[TotaledJetta]

Front passenger window smashed out overnight in a relatively quiet neighborhood. One of six cars hit on the block according the to Berkeley policeman that found it. I had an iPod plugged in with nice Apple usb cord. Probably too much of a temptation. I need a way to obscure this from view. Maybe a cover over the iPod and connection? I don't plan on pulling it out every time I stop and don't normally need access to it. Best ideas?

 

[borkbork]

almost invisible:

https://smile.amazon.com/SanDisk-Cr...id=1530466937&sr=1-6&keywords=usb+flash+drive

i never leave any cable or anything visible, especially when i go to san francisco. break ins are just too common.

 

[timeToy]

Aww, man this is painful, I'm sorry.
It maybe a bit involved but you can integrate the iPod completely in the Center Console, with all cables hidden: https://www.chevybolt.org/forum/26-...sole-removal-hidden-usb-hub-3.html#post316321

 

[TotaledJetta]

almost invisible:

https://smile.amazon.com/SanDisk-Cr...id=1530466937&sr=1-6&keywords=usb+flash+drive

i never leave any cable or anything visible, especially when i go to san francisco. break ins are just too common.

Thanks. I took an old flash drive, reformatted it and dumped a few mp3 sounds on it. It worked fine in the Bolt. Also went deeper into the source menu on the Bolt and there was the blue tooth version of my iPhone. So I think for the most part I will just go with the blue tooth/iphone. I had always used an iPod in my old Jetta that had been "iPodded" some years ago and that had its USB connection inside the glove compartment. Just laziness, I guess, to carry that over. Of course when using Apple Play for phone, messages, navigation, I was plugging into the iPhone. Lesson learned the hard way.

 

[XJ12]

or maybe time to clean out the garage if you have one...

Sorry for your loss. Happened a few years ago to my older son in the mall parking lot. His iPod was visible and they broke the window like yours. I've never seen him get so mad. It was pretty emotional for him. Kind of destroyed his young view of the human race.

 

[Pvillerob]

Ohhhh....That sucks so bad. My sympathy. True, having anything visible is not a good idea, but , has anyone noticed that there's a little groove in the front lip of the center console? (This may only be 2018 models) It allows you to have a phone or iPod plugged in to the console USB port, but have the iPhone whatever IN the covered console out of sight. Only the cord sticks out. The little groove accommodates the cord. Using Bluetooth eliminates the need for the cord.

 

[Sean Nelson]

...has anyone noticed that there's a little groove in the front lip of the center console? (This may only be 2018 models)

It's in the 2017 models as well. Works great to hide the phone or tablet itself, but the USB cord connected to the centre console outlets may give it way.

 

[TotaledJetta]

Front passenger window smashed out overnight in a relatively quiet neighborhood. One of six cars hit on the block according the to Berkeley policeman that found it. I had an iPod plugged in with nice Apple usb cord. Probably too much of a temptation. I need a way to obscure this from view. Maybe a cover over the iPod and connection? I don't plan on pulling it out every time I stop and don't normally need access to it. Best ideas?

So I am going with my iPhone and blue tooth, but it seems to take a while to link up. With the connected iPod, it immediate went to the iPod songs. Anyway, the window replacement was $200, my comprehensive covered half. Took a couple hours at a glass shop on Monday. I shot this photo near the end of the installation.

 

[zebraitis]

For kicks, I bout a 256GB mSD card and put all my tunes on it. Plugged it into the USB, and... nothing. Way too much for the infotainment system to figure out. No surprise really, but it was worth a shot.

Updated my old 160GB iPod classic with all the tunes (shrinking them a bit in transfer), plugged it into the center console USB hid it in the armrest, and works AWESOME!

Better than Sat radio, as there are no dropouts.

But yes, there is a white cable going up. Maybe swap that for a gray cable to be less conspicuous.

HOWEVER... the RIGHT thing for Chevy to do would have been to install a USB port into the armrest console like just about every other car available in the last 10 years. (… harrumph.)


.

 

[Sean Nelson]

...the RIGHT thing for Chevy to do would have been to install a USB port into the armrest console like just about every other car available in the last 10 years. (… harrumph.)

That sounds like it might make a good project for someone...

 

[theeulogy]

For kicks, I bout a 256GB mSD card and put all my tunes on it. Plugged it into the USB, and... nothing. Way too much for the infotainment system to figure out. No surprise really, but it was worth a shot.

Updated my old 160GB iPod classic with all the tunes (shrinking them a bit in transfer), plugged it into the center console USB hid it in the armrest, and works AWESOME!

Better than Sat radio, as there are no dropouts.

But yes, there is a white cable going up. Maybe swap that for a gray cable to be less conspicuous.

HOWEVER... the RIGHT thing for Chevy to do would have been to install a USB port into the armrest console like just about every other car available in the last 10 years. (… harrumph.)



.

I think it has more to do with formatting the drive to FAT32 than the size, I have a 1.5TB drive hooked to mine full of songs and it had no problem finding them. Try reformatting it.

 

[neutrondrip]

I think it has more to do with formatting the drive to FAT32 than the size, I have a 1.5TB drive hooked to mine full of songs and it had no problem finding them. Try reformatting it.

This is likely your problem.

I ran into the same issue with my 64 gb micro USB flash drive. Once I reformatted it, the car recognized it no problem.

 

[Whizzin]

Hi, can someone explain in short how to format a usb flash drive? I'm not very good with computers (MAC). Thank You All.

 

[borkbork]

That sounds like it might make a good project for someone...

timetoy tried adding a USB port, it didn't work. i think the OS is maxed out.

Hi, can someone explain in short how to format a usb flash drive? I'm not very good with computers (MAC). Thank You All.

https://www.admfactory.com/how-to-format-usb-flash-drive-to-fat32-in-mac-os/

 

[max]

HOWEVER... the RIGHT thing for Chevy to do would have been to install a USB port into the armrest console like just about every other car available in the last 10 years. (… harrumph.)

I just rented a 2018 wrangler on a work trip, no USB port in the entire vehicle.

Crazy sucked as I have not carried my cigarette lighter to USB adapter in years.

** Note to self, don't rent the wrangler...

 

[Bikenanigans]

Ugh, that's a bummer!

CarPlay was one of the features we were really looking forward to on the Bolt. While we don't leave any devices plugged in while parked, the white Apple cables that did stay were a concern, didn't want anyone thinking there might be something plugged into them. Ordered some nice black nylon wrapped Anker cables which aren't as visible. Cable quality has been raised as a concern with CarPlay issues and Anker makes quality stuff so these should be trouble free and good to go for a long time. They also have a lifetime warranty which is nice. I originally got two 3ft cables but have decided 1ft would be better from a cable management standpoint, at least for the driver so I just ordered one of those today as well.

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B071JQSQLN/

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07413RBY8/

 

[quirkySquirt]

@TotaledJetta, perhaps you can extend the USB port into your armrest storage area by using a black, right angle usb cable:

6ft:
[ame]https://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-Universal-Reversible-UR024-006-RA/dp/B00EIDU3YI/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1530841071&sr=8-20&keywords=usb+extension+cable+right+angle+black[/ame]

18in:
[ame]https://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-Universal-Reversible-UR024-18N-RA/dp/B00ESZJEEG/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1530841071&sr=8-10&keywords=usb+extension+cable+right+angle+black[/ame]

Maybe use a safe glue to tack the cable along the corners of the cubby area so the cable is not obvious to people who look in?

If the connector is still visible, perhaps camouflage it with other junk on top of it? Kleenex box?

 

[Whizzin]

Thank You borkbork, but i cannot figure out how to make the SanDisk 32g flash drive work in my bolt. When I put the flash drive in it says playback source is unavailable. I'm not sure if I'm just not pulling songs from iTunes correctly??

 

[ai4px]

Better than Sat radio, as there are no dropouts.

Better than Sat radio, no commercials. Fixed that for ya!

 

[Raymondjram]

iPod? What the heck is that?

I never leave any of my Samsung Galaxy phones in my vehicles. I have a belt clasp to hold the phone on my belt. I have Bluetooth in my Equinox so I handle every call from my steering wheel controls.I can make the Bluetooth pass commands to Google on my phone!

As for charging, I have a "Qi" wireless charging base that I installed myself (only $20 at eBay) and rest my phone on it if i needs the charge because I do recharge at home. I use no cables at all!

As for music, my 2009 Equinox has no USB slot, but the CD player does read MP3 files. I recorded over fifty songs on one disc for my wife and it plays as good as in a home CD/DVD unit or a computer CD/DVD drive. And the CD player holds five discs, so I can play over 250 songs (as a built in MP3 player).

The Equinox also has a mini phone jack for external music players which I never use.