| MikeG65 |
Ok, here is a strange one. I have a '03 Pilot EXL with approx 80k miles. The factory stereo was replaced back in '04 under warranty with another factory stereo, and that stereo has worked just fine since. Yesterday, when my wife started the car, the stereo turned on, but only the 2 way rear speakers were working. The speakers in the middle section and up in the front of the vehicle are not working. With the stereo working, and even 2 of the rear speakers working, I am guessing it can't be a blown fuse, and I can't believe that something just jostled out of the back of the stereo after 80k miles.
So, has my radio just bitten the big one, and does it need to be replaced, or is there something else at play? Please help!
Edit - By the way, I checked the balance/fade/etc. and it is all centered. When I move the fade all the way to the front, the rear speakers turn off, and therefore there is no sound at all coming from any speakers. |
|
|
| youbetcha |
EVerything is attached to the radio via plugs and connectors. There are several other posts on how to get behind the radio (mostly posts with pictures on how to install Ipod connections). This would be a reasonable first check just to make sure everything is still connected back there.
It's possible things weren't "completely" plugged in when the radio was changed out and have since worked themselves out. |
|
|
| MikeG65 |
Well, I took the front panel off, and took the stereo out, and all the connections are good. I even unplugged them and plugged them back in the sockets, and the speakers still don't work (just the sub in the back).
So, I went to Abt Electronics, and asked their tech folks if they could install and aftermarket stereo in my '03 Pilot, and if it would interface with my existing Honda DVD drive (in the lower tray), flip down DVD player, and steering wheel audio controls. After 10 minutes of researching, their answer was...."we think we can, but we aren't sure". To me it sounded like if I bought a DVD,CD stereo, they could most likely get it to interface with the DVD screen, but the lower tray DVD player would not be used (you would just put the DVD in the new stereo). With that, I'm thinking I would lose the ability to have the kids plug in headphones and watch a movie in back while I listen to CD's/radio up front.
So, has anyone swapped out the factory radio and been able to keep all of the functionality of the original system. This is new territory to me.
Thanks in advance for any help! |
|
|
| 75blazer |
quote:
Originally posted by MikeG65
Well, I took the front panel off, and took the stereo out, and all the connections are good. I even unplugged them and plugged them back in the sockets, and the speakers still don't work (just the sub in the back).
So, I went to Abt Electronics, and asked their tech folks if they could install and aftermarket stereo in my '03 Pilot, and if it would interface with my existing Honda DVD drive (in the lower tray), flip down DVD player, and steering wheel audio controls. After 10 minutes of researching, their answer was...."we think we can, but we aren't sure". To me it sounded like if I bought a DVD,CD stereo, they could most likely get it to interface with the DVD screen, but the lower tray DVD player would not be used (you would just put the DVD in the new stereo). With that, I'm thinking I would lose the ability to have the kids plug in headphones and watch a movie in back while I listen to CD's/radio up front.
So, has anyone swapped out the factory radio and been able to keep all of the functionality of the original system. This is new territory to me.
Thanks in advance for any help!
I LOVE that place! I could spend all day in there! I miss the moray eel though..... |
|
|
| MikeG65 |
Figured I would post an update for those that find themselves in a similar situation. Background specs: '03 Pilot EXL with RES (rear entertainment system). Everything is stock. HU (head unit) stereo is failing.
I got an online chat with a Crutchfield tech, and the upshot was this. If you swap out your factory HU with an aftermarket:
* The factory subwoofer will not work
* The factory DVD player will not work
* The factory steering wheel controls will not work
* The LCD screen may work, but he could not discern whether Honda used proprietary cabling or standard composite cabling. If it's composite, it could be linked up to a new aftermarket HU, if its proprietary, it will not work
* The aux inputs and headphone jacks in the 2nd row console - he had no idea if that would interface at all with a new HU
So, at the end of the conversation the tech basically said that it would probably cost more replacing all of the things that do not work with aftermarket, so you might as well just replace with another factory HU. So I found the cheapest replacement at bkhondaparts.com, for about $680 with tax and shipping.
When I bought the car I got the factory entertainment system because I wanted it covered under the warranty. I didn't realize at the time that I was pretty much handcuffing myself to that system. I'm not saying I wouldn't do it again, but I definately will think twice about it. |
|
|
|
