| slanky |
So I've hunted in a bunch of threads regarding ipod adapters, stereo replacement, etc. and the only screenshots or descriptions I can find for pulling the factory trim are with the older trim panel where you can pop the button placeholder off and then pull the trim off.
Problem is, I have a 2008 VP (no navigation, no dvd system) but it does have the 6 disc changer and factory XM. I was looking at the very narrow trim panel around the radio last night and was trying to pop it off with a very small bladed flat screwdriver, but I quit before I wound up scratching it. Anybody have any pics of removing the 2008 trim panel or a good method for doing it that won't mess it up in the process? |
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| jl_ss |
quote:
Originally posted by slanky
So I've hunted in a bunch of threads regarding ipod adapters, stereo replacement, etc. and the only screenshots or descriptions I can find for pulling the factory trim are with the older trim panel where you can pop the button placeholder off and then pull the trim off.
Problem is, I have a 2008 VP (no navigation, no dvd system) but it does have the 6 disc changer and factory XM. I was looking at the very narrow trim panel around the radio last night and was trying to pop it off with a very small bladed flat screwdriver, but I quit before I wound up scratching it. Anybody have any pics of removing the 2008 trim panel or a good method for doing it that won't mess it up in the process?
These instructions include radio/trim removal for the 2006 LX, 2007 LX, and 2008 VP:
Link |
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| slanky |
| Awesome, thanks a ton. Just got it off in a matter of minutes once I knew to take the side panel off first :-) |
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| slanky |
Woohoo, got my Dice iHonda-R3 installed and it's working fine. I yanked it out of my Accord before I traded it in hoping that I could use it with the '08 Pilot :-)
And now that I have an aux input back as well, I plopped my Sirius Sportster 3 back in since I had to disconnect factory XM. But I didn't want XM anyway :-)
If the merger goes through, I may need to figure out this whole Y-cable passthrough thing to get factory XM and the DICE unit working together... |
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| adk0212 |
quote:
Originally posted by slanky
Woohoo, got my Dice iHonda-R3 installed and it's working fine.
Cool! I'm excited to hear someone with a Dice iHonda having success with the 2008 Pilot. I've been wanting an aux input jack for my Pilot ever since I drove it off the lot. (Dear Honda, Welcome to the 21st century...we need aux inputs and iPod integration, not CD changers!)
If you don't mind, I have a couple questions about your iHonda installation...
Do the steering wheel controls still function?
Also, could you describe where you routed the cables to the iHonda and where you mounted it? I'm always wary of general purpose boxes where you're expected to find some random place to mount them. I worry that the installation will look ugly with cables hanging out of the dash, etc.
Thanks in advance!
--Adam |
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| slanky |
quote:
Originally posted by adk0212
Cool! I'm excited to hear someone with a Dice iHonda having success with the 2008 Pilot. I've been wanting an aux input jack for my Pilot ever since I drove it off the lot. (Dear Honda, Welcome to the 21st century...we need aux inputs and iPod integration, not CD changers!)
If you don't mind, I have a couple questions about your iHonda installation...
Do the steering wheel controls still function?
Also, could you describe where you routed the cables to the iHonda and where you mounted it? I'm always wary of general purpose boxes where you're expected to find some random place to mount them. I worry that the installation will look ugly with cables hanging out of the dash, etc.
Thanks in advance!
--Adam
Steering wheel controls function - but frankly they suck because Honda saw fit to not give us enough buttons in the Pilot. My controls on my Accord worked better. The next button or whatever it is where you think it would change tracks controls the mode the the iHonda is in - so it will switch between 1-5 to let you go into track / playlist / etc. changing modes (5 to switch between aux and ipod, etc). Not very useful. The tuning wheel on the radio itself will serve to advance tracks, etc. if it mode 1. Hope that makes sense - if you're familiar with the iHonda it should :-) I wish we had a few more buttons on the steering wheel.
As for mounting, I did have to disconnect factory XM, but since I have a Sportster 4, I just plopped that onto the aux port for Sirius. The iHonda unit itself I simply velcro'd onto the radio. Plenty of room in that cavity to attach it any number of places.
As for routing of the cables themselves, I simply took out the Not An Ashtray (NAA) like others have suggested in the USA Spec Ipod adapter thread. If you pull the NAA forward it will simply pop out. Then you can take out three screws that hold the NAA bracket in place. Simply thread the ipod cable and aux cable down through that opening and reattach the plate (seeemed to be plenty of room to do this without pinching the cables severely. So essentially both cables run into the pocket beneath the NAA. Others who have ipod nanos have routed the ipod cable into the NAA itself and stick their ipod in there. But I have an older 40g ipod which is too big to fit in there. So I just get some automotive velcro and have it stuck to the side of that pocket. You can't see it and it's plenty secure while driving.
Make sure to get a ground loop isolator if you plan to use the aux port with a device that will be plugged into the 12v power outlets of the car, since the ground loop feedback will cause a hum. You can get these on ebay for $20 or so. |
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| adk0212 |
quote:
Originally posted by slanky
Steering wheel controls function - but frankly they suck because Honda saw fit to not give us enough buttons in the Pilot.
Agreed 100%. What I'd give for a mute button... The whole stock radio setup is like something from the early 90s, before cell phones and ipods. Very strange in an otherwise modern vehicle.
quote:
As for mounting, I did have to disconnect factory XM, but since I have a Sportster 4, I just plopped that onto the aux port for Sirius. The iHonda unit itself I simply velcro'd onto the radio. Plenty of room in that cavity to attach it any number of places.
Ahh...It did not even occur to me that there would be extra space in radio cavity to mount the box. (Can you tell I'm a car stereo newbie!?)
quote:
As for routing of the cables themselves, I simply took out the Not An Ashtray (NAA) like others have suggested in the USA Spec Ipod adapter thread.
Perfect, thanks for the detailed description. I really appreciate it!
quote:
Make sure to get a ground loop isolator if you plan to use the aux port with a device that will be plugged into the 12v power outlets of the car, since the ground loop feedback will cause a hum. You can get these on ebay for $20 or so.
Great advice...I wouldn't have thought of that. I'll need one because I plan to connect my GPS to the aux in. The GPS has a primitive mp3 player built-in that I use when on the road, and I always run that on 12V accessory power.
Thanks a lot for your advice! |
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| slanky |
No problem, yeah it does surprise me Honda hadn't seen fit prior to the 09's to modernize the system at least a little bit. CD changers were cutting edge two decades ago.
The ground loop isolator was something I learned after hooking up something via 12v and hearing the annoying hum :-) Other people's trial and error helps avoid a lot of frustration :-) I'm happy to help... Here's the exact model isolator I purchased which works perfectly with the iHonda:
PAC Audio SNI-1/3.5 Line Ouput Converter
http://cgi.ebay.com/PAC-Audio-SNI-1...1QQcmdZViewItem |
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