Hey folks,

Been planning a system install in my 08 Base TL for a long time coming and I think I may have found a solution that will work for me. I really don't want to chop up all the stock wiring because I want something I can return easily to stock.

Thinking of running a double din head unit and bypassing the need for modifying stock wiring. Obviously this will require running new wire to each speaker but I'm fine with that. I want to run a 4 channel amp for a component set up front (xovers most likely will be in stock amp location) along with the rear speakers. Would be running my current 10 inch subs with the amp I already have installed except with RCA's rather than high level inputs.

Head unit should only require a 12v switched/constant along with the remote wire to amps and a ground since the signals are coming from pre-outs. I'm assuming I could easily get the 12v's from the fuse box and a ground should be around somewhere.

Also will need to find a solution for the holes left from volume knobs but I'll worry about that later.

Thoughts/suggestions?

 

Think about why you want to replace the HU, and you better think about the holes now and the rest of the custom work to make it look acceptable.

 

Main reason I want to replace the head unit is because it's going to be much easier to leave stock wiring intact and I really want to have the cleaner signal from pre-outs on an aftermarket HU. The signal from the stock HU to my current sub is awful.

Good point about seeing what work will need done. A double din should fit in well but I'm going to go to a few shops around here and see how much filling the two trim pieces will cost.

 

The signal from the OEM HU is more than adequate to win serious competitions with. The wiring is the least of your worries. No need to be able to return something to stock if you just paid a shop $500 just to custom fab it.

You need to search there are many build threads here using the OEM HU. several other threads showing the serious time and skills necessary to pull off a double din in the TL. If your skilled and can do the work that s one thing, if your paying someone make sure they are very good and be prepared to pay.

 

you can custom fabricate a dash to make it fit in this car i have done it multiple times looks good

 

No one said it cant be done. Been done successfully by people with good skills. If your payin to have it done get ready to bend over! Pics of your installs? The better question is why do it in the first place?

 

We're sure you have !

Nothing wrong with the Factory H/U, Nothing at all !

 

So have I (well not multiple), but I have to admit it was a nightmare of an install, one of the most difficult ones I've ever done.

Not only was it a pain in the ass to custom fab the dash, but also the fact that the nav/hvac buttons & touch screen DO NOT work unless the harness from it is plugged into the factory HU circuit board

To get the HVAC controls to work again I had to strip down the stock stereo, down to just the circuit board, reconnected it, then wrapped it in insulation and hid it in my dash behind my nav screen. It was pretty mucha nightmare of an install but I got it all to work finally

Here are some really shitty camera phone pics i snapped real quick (was in the dark) of my install.

 

um..............are you done?

 

Was this question for me? If so, I am unsure of what you meant by it?

Yes I completed the install.

 

Yes it was for you! That is precisely why I advise against HU replacement. You need to address the half circles on the metal trim. This is not a beater civic. If that is acceptable to you then that is all that matters, but I would want to shoot myself in the head everytime I looked at my center stack.

I understand it is a difficult install, but this screams unfinished. I can barely get past the twin screen look, but would find it acceptable if it was completely integrated.

 

a tablet install where the factory screen would go; is a better and cleaner option.

i agree with pohljm; it doesnt look good half finished like that

 

Well the picture is awful in comparison to how it looks IRL, I made 1/2 moons that fill it perfectly and are raised out to sit flush with the trim, again the pic just doesn't do it justice, looks a lot cleaner in person (or perhaps maybe even would look better with a better camera and not taking it with a flash at night).

Of course it doesnt match the carbon but it perfectly matches all the black trim elsewhere on the dash, it looks somewhat natural and good to me. But 'look' is subjective and other may have different opinions, I like it though.

I am still not going to say that it's a 'good' idea to swap the stock HU, I just wanted to. So to the OP you can, and should, build a nice system and keep the stock HU intact.

 

You can always wrap the trim pieces if your half circles are flush filled. That would look 100% better. few examples here

 

Didn't even think of wrap, thanks, i'll look into it.

I have been wanting to wrap something else, now I have more of a reason to get some and see what I can do.

 

 

di noc carbon fiber looks nice and you can wrap other pieces to match.

 

That's exactly the stuff I was just looking at. Looks great with all the examples I've seen thus far, defiantly going to get some and see what I can do

Thanks for the reference