Audio video upgrade for 2004 interstate

[DavisBurns]

We are re-working our "entertainment" center and think its time to change components. We have taken out a 12v Tv that went through a converter to be plugged into a 110v outlet. Why they did it that way, I don't know. We have a JVC Stereo/DVD 200 watt player with some very nice blauplunkt speakers. We had a sub woofer under a bed but took it out years ago to free up space. We used the TV once to play a Netflix DVD. Once. Never tried to watch tv. So out with the tv. We have iPhones and iPads we take with us. Where should I start to change this system so we can watch netflix on an ipad and listen through these nice speaker? Should I keep the 200W JVC radio? I assume I need it to power the speakers. Thanks for your help.

[m.hony]

Get a new car stereo head unit with Bluetooth to listen to iPad/iPhone.
They are readily available by the top name manufacturers for about $120.
Problem solved.
All of them are 50 watts x 4 channels anymore and 3 pre-amp outs for front speakers, rear speakers, and sub-woofer.

[DavisBurns]

Thanks! I have come to the same conclusion. Too bad about that $500 JVC I pulled out. We are reworking the entertainment cabinet, installing pull out drawers with the top one to be used for a laptop work surface during astronomy nights. This means the new radio has to be installed in front which I am pretty sure I can do thanks to you tube. We have a single DIN so I am looking at a PYLE brand or a Power Acoustics with a retractable or removeable touchscreen which should allow is to use the iPhone map app and see the directions on the touchscreen via Bluetooth.

I have one question, can I connect the sprinter speakers in front as well as the four speakers in back? The RV came with two radios, one on the front dash and the add on multifunction radio, CD ,DVD player in back. Thanks again for your help and advise..

[m.hony]

The radio head unit internal amp will only power 4 speakers. If you want to power more speakers you will need an external power amplifier which uses RCA pre-amp outputs. This will provide you with even better sound quality.


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[DavisBurns]

Originally Posted by m.hony

The radio head unit internal amp will only power 4 speakers. If you want to power more speakers you will need an external power amplifier which uses RCA pre-amp outputs. This will provide you with even better sound quality.


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Ok, not sure how I'd do a pre amp. We aren't real sound geeks, so maybe the four house speakers will work. Any opinions about that? I'm not sure where the cab speakers are located. I note, with chagrin, after posting re: black vehicles, that you have one. I really must remember very nice people have different preferences.

[DavisBurns]

It looks like I have a problem getting the wiring harness from the front of the vehicle to the place behind the driver's seat where the JVC was installed. When it stops being 100 degrees out there, I'll pull things apart but not feeling very confident about getting the wiring harness connected.

[m.hony]

The pre-amp output is already there. RCA jacks on the back of the stereo and on the external power amp.
Look on Crutchfield or in a car stereo store to get a clearer picture of what I am describing


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[m.hony]

Maybe have the job done at a car stereo store- their installation rates are usually reasonable- $25 for a radio, $25 for an amp, etc.


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[m.hony]

Our friends just bought this 2004 Interstate with a JVC stereo in a cabinet with glass doors that looks like a back-in-the-day stereo cabinet.


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[DavisBurns]

That's our baby! But the doors are smoked plexiglass. The bottom of that cabinet has lots of electrical stuff including a relay and some fuses that you can't get to. We pulled the top off and removed the doors and the radio/DVD player mounted about the glass doors and the tv mounted on top of the cabinet. We are installing two pull out drawers. When the drawers are removed we can reach those things in the back of the cabinet. The top drawer will be used to stored a laptop and iPads and chargers. When pulled out it will be a work surface for the laptop during all night astrophotograpy sessions. Tell your friends we'd we happy to try to answer 2004 specific questions. I'll try to post a picture.

[DavisBurns]

Picture

[m.hony]

That push in to make the doors pop out sure reminds me of some 70's and 80's home stereo cabinets.
The stereo in the cab has CODE**** on the display. I'm sure this happened at some point when the battery was replaced. The code may be in a manual in the vehicle somewhere, or we may have to remove the stereo to get the code off the top of it.
On the 3rd day home, Murphy's law hit real hard. It would not shift from park (maybe they weren't pressing the brake?) and the son-in-law broke the key off in the switch...
Does a 2004 Interstate have only one battery? I know the newer ones have 2-

[m.hony]

Yes, that cabinet is the same. Jannie has TV on top of the cabinet.
There is a couch to the left of the cabinet in Jannie's Interstate.

[m.hony]

There is a bottle jack in the jack storage compartment that doesn't exactly fit right. Did it originally have a scissors jack?
I think it will be a little better for camping than a conversion van with no kitchen and bathroom, but we all think a rear bed layout would be more handy/convenient-

[DavisBurns]

Originally Posted by m.hony

That push in to make the doors pop out sure reminds me of some 70's and 80's home stereo cabinets.
The stereo in the cab has CODE**** on the display. I'm sure this happened at some point when the battery was replaced. The code may be in a manual in the vehicle somewhere, or we may have to remove the stereo to get the code off the top of it.
On the 3rd day home, Murphy's law hit real hard. It would not shift from park (maybe they weren't pressing the brake?) and the son-in-law broke the key off in the switch...
Does a 2004 Interstate have only one battery? I know the newer ones have 2-

I have it written down somewhere but I think the code is...1234

Try it, if it doesn't work I will look for it. The dodge dealer told us. You can download the airstream manual and sprinter manual from the Internet.

[DavisBurns]

Originally Posted by m.hony

That push in to make the doors pop out sure reminds me of some 70's and 80's home stereo cabinets.
The stereo in the cab has CODE**** on the display. I'm sure this happened at some point when the battery was replaced. The code may be in a manual in the vehicle somewhere, or we may have to remove the stereo to get the code off the top of it.
On the 3rd day home, Murphy's law hit real hard. It would not shift from park (maybe they weren't pressing the brake?) and the son-in-law broke the key off in the switch...
Does a 2004 Interstate have only one battery? I know the newer ones have 2-

Yes, the auto battery is under the hood, the house battery is under the passenger's seat. The Jack is under the front of where the passenger put'a his feet. We looked for that puppy for a year! I think you have to have your foot on the brake for it to start--and in,park of course. It is a scissor jack. We have a kitchen and bathroom in the rear and beds in front. It had a jack knife couch in it. It was awful. We took it out, put in a hinged platform and cushions for a bed. Opposite the bed we have a dinette that makes into a second single bed. We like this layout because one of us can sleep while the other drives and we are close enough if the driver wants something the rested can fetch it. Also, I need naps and am a restless sleeper. My husband does astrophotography. I can go to sleep and he can come to bed without crawling over me. It works for us. And yes those doors are a blast from a past further back than 2004. We won't miss them.

[m.hony]

The not shifting from park I think turned out to be a blown fuse.
I found the jack under the floor.
I have not found a house battery under the passenger seat. There are some things stored under there like the water hose and jack handle and lug wrench.

[DavisBurns]

You were right. It is a bottle jack but ours fits perfectly under the floor-- so much so it was in stealth mode for a year. Good to know a blown fuse can make it not move out of park. Maybe under the fridge--there's a little storage space there or under the tall wardrobe closet, it would be tight. Otherwise, I'm stumped. Look under the passenger seat to see if it has hookups/wires for a battery. I take it this had multiple owners.

[m.hony]

No place for a battery under the passenger seat. Only storage access by a flap in the side of the seat base. The guy they bought it from told them it only had 1 battery, but I can't believe that. I know I have seen some Interstates with the house battery under the seat or under the floor in the same vicinity.

[UKDUDE]

It's been a long time since I looked at a 2004 model, but if memory serves me well, the coach battery is located in a battery box under the roadside lounge. Try looking there.


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