Workaround for iPod randomly pausing during play

We continue to cover an issue where the various iPod models pause during play -- a problem that seems to be connected with the headphone jack. Specifically, the iPod will pause when headphones are disconnected, and it appears a lack of proper insulation causes the unit to improperly think that the headphones have been unplugged.

Some typical reports:

Jim Fisher writes: "I have a fourth generation iPod and a Honda Element which has a built in auxillary jack. I have connected the ipod to it and have experienced this exact thing. It is intermittent and frustrating but sometime twirling the jack cable causes the ipod to go into auto pause (and sometimes not). It does no good to have the lock button turned on. "

Mark Jones writes: "That same iPod 4G 20GB has random pauses that seem to be caused by the earphones--I am using the Etymotic 6i earphones and get a pause about four times a week (I use the iPod 6 or 7 hours a day. This pause is very frustrating."

Potential workaround MacFixIt reader Bob Nichols notes a crafty workaround for this issue that requires the use of adhesive tape to provide extra insulation for the headphone jack:

"There is a fix (which has worked perfectly for me) which consists of placing a small piece of paper or tape (I used Scotch Magic Tape) over the headphone port and pushing the phone plug through it. This apparently provides sufficient insulation to prevent the plug from contacting the iPod's metal case and causing the autopause. Before I applied the fix, rotating the plug of my Bose QuietComfort2 phones invariably resulted in a pause. Now it never does."

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

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