I have an audio connector in my car - it's on a long lead with a male 3.5mm jack which can be plugged into an MP3 player or similar then the music comes though the in car stereo system. With my mp3 players and my phones it works well - but if I use it on my ipod I only get mono and have been told that's because the plug needs to be a four connector one and the car lead has only three connectors on its plug. So it seems I need a simple adapter but what are they called? - I assume it would have to have a 3.5mm 4 pole male jack to a three pole 3.5mm female headphone socket - tried searching Ebay and get all sorts of things - except what I am looking for - but suspect its the way I am searching. Is there a name for these things or does anyone know where I can order one from?

You need something like this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sourcingmap-...dp/B0087YPX9E/

Random example of the type of adapter required, no idea how good bad or indifferent it is.

A standard stereo plug should work fine. I have connected normal headphones to an iPhone and used a 3.5mm jack extension lead. Are you pushing the plug in far enough?

Why not buy a Bluetooth receiver with 3.5 mm jack. Then you can connect wirelessly. Safer as well.

I thought that - On the ipod some three point headphones seem to work OK but always the four connector ones give no problems - Have tried reseating the car plug a few times but to no avail. Can't use Bluetooth as the car does not have Bluetooth! and its too much fiddle to fit in my particular car.

You have misunderstood about Bluetooth suggestion. See

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B005NDDEVQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?qid=1427996303&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX110_SY165&keywords=bluetooth+receiver+car&dpPl=1&dpID=41Up3lTECeL&ref=plSrch

I'm wondering if it is the lead. I've use a 3.5mm to 3.5mm from the 99p shop with ipod nano, ipod touch and a iphone 4s and they all work fine in my car.

The lead and plug work fine on all my mp3 players, my tablet and phones - its only the ipod which causes an issue. However I notice a similar problem on my PCs but in reverse - I have about 5 PCs in our language school all the same make and similar models - but the headphone outputs on the fronts and for some of them the four connecter headphones only work in mono whilst the others give stereo.

It seem there is a very fine line in the tolerances of the plugs and sockets (or I'm missing something obvious) which prevents proper connection and this is reversed in the Ipod. I think an adapter is the best way in the car for now and will use a headphone splitter fro now until I can get a simpler adapter.

The problem has been is that manufacturers of devices with 4 pole 3.5mm sockets have not been consistent on which connections 1 - 4 (4 being the tip of a jack) provide which signal input/output. The tip is always an audio channel so you generally will get some sound when mis-matching with devices or 3 pole jacks though not always stereo.