iPod Car Cord

Convael

A while back I installed a new stereo into my relatively old and crappy car and so I finally had something that could play an iPod (my old one didn't even have a tape player). I went out to an Apple store nearby and bought a Belkin car cord since it was the only one that they had available and hooked it up. Everything went fine until a few months later when the sound started to get crinkly and I would constantly have to take the cord out and put it back in or move it around in order for the sound to be okay. It got so bad that eventually the only way to get sound out was to angle the cord so tightly into the iPod that I just left it stuffed in a compartment on the dashboard where the cord was really snug but also pulling in a bad way. Not the best idea, of course, and eventually the cord stopped working completely. I went out and bought a new Belkin cord and have been using it for about 2 months when suddenly the sound started to get crinkly again and I constantly have to reposition the cord going into the iPod.

I'd basically like to know if anyone has had any similar experiences with this brand since apart from when I put the first cord in a pretty bad position because it was the only way to get it to play, I haven't done anything strange and pretty much just leave the cord laying on a seat when it's not in use. I might go with a different brand but Belkin is pretty well-known and usually reliable, but if anyone uses a different one then I'd like to hear it rather than buying a new 20$ cord every few months because it mysteriously starts to give out. Thanks.

Everywhereasign

My friend is using the cord that came with his Alpine stereo. It's been over a year with no problems.

I'm kinda surprised though, Belkin usually makes decent stuff. Do you ever have problems docking the ipod, or charging it in the dock? Maybe it's just a bad fit for your 'pod.

Szechuanosaurus

Huh. I have the Belkin (we're talking about the Belkin that plugs into the lighter socket and then has a plastic cassette that goes in the deck and a flat iPod jack at the other end, right?) and it's worked fine for years.

Is that what you have? The one that plugs into the flat recharger slot at the bottom of the iPod, not into the headphone socket?

Gihgehls

When you unplug things, be sure to grab at the connector and not at the actual wire...

Convael

Szechuanosaurus wrote: »

Huh. I have the Belkin (we're talking about the Belkin that plugs into the lighter socket and then has a plastic cassette that goes in the deck and a flat iPod jack at the other end, right?) and it's worked fine for years.

Is that what you have? The one that plugs into the flat recharger slot at the bottom of the iPod, not into the headphone socket?

No, I use one that looks similar to this http://www.johnlewis.com/jl_assets/product/230213752.jpg except that it's just a single cord with two ends... I couldn't find an exact picture of the one that I have. Once I need to go buy a replacement I'll see if I can get the one that plugs into the lighter and the base of the iPod. The one I have goes from an AV socket in my stereo into the headphone plug for the iPod. And I've never had any problems docking it before or using headphones with it, so I'll just give the other type of cord a shot. Thanks.

blanknogo

Is this the cord that goes from your iPod headphone jack to the cars aux-in? If so, you don't need a brand name cord. Check out a nearby dollar store (great place for these kinds of things) or Radio Shack and I'm sure you'll find something more reasonably priced (at the dollar store they will most likely cost a dollar).