"iPod is Not Connected" messages - often - when iPod is DEFINATELY connectd

[romerom]

Hey guys,

Not sure if this is only happening to me, but I am getting alot of these "iPod is not connected" messages when playing my iPod. It eventually comes back, but it's just annoying that it happens so often?

I don't know what else I can do because the connection is about as connected as I can connect it hehe...

[mranderson]

Start with the simplest possible solution... ask the dealer to swap the iPod cable and see if that fixes you're problem.

[carman63]

I got the 'not connected' message once yesterday (2nd day of a 2-day road trip). I unplugged / plugged in the iPod from the cable.

More often, I notice the title / elapsed time of a song just freeze and I have to unplug/plug the iPod to correct it.

I'm using a new 80GB 'Classic', not sure if older iPods have this issue or not.

[marsb007]

I dont know if this is the same problem you're having... BUT,

When I turn the car on, I get the same message. I hit the AUX button, to select Ipod and it works without any problems for the rest of the time...

Definetely an annoying problem...

Hey guys,

Not sure if this is only happening to me, but I am getting alot of these "iPod is not connected" messages when playing my iPod. It eventually comes back, but it's just annoying that it happens so often?

I don't know what else I can do because the connection is about as connected as I can connect it hehe...

[Paradroid]

OK... I thought you guys might have had defective cables or connectors until this same problem happened to me. I bought my 80GB iPod a week before I got my G *specifically* for keeping in the car - I have a much smaller MP3 player to take everywhere else, but not compatible with the car's sound system. So basically it stays plugged in inside the center console pretty much the whole time.

The second time this happened to me I unplugged my iPod and noticed it was completely out of batteries. I wondered how that was possible since I never use it outside the car and when the car is on, it says it's charging. Once you start the car and the nav screen boots up it says the iPod is not connected. However, if you cycle through the audio sources it comes up again. I guess that's all the time it needs to pick up the slightest charge and start up again.

It must be that the iPod actually stays on (perhaps even playing - I have to verify this tomorrow) for a while after you shut the car off. Even though it gets power while you are running the car, I don't think it does much more than break even if you are constantly playing music off it like I do. So it's basically being drained gradually over time to the point where it won't detect when you turn the car on. Naturally, one would never suspect it because it's normal to assume it was constantly getting juice.

Man, I was going nuts over it until I figured it out! It would have been nice if Infiniti had included a shut-down command to the iPod when you turned the car off, but my guess is we're going to have to do that ourselves. Another alternative would be to make sure you hit "Pause" before turning the car off and letting the iPod shut down on it's own like it's supposed to after a certain span of inactivity. That would definitely help in my case since the majority of the tracks on my iPod are long 1hr+ DJ sets. Will have to test this out tomorrow as well. Stay tuned boys and girls!

[carman63]

I'm pretty sure my iPod pauses or stops when the engine is cut off - or the source is changed to radio / CD / hard drive. When I return to the car, the iPod seems to pick up where it left off.

I'll have to play with this and see. The one time my iPod showed up as 'not connected' it was in the middle of playing a song, while on a road trip. Odd.

[t-bone1924]

I want to buy an 80GB classic ipod and leave it plugged in all the time also!

My questions is whether the 80GB classic ipod fits nicely being plugged in and the center console closed with it inside?

Otherwise, I will get the Nano. I have the Journey model 5AT center console.

[drannor]

I'm seeing the same issues as Paradroid:- Periodic disconnected message- iPod low on batteries

I only use the iPod in the car, so I'm thinking it's not gracefully shutting down the iPod when the car is parked. I don't think it keeps playing necessarily, though IIRC the iPod should shut down on it's own if you pause it. Disconnecting and reconnecting the cable fixes the disconnect issue.

I have the 6MT, so the console is pretty tiny and the provided cord is about 3X the length needed. The tension on the coiled up cord could be pulling the connector to the iPod loose and causing problems. I have a 1st gen video iPod.

[carman63]

My questions is whether the 80GB classic ipod fits nicely being plugged in and the center console closed with it inside?

It fits. The connector cable doesn't flex too well, and it could have been a bit shorter IMO.

2 shots of the iPod 'resting' on the top ledge (cover closes no problem):





2 shots of the iPod down inside:

[t-bone1924]

Thanks for the pics. Is your car a 5AT or 6MT? I can't tell from the pics, too dark.

[carman63]

Sorry, it's a 5AT. I think the 6-speed has an even smaller area.

iPhone pictures, limited light

[marsb007]

how hard would it be to make a flat cable connector which one could route from the center console to the glovebox?

You would need the connector in the center console to be the same... flat cable what would reach all the way to the glovebox, being routed through the center console, by the shift knob, over to the glovebox...

Who wants to start a project like that? it cannot be that hard to do... hope there would be some sort of aftermarket company that would be willing to do it...

[Paradroid]

Drannor, you are correct. I went on to verify that the iPod automatically pauses as soon as you turn the car off, but it stays powered for some time. Since I've been manually shutting it down (press and hold the play/pause wheel button) I haven't seen any more disconnect issues.

I have the 6MT and getting the iPod to coexist with the cup holder in that center compartment was tricky. I did something similar to Carman - I centered the cup holder so that there was some space to reach the bottom on either side of the compartment. Then I let my iPod rest on top of that inside it's velvety pouch. The material prevents it from sliding around in there and the armrest closes perfectly over it in that position. I might consider using velcro to attach it to the inside of the armrest if cable management doesn't pose a problem, but I'm quite happy with the way it is now.

[marsb007]

Is there a way to make the Ipod NOT be the default music source? It seems that I leave the car on XM, and when I come back it defaults to Ipod (which is not even playing...)

silly question, but is there any way to choose which one is default?

[gan78mao]

I get it all the time too. I just thought my IPOD had bad connection!I guess not.. lol!

[marsb007]

Just as a follow up to my source always defaulting to IPOD. I figured it out...

Overnight, after the IPOD discharges itself, it goes dead (I know... I'm a genius!)The next morning when I start the car, it takes a second for the power to turn it back on. Once it's turned back on, the car acts as if the IPOD was just connected, switching to that input.

If the IPOD is fully charged when the car turns on, the car will default to the last used source.

[gan78mao]

wait. so let the car run for a while and it will go on again?

[beestea]

This possible problem bothers me a lot... is the IPOD really not powering down when the car is shut off? Anyway around this?

[shredder1]

I was having this problem also but this morning I think I might have accidently found a solution.

I hooked my fully charged IPod up with the switch on the top in the "hold" position, i.e., the red showing. Even in this position, the IPod still works when plugged into the car. When the car is turned off it does not drain power like it would if the switch were in the "on" position.

I just went out to the parking lot after 6 hours of inactivity and the batteries are still at full power, just like I left them.

UPDATE: Disregard above. Tried it after a day and it drained the battery. Oh, well, looks like I just have to disconnect the IPod every time I shut the car off. Unless someone else has a solution???
Modified by shredder1 at 11:44 AM 11/1/2007

[RedG37SNC]

Sounds like the solution will be a firmware upgrade to the audio system, that's if it's upgradable. Has anyone reported this to infiniti. I was thinking of getting an ipod too just for the car. This is rather disappointing news.
Modified by RedG37SNC at 9:38 PM 12/14/2007

[misst23]

I just started a new post about this - but it will soon be deleted and we can carry on here. My car has been in the shop twice because of the defaulting to the IPOD. The first time it went to the shop - it was switching consistently twice a day for a week. They changed out my audio system entirely. Two days after having it back - it started switching again but it wasn't happening all of the time. My car is currently at the dealership - and they don't know what to do with it - I might mention to them this post.

Forgot to mention that it only switches to my ipod if my car is put into reverse. I think it might be more than a dead battery on the IPOD.