MDI Cable Pinching

[Steady]

Hi All,

I have recently become the new owner of a Mark VI GTI 61 plate, having upgraded from a 1.2 Clio, so you can imagine how much I am loving the car so far!

However, I have one small problem that is grating on me...I have the MDI built into the arm rest, but whenever I plug in my iPhone or iPod and put it in the "cubby hole" I have to bend the cable for it to fit. It seems that by doing this it is causing either no connection or limited connection (for about 5 seconds) before cutting out.

I thought about simply getting a new cable but I fear it wont be long before I get a recurring problem. Unfortunately the cable isnt long enough to simply poke the cable out of the arm rest, attach the ipod and leave it in the drinks holder. Am I alone in experiencing this issue and is anybody aware of a way around it?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Cheers.

[Ginge 35Edition]

Was it a main dealer purchase? If so sweet talk ya salesman and get him to replace the cable. I use the cable and centre armrest for my iPod and have had no issues, but then I don't repeatedly take mine in and out, so that might be causing the issue?

[AlanH]

I agree that the cable is quite stiff, but I've had two GTDs with an iPod Classic installed in the armrest and never had a problem. Are you installing your iPod/iPhone with the dock connector uppermost?

[Booth11]

Hi, I have a 62 plate with same issue.  iPod cable is very short and stiff and loses connection regularly.  Dock connector has to be uppermost as cable not long enough to go any other way. 

I have found that if I ensure that the cable is really, really well docked into iPod and the arm rest is raised just an inch or so, so it is not pressing on cable, then connection is much more stable.  I have learned to live with it but it can be annoying when music keeps cutting out part way through a journey!

[Ed35 chunk]

The iPhone is to big that's why the smaller iPods work fine unless u want the lead hanging out with phone attached

[Sandwich_Dan]

I use an iPod classic and when I bought the car the dealer plugged it in and bent the cable pretty sharply to make it fit so I assumed that was normal.  After a couple of months the cable was shot.  The dealer gave me a replacement and at the same time I bought an extension from amazon which, although much longer than needed for the job, meant I could take the strain off the MDI cable and connector.  No problems since.  You have to make sure all the necessary pins are wired if you use an extension.  Here's the one I bought: http://www.amazon.co.uk/TRIXES-Extension-iPhone-Supports-Signal/dp/B00576ONQ4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350942843&sr=8-1

[Steady]

Thanks guys. I have tried my iPhone and am now using an old iPod classic that I can just leave in the car.

I have found that if i straighten out the cable (un-rouche it so to speak) and then connect it up then it improves but it isn't long before the cable bends and the connection suffers again.

I can see why a small iPod would work too as the cable wouldn't need to be bent so sharply for the iPod to fit in but unfortunately don't have one! I would imagine that using the MDI to USB cable and putting in a memory stick would have the same effect as a small iPod? If all else fails I might try that.

I will try and get the dealer to give me another cable (will he try to make me pay for it?) and purchase the extension that Sandwich_Dan mentions first and hopefully that helps.

[Ginge 35Edition]

Hopefully the mk7 will have it in the glovebox. I borrowed a Jetta a couple of weeks ago and it was in the glovebox, so rather than use my iPod I checked my iPad in - laughing as it charged it too so when I moved from hotel to hotel it was always ready to use. Fingers crossed.