I have pluged a kca420i & ipod into my alpine-9855r but i'm only getting music in the left speekers

open menu on unit use the home button to turn beep sound on or off;;

hook all of the wires up, then hook the red blue and yellow wires all together.

When your ipod is plugged in to computer, open itunes and on the left side column of itunes you would see "Devices" and under devices, your ipod's name.
On the left hand side of your ipod's name you would see a little triangle pointing towards the ipod's name.
Click on the triangle and you would some options underneath your ipod's name like music videos etc.
Click on music and you can see the list of music on the right hand of itunes. That music is in your ipod. Same goes with other options under ipod's name.
Also, if you want to delete anything off the ipod, make sure your itunes is on the Manually managed mode and then you can right click on the songs and delete them.
Hope that answers your question

Sounds to me like the amp needs power. Is it usb powered? or have a wall plug?

when mine does that it is down to the connection of the face to the head unit, push it firmer or remove and replace. it may be that the connection is worn.

You can purchase the KCA-420i and connect it to to the ai-net port behind the headunit. This will allow you to send signal from your ipod to your alpine headunit while still retaining your operating functions to the ipod. Can be purchased for about 10 bucks on ebay.

This is because you are using different generations.

If the dock was only meant for 1st generation, then itwill only charge 1st generation. It's how they make their money.

Turn Vol up on i-pod.Go to full,then back a bit. Good luck!

I've got an Alpine CVA1004 and use my ipod on the aux input of the headunit. The alpine-ipod interface was too confusing for me, with the ipod connected to the aux input, I just control the music from the Ipod, I find it easier that way.

Yes, I'm sure Alpine will sell you another face but there is still the option of repairing the broken face at a good repair shop. Of course getting a new face is the easiest (read most expensive) way to get you going again.