead I will reference to both the
instructions on removing the HU are provided at 6 tech and module install in the Sylfex guide.
How the 6tech guide is used:
The 6tech guide will be used for removing the HU. Please familiarize yourself with the instructions down to removal of the Head Unit(HU). You will not familiarize yourself with the rest of the document because there is no need to remove wiring/LCD panel for the aux-mod install.
How the Sylfex guide is used:
The Sylfex guide will pickup from HU removal to aux-mod installation. Look in appendix A for mazda6 HU removal instructions.
What you will need for the aux-mod install:
1. 10mm socket and 6 inch extension.
2. 10mm wrench to disconnect battery
3. Phillips screwdriver
4. Audio cable for running audio from your device to the HU.
You will need ~1 hour for the install of the module. However, it took me a day to do the install because I went insane routing cables afterward.
Perform the following:
1. Disconnect the negative terminal of the battery. Use a 10mm wrench.
2. Remove: Cup holder, shifter and glove box. The cup holder comes out if you open the cup holder and pull at the "handle" located on the passenger side. The shifter comes out if you remove the shift knob and pull up on the plastic trim. (Anyone know how to remove the atx shifter?). The glove box comes out if you remove the string on the right side, and squeaze both sides of the glove box.
3. Remove the"hidden bolt" behind the glove box. Use a 10mm socket and extension.(6tech guide)
4. For auto-climate: Remove the screws at the bottom of the HU.
for non-auto climate: Pull off the three knobs. Behind the left and right control knobs, there are 2 exposed screws.
5. Wrap a towel around the shifter rod. If you are lazy, put the knob back onto the shifter.
6. Pull out the HU by lifting out, then up. (Be sure to watch the video from the 6tech
guide).
7. With the HU out you will see several connectors on the back. Press down on the tabs and pull the connectors out. They are in there pretty tight, but be persistent and they will come out. DO NOT pull ON THE WIRES themselves, or you may destroy the harness. (connector locations are in the Sylfex guide)
Have a 2nd person support the HU as shown in the picture while you unplug the harnesses in the back.
-There are 3 harnesses plus the antenna coax to remove on non-autoclimate models. Here are the 4 connectors to give you an idea of where the connectors are located:
-There are 4 harnesses plus the antenna coax to remove on the autoclimate models.
8. Now, the HU is free, carefully remove it from the car.
9. Skip this step if you do not have a tape/MD module. Remove tape/MD devices that may be in the lower deck.(Sylfex guide)
10. It is now time to "ground yourself".
11. Remove the aux-mod from it's anti-static bag and check to make sure that it was not damaged during shipping- broken off parts, etc.
12. Find the connector on the bottom of the HU. Test fitment of the module on the HU. The back/paper side of the module should be contacting the metal "wall" of the HU. The connectors should line up perfectly, and the module requires zero force to insert.(Sylfex guide).
13. Once it is verified the module fits, it is time to clean the mounting surface with rubbing alcohol.(Syylfex guide)
14. Peel the paper off the back of the module, insert the module and press the module so it makes a solid mount. Please make sure the mounting surface/module are ~room temp so the adhesive works best.(sylfex guide)
15. Plug your audio cable into the module and secure the cable with zip ties. You want to secure it in such a way that if the cable is tugged on, the zip ties take the force, not the module. This is how I ziptied/ran the cable.
16. Plan a way to route the cable from the HU to your source (iPod/XM, etc).
17. Feed the other end of the audio cable through to the removed glove box. This will allow you to retrieve the aucio cable eaisly later.
18. Insert the HU back into the car. Be sure the audio cable is sitting in the U shaped tunnel at the bottom of the HU.
19. Line up the HU and push top, sides, bottom.
20. Replace the 2 screws/bolt, reconnect battery.
21. Route your audio cable.
The aux-mod in action: