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I was looking around for awhile to see if there was a solid writeup somewhere that went through the steps of installing a XCarlink IPOD kit. I came up with some info, but nothing solid. I decided that to help out this part of the Mazda community I would make one up, seeing I couldn't find one. I want to give a BIG shout out to Dave from RPM for having truely awesome customer service. Thanks again man!
So I got my gf a XCarlink for Christmas and figured it was about time I got around to installing it. Last week I was under the hood of the miata putting in a new manifold and downpipe, so I enjoyed this, seeing it was a much cleaner and easier job. I was lucky enough that my buddy that owns a detailing shop let me use one of his bays to work on the car inside, not to mention I got to use all his tools and supplies!
So here it goes, this is my write up for installing the XCarlink in a 2006 Mazda 6. I should note, that according to other install notes, this 03/2006 Mazda 6 must be considered a late model 2005, seeing that instructions I found offline were a little off on one step.
Tools needed: 10mm socket with extension, screwdriver, and a small flathead.
1. First step is disconnect the negative battery terminal.
2. Next put up the emergency brake and start working the cup holders out. Gently but firmly. In my case the cup holders were semi attached to the other console piece, so a firm yank on them separated the two (If your lucky you'll find a $50 bill under there like I did!).
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3. Now turn the key on and move the shifter into neutral, then spin off the shift knob.
4. Start taking out the center console by pulling up slowly, then look behind to remove the clip that holds the cigarette lighter. It should come off easy with a small flathead screwdriver.
5. Now remove the 2 lights that twist into the console by the shifter. Once they are out, you can now take the console out of the car (I did it this way so I could give the parts a good cleaning).
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6. Next is the brass bolt that's behind the radio console. You'll need to drop the glovebox out of the way by pressing the sides on the top, to drop it past the hinge, then lift off the bottom clamps on both sides (I left the side cord attached and just moved the glovebox out of my way).
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7. Now using the 10mm socket and a extension, carefully remove the brass bolt being careful not to drop the bolt, nor the socket off the extension like I did.
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8. Back to the front of the console, you can now remove the 2 upper screws located at the bottom of the radio console, underneath the lip. The bottom 2 screws do not need to be removed.
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9. Now this is where some years might differ from others. The instructions I was following said to "remove the air control knobs and the screws behind them", and that this was easy. Well, I started removing the knobs with a plastic pry tool and came up empty handed on the screws. A quick call to RPM and I asked Dave if I was mistaken, or if I should be seeing screws. He mentioned about 2005 models not having the screws, but this is a 06. In any case, with Dave on the phone, I pulled on the radio console with some force and it popped right out (I lost some time on this step fooling around with the air knobs when I didn't have to).
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10. Behind the radio you can see on the bottom left side, there's an empty plug, this is where the XCarlink plugs into.
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11. I decided to run the cord back under the center console, cup holders, and into the storage console between the seats. I used some snips to cut some of the plastic mesh that I found under the carpet piece. I must say it worked out pretty easy. No drilling required.
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12. I ran the cord through a hole I made in the carpet piece and back under toward the cup holder area. Then I plugged it together and re-connected the battery to test it out (It worked).
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13. Once you verify that the XCarlink is working, you can now reassemble the radio console, center console, glovebox, and cup holders. Be careful when putting everything back together that you snap clips back into place, as well as route wires through clips they came out of.
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All and all this was pretty self explanatory, but I know its nice sometimes to have writeups to reference when DIY. This job is definitely do-able by the average car guy/girl, and is about an hour long job if you take your time, 30 mins if you are rushing and want it done. I also took this time to clean the shit out of the console edges with a detailing brush my buddy let me use. I highly recommend doing it while everything's apart, you'll thank yourself later.
First impressions on the XCarlink? Awesome! The sound is superb and it sure beats the FM transmitter I took out. Sound is CD quality and has no interference or static. The controls on the radio and steering wheel work to control the IPOD as described. Only issue I came across is the disc up and disc down controls are going to take some getting used to. Depending on what you have the radio on, as far as EX:1, EX:2, etc, it might or might not let you use the IPOD controls directly. It may be covered in the manual, but I didn't read it. I'm just voicing my opinion on it right out of the box and the drive home.
Hopefully this writeup can help someone when they are installing their XCarlink a little easier next time. When I pick my gf up tonight and she sees its done, nothings broken, and its sounds awesome, maybe I'll get lucky. lol
So I got my gf a XCarlink for Christmas and figured it was about time I got around to installing it. Last week I was under the hood of the miata putting in a new manifold and downpipe, so I enjoyed this, seeing it was a much cleaner and easier job. I was lucky enough that my buddy that owns a detailing shop let me use one of his bays to work on the car inside, not to mention I got to use all his tools and supplies!
So here it goes, this is my write up for installing the XCarlink in a 2006 Mazda 6. I should note, that according to other install notes, this 03/2006 Mazda 6 must be considered a late model 2005, seeing that instructions I found offline were a little off on one step.
Tools needed: 10mm socket with extension, screwdriver, and a small flathead.
1. First step is disconnect the negative battery terminal.
2. Next put up the emergency brake and start working the cup holders out. Gently but firmly. In my case the cup holders were semi attached to the other console piece, so a firm yank on them separated the two (If your lucky you'll find a $50 bill under there like I did!).
3. Now turn the key on and move the shifter into neutral, then spin off the shift knob.
4. Start taking out the center console by pulling up slowly, then look behind to remove the clip that holds the cigarette lighter. It should come off easy with a small flathead screwdriver.
5. Now remove the 2 lights that twist into the console by the shifter. Once they are out, you can now take the console out of the car (I did it this way so I could give the parts a good cleaning).
6. Next is the brass bolt that's behind the radio console. You'll need to drop the glovebox out of the way by pressing the sides on the top, to drop it past the hinge, then lift off the bottom clamps on both sides (I left the side cord attached and just moved the glovebox out of my way).
7. Now using the 10mm socket and a extension, carefully remove the brass bolt being careful not to drop the bolt, nor the socket off the extension like I did.
8. Back to the front of the console, you can now remove the 2 upper screws located at the bottom of the radio console, underneath the lip. The bottom 2 screws do not need to be removed.
9. Now this is where some years might differ from others. The instructions I was following said to "remove the air control knobs and the screws behind them", and that this was easy. Well, I started removing the knobs with a plastic pry tool and came up empty handed on the screws. A quick call to RPM and I asked Dave if I was mistaken, or if I should be seeing screws. He mentioned about 2005 models not having the screws, but this is a 06. In any case, with Dave on the phone, I pulled on the radio console with some force and it popped right out (I lost some time on this step fooling around with the air knobs when I didn't have to).
10. Behind the radio you can see on the bottom left side, there's an empty plug, this is where the XCarlink plugs into.
11. I decided to run the cord back under the center console, cup holders, and into the storage console between the seats. I used some snips to cut some of the plastic mesh that I found under the carpet piece. I must say it worked out pretty easy. No drilling required.
12. I ran the cord through a hole I made in the carpet piece and back under toward the cup holder area. Then I plugged it together and re-connected the battery to test it out (It worked).
13. Once you verify that the XCarlink is working, you can now reassemble the radio console, center console, glovebox, and cup holders. Be careful when putting everything back together that you snap clips back into place, as well as route wires through clips they came out of.
All and all this was pretty self explanatory, but I know its nice sometimes to have writeups to reference when DIY. This job is definitely do-able by the average car guy/girl, and is about an hour long job if you take your time, 30 mins if you are rushing and want it done. I also took this time to clean the shit out of the console edges with a detailing brush my buddy let me use. I highly recommend doing it while everything's apart, you'll thank yourself later.
First impressions on the XCarlink? Awesome! The sound is superb and it sure beats the FM transmitter I took out. Sound is CD quality and has no interference or static. The controls on the radio and steering wheel work to control the IPOD as described. Only issue I came across is the disc up and disc down controls are going to take some getting used to. Depending on what you have the radio on, as far as EX:1, EX:2, etc, it might or might not let you use the IPOD controls directly. It may be covered in the manual, but I didn't read it. I'm just voicing my opinion on it right out of the box and the drive home.
Hopefully this writeup can help someone when they are installing their XCarlink a little easier next time. When I pick my gf up tonight and she sees its done, nothings broken, and its sounds awesome, maybe I'll get lucky. lol
