Comments on: iPod Install in 2001 Honda Civic

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:43:15 +0000

I have a 2003 honda civic and an iphone. I was wondering if this would work for me? Just now sure if it would be different to do with iphone instead of an ipod? Thank you

By: Martin McCall

Martin McCall — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 20:19:52 +0000

Thanks for the help, had to get the serial number off the radio to aquire the code to reset radio as I bought vehicle used. Your diagram and directions were perfect.

MMC

By: Mike in AZ

Mike in AZ — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 07:18:46 +0000

I installed over the weekend but every so often there is a split second where the music stops..as if it’s skipping (but it’s not a CD). Maybe it is shorting out? What would cause this split second stoppage to occur and what can I do?

I installed the converter that circuit city sells…its not the P.I.E or the Blitzsafe..just a general adapter that includes an Ipod connection instead of RCA.

By: fhjhjh

fhjhjh — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 06:24:01 +0000

hey man , i dont know how much you check this and i have a cpl Qs for you about doing this to my 02 EX..

By: dfa

dfa — Thu, 29 May 2008 06:18:54 +0000

Any chance of posting the HON98-AUX converter wiring harness/pin connection? (Based on the diagrams included with the converter). I would like to install a MP3 player that’s not an iPod on a 2005 Civic.

By: Ray

Ray — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 06:26:08 +0000

Thanks so much for sharing.

By: Leah B

Leah B — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 01:25:28 +0000

hey man , i dont know how much you check this and i have a cpl Qs for you about doing this to my 02 EX..
can you add me on facebook?
lol sorry wierd request
figured you were the best person to ask though, looks like youre a genius on this stuff…:)

Leah Bauer
Indiana

By: Kyle

Kyle — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:50:58 +0000

This set up is just an aux jack for your radio. You need not go purchase an Ipod to use this, any mp3 player will work. Try a Zune, better mp3 decoder = better sound quality and truer high and low end sounds. The ipod is kleenex, just the brand, and nowhere near the best sounding mp3 player on the market.

Ben’s note: Sure, it’s basically just providing an aux input into the stock head unit. You couldn’t pay me enough money to use a Zune. I don’t give a flying you-know-what about the MP3 decoder, because nearly all of my music (aside from the stuff I get from iTunes) is in >192 kbps AAC format. Since AAC gives higher quality at equivalent bitrates, a better MP3 decoder is a non-starter. When I’m not in the car, my iPod’s hooked to Shure SE530s or Sennheiser HD600s (via a dedicated headphone amp I built), so I’m quite aware of how good music sounds. The Civic is not an audiophile’s car anyhow, so the quality of the Zune’s decoder is completely irrelevant to our discussion.

That, and who the hell actually owns a Zune? Their market share’s what, 5%?

Since this article, I’ve upgraded to the Harman/Kardon drive+play kit for better iPod integration. Now, my iPod’s stashed in the center console, display next to the A-pillar, controller where my iPod used to be. Can’t do that with a Zune, because there are barely any 3rd party accessories for it!

By: Ryan V.

Ryan V. — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 21:51:52 +0000

Ben,

Can you use one of the FM transmitter/car charger docks that insert into the car lighter/power supply as the power supply for this installation? I have one, and figure that would also serve as a holder for the iPod as well.

By: James R.

James R. — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 17:34:45 +0000

I used the iPod2Car made by Peripheral Electronics for my 2001 Honda Civic 2 door LX. I bought it from Crutchfield.com for about $100. It’s nice because you connect it to the CD Changer slot, you can use the RW/FF buttons to seek or skip ahead or back, and your iPod still functions normally.

I used a slim kitchen knife to pop the cigarette lighter panel off. I had to put some significant work into slipping the knife into the slit on the sides; trying to pry the bottom of the panel was worthless. After quite a lot of prying and thinking I was going to break the panel or the knife through the side, it popped off. I have some minor scratches from that but it’s fine since it’s low down. After pulling the cigarette lighter connector off, I just reached up behind the dashboard without doing the A/C and radio disconnect bit. The CD changer plug is on the right side (i.e. passenger side) of the radio, just to the side of what felt like a parallel/IDE cable sized plug on the back of the radio. I’m routing the iPod dock cable out a gap near the floor towards the rear of the space where the ashtray panel area goes. It’s nice and neat, and didn’t require any other damage. The iPod2Car pack came with a holder that I’m fixing to the spot just under the radio and to the right of the rear defogger button. The hardest part was getting over the anticipation of doing some damage to my car!