Jeffrey here cut off the cradle thingy and everything kept working just fine (as reported, you have to yell "Committment!" as you cut off the wiring, you may have problems if you don't):

http://rangerovers.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7069

 

My LR dealer is telling me that the Nav and audio system will display error messages if the cradle inside the armrest is cut off. I want to cut it off so that the Ipod cradle can fit in there

Is this true?

I cut out mine months ago w/ no errors.

 

My LR dealer is telling me that the Nav and audio system will display error messages if the cradle inside the armrest is cut off. I want to cut it off so that the Ipod cradle can fit in there

Is this true?

You don't actually have to cut it - there's a clip inside the center compartment that you can pull apart. The clip is a bit of a pain to figure out how to separate - but you can do it. The only problem is that the clip is too big to fit through the grommet that the wires go through from the armrest to the compartment - so you either have to cut or go without the grommet.

 

I know I will NEVER use the thing anyway and I didnt want the wire hanging around so I just snipped it, taped off the end and put it through the gromit hole never to be seen again!! Armrest is now lighter and I can get more stuff ontop of the tray.

 

I know people who have cut it off as well no adverse effects so far.

 

Welcome to RRS-Cradlecutters.com

Just do it!

 

Welcome to RRS-Cradlecutters.com

Just do it!

HAHA...nice

 

Any tutorial on how to remove this phone dock station?

 

You will need to remove the phone dock attachment first from the console cover.
Then remove the actual cover from the back/sides - torx screws both sides.
Then pull the rear vent cover back a bit to reveal the plug-ins - one for the
phone dock attachment and the other for the cell phone antenna (red plug)
These are buried between the heater/cooling ducts inside the console
The plug for the phone dock attachment is large but can be broken down to
a smaller component consisting basically of the wires. (see pictures below)
Now you can maneuver these wires out from where the grommet was attached
and then out of your rover for good
Then to remove the grommet - that you'll need to cover the hole left by this
phone dock attachment - you will need to remove the red casing for the antenna along with
all of the wires from the small housing component
making sure to put them back in the same location - for future non-users.
Then place grommet back where is goes and reverse the removal steps to then
have the much needed room in this center console.

When you're all done - Take a deep breath - Then simply throw this ridiculous phone dock attachment
into the street where it can be smashed into many pieces by passing cars,
or perhaps picked up by a hobo who will try to heat up his can of beans with it, but sadly no-go, as he then
uses it as a coaster to keep the can from scratching his fine coffee table...
Who knows what will happen to it - at least you are free of it and it's space consuming
ways....Forever!

 

Thank you SOOOOO much for this guide! I really appreciate it!! I will try to do this in the next days! ;-)

 

I always wondered what I can do with that thing, thanks for posting. I had to go and look at it in the garage though lol

 

Do I have to completely remove the grey cover that I'm holding with my fingers in the picture to reach the cables? Or am I doing something wrong?

 

You'll need to pull it out a little more at the top to access these wires/plugs...you don't have to remove it though.
You're almost there.
Also you want the vents (vent dials you removed) on this grey piece to come with it as it moves back and away.
These vent dials are pretty tricky to put back on there are little pieces of metal that act like a spring so the indicated
clicking and notching is heard and felt. Should be three metal pieces for each one.

 

I finally did it!! I actually completly took out the vents to reach the cables... It was not that difficult but I was scared to pull the cover too much and break it. Thank you for be so patience and explain me how to do that! I will think now about use the "free hole" to make run a AUX cable to the input under the vents...

 

I just did that. I tapped into the aux port to run a line to a bluetooth streaming adapter, and tapped into the aux power outlet to power a 12v to USB power adapter for both the streaming adapter and an iPhone charging cable. I mounted the bluetooth adapter to the armrest lid for easy access to pairing. I did it all just removing the armrest lid and popping out the aux port housing.

FYI, if you tap into the aux port, you can not put the connector back into the aux port receptacle. It's an either/or proposition.

 

Good Idea, Run the cable down along the outside of the drivers side vent, then out the very small opening (you will see other wires exiting here as well)leading to under the main center console. This is a bit tricky due to the cooler/fridge in the middle of the console that is tightly sealed along the perimeter...so you have to go around it or under it...and it's very tight...but do-able.
Good luck!

 

Does anyone have a wiring schematic/diagram for the cable that connects to the cradle? I am thinking of turning it into a USB power cable and make some use out of it.

Has anyone done this before?

Thanks,


JAB

 

Question for anyone that actually used the cradle back in the day: Did the cradle charge your phone?

I am curious because I see what I think are common power colors on one of the two wiring harnesses, but they do not appear to have any voltage.

Thanks,

JAB

 

Yes the cradle charged the phone. At least it did on LR branded / dealer installed units.