[jdbower]

I just finished installing my Jensen MP3510 CD player from Harry ( http://mywebpages.comcast.net/bumpelo/front.html ). I always want to take pictures of the install but a photojournalist I ain't. Besides Harry does an excellent job in the included VCD. Here are some things that might help other would be installers:

First, READ HARRY'S ADDENDUM!!! Since a lot of you probably want to skip that part I'll reiterate some of the key points here.

The installation is no more complex than installing a standard radio into a car. The VCD is a little dated in that you don't have to do half the stuff anymore, evertything comes presoldered and ready to go.

I was almost able to do the entire installation using my Leatherman. I did need a drill and a socket wrench for the ground point on the car.

I'm not sure that I agree with Harry's grounding point. I used the ground stud on the back of the CD player but he wanted to use one of the mounting screws. It's six of one and a half dozen of the other since they're all connected to the same big ground plane, but I think the ground stud on the back is a little more secure.

The antistat matting that the controller board comes in isn't for shipping, don't bother removing the electrical tape.

After you push the Jensen all the way in but before you screw it down, check to see if the radio works (the connector may not be very snug).

I had an issue putting the mounting brackets on the radio. The right side went on just fine, but the left side wasn't threaded. I was able to use some wood screws to force a thread into one hole but I made the other too big. Three screws SHOULD be enough to prevent any problems but we'll see. Harry, did I screw up the instructions somehow?

The Prius says that I'm always on CD 11 when playing a regular CD. Since the Disk functions don't quite work I'm not too concerned.

Don't forget to click the top of the dash insert back into place, otherwise the door won't be flush.

The Track forward and back buttons work great! The trick is to install an IR LED behind the door where the CD player lives.

All in all its a quality unit and a fairly stock looking installation with a great tutorial video. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who wants a CD or MP3 player.

 

[kkrishnan]

I had an issue putting the mounting brackets on the radio. The right side went on just fine, but the left side wasn't threaded. I was able to use some wood screws to force a thread into one hole but I made the other too big. Three screws SHOULD be enough to prevent any problems but we'll see. Harry, did I screw up the instructions somehow?

The Prius says that I'm always on CD 11 when playing a regular CD. Since the Disk functions don't quite work I'm not too concerned.

Hi, thanks for sharing this! Since I will be going through the same process soon, I was a bit concerned about the above two items. The thing about the screw hole does not make sense to me. Surely, Harry had not missed something obvious like this; besides, it would have been pointed out by others installing it. I am thinking maybe you misunderstood a step somewhere along the line...

The biggie for me is this cryptic remark "Since the Disk functions don't quite work...." huh? They don't work? and you are none too concerned about it? What's up with that?

Thanks,

-Kal.

 

[jdbower]

CD functionality

I'm hoping that the lack of threads on the holes was an anomaly too. As for the disc functions, the communication to between the CD player and the radio is pretty much one way, the radio can cause the CD player to skip a track but the CD player can't seem to tell the radio about the time or number of tracks on the disc. Also, since the player is only a single disc player there's no way to change the disc number (it's essentially a meaningless variable and seems to have been assigned an arbitrary value). All in all you get about 90% of the useful functionality of an OEM player plus MP3 capabilities. Even more importantly, you get to do it yourself (mostly, it would have been even more fun if we just got a schematic and bunch of parts but I don't have that kind of time anymore...)

 

[kkrishnan]

OK, got it!

Harry's site actually makes note of the fact that the display will always read Disk 11, Track 1, Time 00:01 (if memory serves right). So, this should not have been a surprise...

I don't think this is a huge issue, since the multi-info display usually goes back to the fuel economy/engine power display anyway in a few seconds (this can be changed, but why?). With the Jensen, its own display (presumably) gives the track and time info, which is an advantage over the factory one which has no display of its own, and therefore is invisible when the display reverts back.

Yes, there are a couple of UI quirkies like this (another one is the "0" on the keypad is labelled "10", not sure why!), but all in all, as you said, you get 90% of what you get with the factory + all the MP3/CD-RW functions (and don't forget the IR remote as well for the "back seat" kids). All for about the same price as the factory CD.