AUX in IPOD integration - Potential solution

[The Phantom]

Connects2 & H-K Drive fitted.

My god how much better it feels to have my i-pod back in the car.

The H-K Drive is the best integrated i-Pod adapter I have had. It basically acts as a second screen and jog wheel, giving almost full use of the ipod functions. It's much better than my Kenwood system I had before or the Dension i-link before that. Granted they utilised the stereo's own controls and screen, but I found that song selection was a nightmare with those systems.

Only annoying bits so far is that you can't just select an artist and play from all thier tracks, you have to select a single album , and that it powers up every time you start the engine, which means that if you are listening to the radio the ipod is still playing in the background (although you can't hear it as the Connects system acts as a changer and the OEM HU works as it should).

Will post pics later, but positioned the wee screen between the cars display and speedo, inverted it to be blue/white text on a black background (perfect at night), and fitted the jog wheel in front of the gear stick (perfect for 6th gear driving wit your hand on the gear knob and finger control on the Drive).

All in all I have spent around £100 on a Bluetooth handsfree system and ipod integration, which would have cost more like £600 from Honda. Granted I've lost the stereo warranty - but hey, at least I have a system that works almost perfectly, and thats a far sight better than the OEM parts.

[cjthompson321]

I have the same system in mine, only with the screen mounted above the rear-view mirror, and the controller occupies the space the cig. lighter used to.

I always unplug my iPod when not in use as i don't think it switches itself off when something is plugged into the dock connector. I found its battery had gone completely flat

It doesn't seem to work very well in cold (below zero) temperatures. It kept forgetting settings. When at standstill with H+K off I could make it switch on by pulling the window switches briefly. It would then switch off again. It also wouldn't stay on unless revving engine.
It works perfectly above zero.

[The Phantom]

That sounds like you've not wired it up right mate.

I've had no problems with power fluctuation as yet. Touch wood I won't as I've power4ed it off the hands free which is direct off the head unit.

[cjthompson321]

There's not much to wire up wrong.
iPod to H+K
H+K to Cig Lighter
H+K to Connects2
Connects2 to HeadUnit

I was worried that it might be a battery issue. Would the cold affect the battery?

[The Phantom]

I appologise CJ. You are right there is an electrical glitch with the system. Either that or I've mucked up the wiring too.

I noticed this morning sitting in traffic that if I applied the brakes at very low speed the unit would turn on when it had been off. There must be a surge coming from the engine through the system immitating the engine start up.

I would imagine that it is in the ignition wire.

[Neilhop]

Picked my Drive and Play (version 1) on eBay for £24.99 - can' believe they used to be £150 - and a Connects 2 box off eBay for 30 notes.

Installation took a while - the dashboard removal Wiki was very helpful! I installed the "brain" box in the recess for wires behind the stereo and the connects 2 box fitted neatly just below and to the left of this. I removed the cigarette lighter and spliced in a few cigarette socket extension leads. Two of these went forward - one to the Drive and Play and the other under the steering wheel to power my TomTom 920T. I put the third cigarette socket in the storage box in the center console to be able to charge my phone. I put the controller for the Drive and Play over the hole where the cigarette lighter used to be (this took a while as the people at Honda have cunningly made the cigarette lighter recess a few mill too be and therefore I had to mount the control on a small bit of black plastic I had knocking around the house). The HK screen was stuck to the dash just to the left of the clock/radio display and the wire passed down behind the radio. I drilled a hole in the upper left hand corner of the under-radio compartment and my iPod sitts beautifully in there. I also passed the Aux wire out, under the steering wheel, to connect to the TomTom. I was very excited to see that this had an auto select. I had hoped that the direction announcements would interrupt the ipod music, but unfortunately this doesn't work so well. Essentially the HK switches to the TomTom when you turn it on if auto select is ticked in the setup menu on the HK. You have to manually switch back.

Overall result - Flipping amazing! Sound quality very good (much better than the FM transmitter I was using previously). Control is simple and the whole thing works seamlessly!

One concern though - although you cannot see the iPod, the rest of the kit is on view. Not exactly stealthy...

An amazing system which cost me only £60 and a couple of hours work. Highly, highly recommended!!!!! Will post a message when my car gets broken into.

[eighteentee]

I'm a bit perplexed. My head unit has a CD/AUX button - does this mean it has AUX built in and therefore no need for the Connects2 box?

[csmcqueen]

Originally Posted by eighteentee

I'm a bit perplexed. My head unit has a CD/AUX button - does this mean it has AUX built in and therefore no need for the Connects2 box?

No sorry , you still need the Connects2 box or some other interface. This button only allows you to switch to the Connects2 box when its plugged into the HU

[eighteentee]

OK, can anyone confirm that this is what's needed:

Connects2 CTVHOX001 - Aux Adapter - Honda on eBay, also, Terminals Cabling, In-Car Entertainment GPS, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 04-Mar-08 11:30:12 GMT)

[Neilhop]

Yes thats the one. That eBay shop is where I bought mine - very quick delivery!

[eighteentee]

Originally Posted by Neilhop

Yes thats the one. That eBay shop is where I bought mine - very quick delivery!

Thanks for that! I'll get one ordered in anticipation of some iPod choons coming soon.

[The Phantom]

My H+K Drive & Play install.

Old Gen3 iPod fitted in small cubby. Cupholders still usable.

(You can also see that I have retained the cigi for my phone charger and I have the Parrot controls on the switch blanks.)

Jog Wheel in easy reach yet avoiding the gear change. Wired in through cubby.


Screen mounted in blank space between speedo and display. Blends in great at night and not too obtrusive during day. Perfect line of sight for use whilst driving too.


All the wiring including the Parrot system is fitted in the space behind this panel. Not ideal as the H+K box is sitting out to the back of the footwell. although not in the way, a bit unsightly (may well change this at some point).

[kharmael]

That looks like an awesome set-up mate, how many holes did you have to punch in your car to get that nicely (discreetly) wired up?

[The Phantom]

3 holes.

1 in the armrest for the Pod cable, 1 in the little cubby for the control knob, and a little bit out of the flat plastic on the dash for the display cable so that it didn't rub. All in all parts which can either be replaced quite cheaply or a grommet wouldn't look out of place.


On a sadder note, the damn thing has stopped working.

I hope it's not a problem with the main box, but it has been acting up the last couple of days, randomly starting then shutting down.

Now when I start the car up instead of the system jumping to life, it's doing nothing. If I manually start then it won't go past the start up screen and shuts down.

I'm wondering if the push start of the civic is causing a surge in the unit?

Anyone else having problems with theirs? More likely just a loose solder on the power unit though.

For those who are contemplating buying one - don't be put off it is still the best iPod control unit I have had.

[The Phantom]

Problem fixed.

FYI - The yellow wire's inline fuse has a tendency to pull appart slightly if there's not enough slack in the wire. Turned out that was what was causing the on-off blips.