XCarLink questions, tips, tricks, and issues!

[jaysen]

I somehow never saw this thread and am planning to get the unit. I hear the camera sucks so I'm going to go with another unit.
I'm trying to get a few guys together so we can get another discount.

xcarlink:
http://www.xcarlink.co.uk/product.ph...3&cat=4&page=1

camera:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Car-Parking-...166e94&vxp=mtr

I'm in for the camera, and another 4 day install ! hahaha.

[TCHUN003]

Xcarlink:
1. TCHUN003
2. Mmartin09
3.
4.
5.
6.

Back up camera:
1. TCHUN003
2. Mmart09
3. Jaysen
4.
5.

[TheHeiko]

Bump for a cool mod. I LOVE the added back up camera and it something that I use several times a day. Totally worthwhile! The trunk handle camera that Thomas is taking names on is excellent. A handful of us got the same one and it looks completely OEM and works very well. Good wide angle and excellent low light picture. See kwbc's earlier posts to see this camera.

[Booya]

I just bought a new touch screen and going to have my XCL and xcl camera up for sale soon in the classified if anyone intrested. This include all the A/V cables for the iphone 4, 4s, and ipod. Haven't got time to install the new touch screen yet but should have the xcl posted next weekend. XCL only about 4-5 month of use. Camera never been use.

[wxsgt]

I just bought a new touch screen and going to have my XCL and xcl camera up for sale soon in the classified if anyone intrested. This include all the A/V cables for the iphone 4, 4s, and ipod. Haven't got time to install the new touch screen yet but should have the xcl posted next weekend. XCL only about 4-5 month of use. Camera never been use.

which touch screen did you get?

[Booya]

which touch screen did you get?

Bought one off of dh gate. It will allow you to use the original screen, bluetooth, iPod, TV, GPS, DVD, and external A/V running Win CE 6.0. Come with a mounting bracket for the glove box as well. Manufacturer also said the steering wheel control will also work.
I'll post a link to it once I install and test it. Should be in a week or so when I have the time. Don't want anyone to waste their money if it don't work correctly.

[rockDAhouse]

Bought one off of dh gate. It will allow you to use the original screen, bluetooth, iPod, TV, GPS, DVD, and external A/V running Win CE 6.0. Come with a mounting bracket for the glove box as well. Manufacturer also said the steering wheel control will also work.
I'll post a link to it once I install and test it. Should be in a week or so when I have the time. Don't want anyone to waste their money if it don't work correctly.

can't wait to see this.

[jaysen]

I'm assuming Booya is referring to this; http://www.dhgate.com/in-dash-car-dv...3.html#s3-20-1

Looks very "OEM-ish" but my gripe with a unit like that is how is the navigation software... WinCE 6.0 as an OS is great because of the software that can potentially be run however it's slowly being phased out and you wont see many software vendors supporting it.

[TCHUN003]

Xcarlink:
1. TCHUN003
2. Mmartin09
3.
4.
5.
6.

BUMP, lets get more ppl to sign up for the xcarlinks!!!

[Liquid Smoke]

that touchscreen one is cool but i just dont bother with those because im sure that touchscreen is gonna be annoying, be unresponsive at times, etc. i'd rather not mess with some badly made chinese software and just gonna connect my phone and use w/e apps i need, Google Maps ftw!

[Liquid Smoke]

question for those who installed the wireless camera, so i bought the $40 one on ebay, the sony ccd one. i got the transmitter hooked up to the rear brake light power, and the receiver is connected to the xcl unit into the correct video input, and then i used the green power cable from the xcl unit for the receiver, but i get nothing. and yes i had the car turned on and in reverse as well, nothing happens, the screen doesnt even change let alone any video showing up.

is this how its supposed to be hooked up or is that green wire not the right one? other than that i dont see any other power cables and is it just supposed to be powered to something else?

how did you guys wire your wireless cameras?

EDIT: ok so the green wire has to go to the 12v reverse source? so even if i have a wireless camera i still have to run that green cable to the trunk into the reverse light? might as well just get a wired camera then, anyone fit their wireless cam a diff way? is there somewhere up front with the 12v reverse source?

also, my AMI stopped playing audio, it powers on and shows that its playing, just no sound.

pretty frustrated with this right now, was looking forward to getting it all working smooth, help please!

[Booya]

question for those who installed the wireless camera, so i bought the $40 one on ebay, the sony ccd one. i got the transmitter hooked up to the rear brake light power, and the receiver is connected to the xcl unit into the correct video input, and then i used the green power cable from the xcl unit for the receiver, but i get nothing. and yes i had the car turned on and in reverse as well, nothing happens, the screen doesnt even change let alone any video showing up.

is this how its supposed to be hooked up or is that green wire not the right one? other than that i dont see any other power cables and is it just supposed to be powered to something else?

how did you guys wire your wireless cameras?

EDIT: ok so the green wire has to go to the 12v reverse source? so even if i have a wireless camera i still have to run that green cable to the trunk into the reverse light? might as well just get a wired camera then, anyone fit their wireless cam a diff way? is there somewhere up front with the 12v reverse source?

also, my AMI stopped playing audio, it powers on and shows that its playing, just no sound.

pretty frustrated with this right now, was looking forward to getting it all working smooth, help please!

I reply to your PM about this. You can find the back-up switch in the gear box to connect the green XCL wire.

For your audio, make sure you move the AUX connectors from the back of the hardness straight to the radio. Also if you have the AUX audio port, you must connect that from your center console to your DVD player or phone audio port and switch to "Media" on you AMI. If you do not have the AUX port and just the iPod connection, you will need to splice the audio cable from the A/V you're using to the main audio wires in your hardness and use radio frequency 87.9FM.

[Booya]

I'm assuming Booya is referring to this; http://www.dhgate.com/in-dash-car-dv...3.html#s3-20-1

Looks very "OEM-ish" but my gripe with a unit like that is how is the navigation software... WinCE 6.0 as an OS is great because of the software that can potentially be run however it's slowly being phased out and you wont see many software vendors supporting it.

Actually that's not the one. This one uses the 7" screen and your will have to replace your original screen.

[Liquid Smoke]

ok thanks, so i understand the camera now, also is it just the single green wire? or is there supposed to be a ground with it? also whats that other wire labeled as 'SP', its like this little black wire with the small end plug (like the control switch plug).

as for the audio, im not sure what you mean. i have no aux port, i have the AMI unit with the diff adapters, tried with my usb adapter and aux adapter, neither play any sound.

[kwbdc]

Sound is definitely an issue, still haven't gotten around to getting sound but I think there's a post about using an adapter earlier in the thread.

[asfastas63]

A few questions (I did a search but didn't thoroughly read all 24 pages of this thread so I apologize if this has been answered already).

1. Does the green backup wire exist for manual transmissions?

2. How much of a pain is running the wires all the way to the trunk?

3. For this group buy you guys are trying to pull together, what would the prices be on the xcarlink and the camera?

[Booya]

A few questions (I did a search but didn't thoroughly read all 24 pages of this thread so I apologize if this has been answered already).

1. Does the green backup wire exist for manual transmissions?

2. How much of a pain is running the wires all the way to the trunk?

3. For this group buy you guys are trying to pull together, what would the prices be on the xcarlink and the camera?

1. The green wire is on the XCL itself which you need to connect to the reverse light wiring on your car. Does not matter if it's manual or auto. This is at the tail light housing.

2. It took me about 15 minutes to run on the right side of the car. Quite easy, remove glove box and just pop out the trims along the door sill, and the side of the back seat. All just hold with retainer clips.

3. Don't know about this group buy but the last one for me anyway was only enough discount to cover the shipping cost.

[asfastas63]

1. The green wire is on the XCL itself which you need to connect to the reverse light wiring on your car. Does not matter if it's manual or auto. This is at the tail light housing.

2. It took me about 15 minutes to run on the right side of the car. Quite easy, remove glove box and just pop out the trims along the door sill, and the side of the back seat. All just hold with retainer clips.

3. Don't know about this group buy but the last one for me anyway was only enough discount to cover the shipping cost.

Oh great, thanks for the help. Maybe I should just wait to try and snag your setup from the classifieds first! My two main motivations are backup camera #1, and google maps from my iphone while I'm driving #2.

[TCHUN003]

Audizine2 is the code for a 10% discount on xcarlink

[Slick_B8]

Xcarlink:
1. TCHUN003
2. Mmartin09
3. Ulisses03hd
4.
5.
6.

[LoveMyA4]

Xcarlink:
1. TCHUN003
2. Mmartin09
3. Ulisses03hd
4.
5.
6.

Is this list still necessary seeing how there is already a 10% discount being offered by Xcarlink, as referenced by TCHUN003 in the post above? If it is, then you can add me for the Xcarlink and camera.

[TCHUN003]

No, everything was ordered. If you want to get a camera, I will need a few more people to get the order going.

[kwbdc]

I think I'll be upgrading to the unit Booya got. I'll be putting up my XCL in the classified in a few weeks along with a wireless camera unit that I didn't use. If anyone wants to save a little $$ and wait a week or 2 let me know and I can save it for you.

[Slick_B8]

I think I'll be upgrading to the unit Booya got. I'll be putting up my XCL in the classified in a few weeks along with a wireless camera unit that I didn't use. If anyone wants to save a little $$ and wait a week or 2 let me know and I can save it for you.

Yes please!! Lol shoot me a pm :D

[kwbdc]

^PM sent.

[TheHeiko]

LOL! I knew you couldn't resist the new system Booya got. I admit I thought about it too but I'll probably leave my XCL alone.

[kwbdc]

Yea, It was the NAV that got me. No need for a separate unit was attractive.

[Booya]

So I got many many PM from different members about connecting their backup camera and audio on the XCL and thought I would post some solutions here for all to see. If you have question or problem that you don't mind other to see, please post it here.
Sometime I get really busy with work/family and may take days or week before replying. This way other members who has it install can answer/help with your issue and other can see it too.

Installing Camera:

So far I see people only have 2 type of cameras on here.
XCL type license plate camera
Trunk handle camera

License plate camera hard wire connection:
XCL camera is not plug and play with the connection. You must splice the red power wire and ground to get the LED light to work.
Connect the camera red power and yellow RCA cable into the camera. On the other end, tie together the red wire and the wire that attach to the yellow RCA and splice it to your reverse light wire in your tail light housing. Black to ground.
Run the yellow RCA wire to the XCL, connect the RCA to the yellow RCA on the XCL mark camera. Connect the wire that attached to the camera RCA wire to the green wire on the XCL.
Done.

Wireless transmitter/receiver connection.
Same as above step.
Connect the red power and yellow RCA from transmitter to camera. On the other end of transmitter, connect the red power to reverse wire on tail light, black to ground.
On receiver, connect the red wire to the XCL red power wire (the one with the fuse) and black to ground.
This one has 2 option:
Option1. connect the green XCL wire to your revers gear box. This will required you to remove your canter console and gear box to get to the cable. Sorry I do not remember the wire color.
Option 2. Run the green XCL wire to your reverse wire in your tail light.
Done.

Trunk handle wiring: Assuming you already swap out the handle.
Plug in the red power and yellow RCA to the camera.
You will see a blue and black wire that's attach yellow RCA, connect the blue to your + reverse wire and black to ground.
Run the other end to the XCL. You should have a small black filter box on the other end with 3 wires.
Red wire: to XCL power wire (the one with the fuse) Blue wire: to XCL green wire, Black wire: to ground.
Done.

Now for the audio part. Audi has two type of AUX for the AMI 1. Analog 3.5 mm stereo and 2. USB type for MMI. These connection are optional from Audi. These connection can either be find in your center arm rest or in your glove box. If you do not see the 3.5 mm stereo plug in your arm rest, more than likely you will have the USB type in your glove box. This is common connection if you have the iPod interface in your glove box.

Connecting via 3.5mm stereo plug. You will need these:

Plug this into the 3.5mm jack in your arm rest and the other end to the XCL main red RCA output.
If you fine that your phone audio not working thru the speaker, more than likely either the cable you have do not support this or your phone is not support. In this case, you will need this adapter and plug it straight to your phone headphone jack.


Done.

Connecting via glove box. You will need these:



Plug this to the XCL main red/white RCA audio output.

Done.
As above if you find your phone audio not working, follow last step for the 3.5mm and add the splitter.


Now to get the audio working, you must switch your radio to play in external AUX mode by pushing the "Media" button on your radio.

That's it.

[Slick_B8]

Just hooked up my xcarlink that i got from a member off here but bluetooth and aux dont work.. anythoughts?

[jcboiz]

If anyone is interested in mine, PM me. I just took it out a few days ago. Definitely save you some bucks!!

[Booya]

Just hooked up my xcarlink that i got from a member off here but bluetooth and aux dont work.. anythoughts?

The XCL is and add on and should not affect your stock bluetooth, need more info on the AUX. If you're talking about the AUX audio, make sure you move the 9 pin connector bypassing the hardness and connect straight to back of your radio. Push the "Media" button on your radio to get sound thru your AUX. Hold down the mode button on your steering for a few second to switch between mode or use the small switch that came with the XCL if connect to switch.

[Liquid Smoke]

Just hooked up my xcarlink that i got from a member off here but bluetooth and aux dont work.. anythoughts?

you might have the issue i was having, my AMI wasnt working, it showed whats on the screen but no audio. what happened was, that big main harness that you take from the back of the radio and bypass through the XCL adapter, the thing is there are 2 smaller connectors on there, a green and a blue one, they're like these little rectangle connectors, there is no bypass for that on the XCL adapter so as of now you probably have them not connected into anything. what you have to do is pop those 2 plugs out of the factory harness and pop them into the adapter so they actually connect in.

[jcboiz]

Still avail if anyone else is interested. Lowering the price and throwing in a camera....

[jcboiz]

XCL has been sold now. Thanks for everyones interest!

[dave chante pas]

Hi,

I'm actually looking to plug my Xcarlink on my MMi 3G, manual say "plug the White cable of the WCL to the existing white/grey cable behind the head unit" BUT I did not find this white /grey wire:

[dave chante pas]

so, finally, should be plugged on the Black connector of the MMi 3G (Pin 10) ...which mean the green wire on my piscture (and not white/grey like in the manual of Xcarlink :)

[LoveMyA4]

The XCL is and add on and should not affect your stock bluetooth, need more info on the AUX. If you're talking about the AUX audio, make sure you move the 9 pin connector bypassing the hardness and connect straight to back of your radio. Push the "Media" button on your radio to get sound thru your AUX. Hold down the mode button on your steering for a few second to switch between mode or use the small switch that came with the XCL if connect to switch.

you might have the issue i was having, my AMI wasnt working, it showed whats on the screen but no audio. what happened was, that big main harness that you take from the back of the radio and bypass through the XCL adapter, the thing is there are 2 smaller connectors on there, a green and a blue one, they're like these little rectangle connectors, there is no bypass for that on the XCL adapter so as of now you probably have them not connected into anything. what you have to do is pop those 2 plugs out of the factory harness and pop them into the adapter so they actually connect in.

So it looks like I'm having the same problem that Ulisses03hd reported. I successfully managed to hook up the trunk release camera and install the XCL. Everything seems to work great except the car bluetooth. The car still pairs with my cell phone and when I make a call the details of the call appear on the screen. I just don't get any audio playing out of the car speakers. I haven't been able to experiment with earlier suggestions of connecting the RCA out on the XCL to the AMI via 3.5 adapter because my car is only equipped with the iphone adapter. My glove box does not have a 3.5 plug.

Before I pull apart my dash again to try the suggestions made by Booya and Liquid Smoke, can anyone else confirm their resolution to this same problem? Not being able to make hands free calls is a big issue for me. Thanks in advance, and a special thanks to all those who posted details on this DIY.

[Slick_B8]

So it looks like I'm having the same problem that Ulisses03hd reported. I successfully managed to hook up the trunk release camera and install the XCL. Everything seems to work great except the car bluetooth. The car still pairs with my cell phone and when I make a call the details of the call appear on the screen. I just don't get any audio playing out of the car speakers. I haven't been able to experiment with earlier suggestions of connecting the RCA out on the XCL to the AMI via 3.5 adapter because my car is only equipped with the iphone adapter. My glove box does not have a 3.5 plug.

Before I pull apart my dash again to try the suggestions made by Booya and Liquid Smoke, can anyone else confirm their resolution to this same problem? Not being able to make hands free calls is a big issue for me. Thanks in advance, and a special thanks to all those who posted details on this DIY.

Hey bro, to fix this problem was that i went back to the harnss behnd the radio, found the original one, moved the two little block on the big block which is the the one that goes on the back of the stereo and transferred them to the xcarlink harness block. The colors for the two are i think blue and green and you need to transfer thwm for your bluetooth and aux to work.

[Slick_B8]

Alright Pins 1,2 and 7 are for audio from ami I believe might be wrong.
So The Green and Blue blocks that you see in the second picture are the smaller blocks I was talking about. These must be removed from the can bus that came out of the radio and installed into the xcarlink's can bus then back into the radio.
The Xcarlink can bus wire harness does not take these 2 blocks into account there can bus is blank where the 2 blocks should be.
They provide the sound for the telephone and ami. I had this problem on my first xcarlink install.
Easy fix
See if that works for you.

These ones brother.

[kwbdc]

Also, if you have the iphone adapter in your glovebox you may need the AMI to 3.5mm plug. I had the same issue as you with the audio. When I went to the new unit Booya has that plug solved the audio problem for me.