My first attempt at installing the Alpine CHM-S620 in my '99 TL (non-navi) was to take it to a local car audio shop (a true dummy approach). After 45 minutes, the "installer" told me that the screws on the radio couldn't be loosened so he couldn't plug in the adaptor (or he couldn't figure out how to get to the radio and didn't want to admit it). He put the wood trim back on with a new small scratch...which is when I started searching this site for do-it-yourself instructions.

The first link I found was the Autotoys installation procedure: http://www.autotoys.com/New_Tech/DIY...cd_changer.htm

Confusing for dummies like me since there wasn't much supporting text.

Then I was pointed to the install instructions on this sites FAQ: http://www.acura-tl.com/ubb/Forum20/HTML/000001.html

Having scoured the forums for more info above and beyond these two pages, thought I'd share what I've found...

It is not necessary to remove the two screws on the console next to the seat belt (per Autotoys), so don't go out and buy one of those fancy right angle drill attachments. I'm not sure what those screws do, but they have nothing to do with holding the console in place.

I didn't pull the back part of the console off completely, just moved it back enough to enable removing the side panel...so wasn't necessary to unplug the power adaptor cable as far as I could tell.

I did the install without pulling the radio out. If you run the wire under the dash (on the driver's side, there's a pass through behind the console that you can slip the wire through from the driver's side to the passenger side. The plug in on the head unit is in the back on the passenger side. Pass the adaptor cable through the back and then you can reach in from the side of the head unit to plug the adaptor into the radio. If you decide to use this method, there's no reason to take off the side panel of the console on the driver's side. Also I did not find it necessary to remove the trim around the shifter, etc.

Pushing the wire through to the trunk: The wire will pass through right where the seat back and bottom meet near the door. Stick your hand under sound insulation in the trunk. Hopefully the wire will be there...there's a lot of room under the insulation to run the wire wherever...

I used the Autotoys method of velcroing the changer to the plastic tray on the left side. It works ok, even on the bumpy roads around my house, but it doesn't feel very secure, so my next project is to mount it with the brackets where the Navi unit would normally go.

I'm normally hesitant to pull interior panels on and off because of some past experiences. But this was surprisingly easy and all of the panels went back on surprisingly easy ...knock on (fake) wood.

 

haehaeahe i give you props for installing it yourself, Me on the other hand, didn't even have the guts to attempt to install it, yeah i'm a chicken (bok bok bok) when it comes to these things as i don't want to f*ck it up myself and end up paying more to have a professional to fix it. I just let StreetEffects take care of it. He is the bomb, check out how he installed my changer!

http://www.acura-tl.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/007538.html



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2001 Acura 3.2TL Silver
Comptech Springs & Swaybars

 

very slick...if Streeteffectz had a shop around here, no doubt that i would have used him.

As it was I was the "Accidental Installer". I read a post by StE about pushing the cable through to the trunk. Our of curiosity I tried it...one thing led to another and before you knew it I had wired to the console. By then I started thinking with my cajones and started taking the console apart. Fortunately it all came out okay...