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Replace Honda Connect with Aftermarket

14K views 23 replies 8 participants last post by  mjfaderway 
#1 ·
Hi all,

I am just toying with the idea, and wondering if anyone attempted to replace the Honda head unit with an aftermarket unit, while retaining all the features?

The Honda unit is fairly integrated, so I was wondering if there is any unit which can replace all its features, while adding additional features such as carplay.

Sent from my Mi A2 using Tapatalk
 
#2 ·
Hey buddy.

I'm keeping an eye on this sort of upgrade myself.
From my internet trawling I've seen a couple of options and some for the 10th gen, which if we could fit in our 9G's would work well to.

1. https://www.belsee.com/belsee-best-...auto-head-unit-for-honda-civic-hatchback.html

This suits our 9G and is available in LHD and RHD formats from some places.

2. https://www.phoenixautomotiveinc.co...:customer-offers:Me8GRPpX&variant=37561266637

This is for the 10G, but from forums all features seem to work and mpg details.

It's the canbus link we need to keep to do this, but with a better HU installing any Android app would be easy.

You can get the facias only and install almost any aftermarket headunit. I'll grab that link later.

Ian Contessa
 
#7 ·
Hey buddy.

I came across the Connect2 facia the other day on eBay. It looks good, but changes if your car has the Honda amplifier. If yes then I think you need another type.

I've also found a nice headunit from Xtrons which I think will work well to along with the right Canbus adaptor.

Ian Contessa
 
#13 ·
Wouldn’t the new double din fit in the old fascia, the Hondaconnect is also 2din right?

Was just thinking about that.
Hey Buddy.


Good question, but as adder has said above, I think it might be a little mroe integrated into the panel than simply bolted to the back.


You can get the facia panels cheaply from Aliexpress;


https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Hot...015.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.687d2e0eHKKyWb


Then you get the different facia finish plate to suit your choice of head unit.


Ian Contessa
 
#12 ·
If you check this video you can see the back of the existing head unit
I've thought about trying to replace the unit with an 8" tablet to support music and satnav, namely Waze....
Plan would be to dismantle existing unit...remove all the control buttons, rig up a mount for the tablet (maybe have to cut existing fascia but saves having to buy a new surround) and have a mini amp hidden in there to drive the existing speakers....
I'd lose the car radio functionality but tbh I'm not bothered about that
Might end up not working and in the meantime I've demolished the existing unit :oops:
It just strikes me that the specialist double din head units are a small fortune and I can buy something which would also support 4G for a lot less ie this https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Ori...s-Android-8-1-Snapdragon-660/32889116773.html
 
#14 ·
If you check this video you can see the back of the existing head unit Honda Civic (2014) CTKHD06 Installation Kit - YouTube
I've thought about trying to replace the unit with an 8" tablet to support music and satnav, namely Waze....
Plan would be to dismantle existing unit...remove all the control buttons, rig up a mount for the tablet (maybe have to cut existing fascia but saves having to buy a new surround) and have a mini amp hidden in there to drive the existing speakers....
I'd lose the car radio functionality but tbh I'm not bothered about that
Might end up not working and in the meantime I've demolished the existing unit :oops:
It just strikes me that the specialist double din head units are a small fortune and I can buy something which would also support 4G for a lot less ie this https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Ori...s-Android-8-1-Snapdragon-660/32889116773.html
Hey Buddy.


I've considered a tablet to, as you get all the Android features in a small form factor. Plus you could make it removable, so use as a tablet or in the car.


But, then when you think about it, by the time you've added an amp and the various output adaptor to send power and speaker signals to/from the tablet, you may as well buy a proper headunit.
Also I'm thinking Canbus integration also, the steering wheel controls and trip computer information can be got at via the right head unit.


I'm looking at two currently, one being an Xtrons and the other one from Aliexpress again.


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/XTRONS-A...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649


https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32G...757.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.687d2e0eHKKyWb


For the price the Xtrons is better value, but the one with it's own facia will most likely look more OEM once fitted.


It's one of those things where you'd like to see one working in a video before commiting, to know exactly what works still and what doesn't.


This one looks to come with the Canbus adaptor box;


https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Oct...000&pvid=92878702-90f4-4287-8bf5-da6eefe4a6d8


Ian Contessa
 
#19 ·
Watching programs installed on my rc8 connect i can see some interesting system app such: com.fujitsu.ten.displayaudio.imidservice.
Is there any user with rooted Connect able to extract these applications and make them installable as apk on standard android radio?
It may be possible to make the i-mid fully compatible with third-party android radios
Hey Buddy.


There may be options to repalce the radio (iMid) entierly and still retain the majority, if not all, of the functions. Even those requiring the CanBus data for such things as the trip computer etc. Also some features might be added also, but I have not seen a good enough video showing the replacement radio in a 9G Civic so cannot be sure.


However there are a handful available from Chinese sources that look interesting, the 10G versions have more videos obivosuly and show a lot more about what features are retained and which ones aren't maybe.


1. https://www.belsee.com/belsee-best-...auto-head-unit-for-honda-civic-hatchback.html This looks to be a straight swap almost, this oens LHD but i have seen RHD versions to.


2. Dasaita seems to be a good one; https://dasaita.aliexpress.com/stor...l?spm=a2g1y.12024536.pcShopHead_5904672.1_3_4
No specific 9G fiting one I have found, but team a universal with a facia plate and it maybe a good option. Here is one fitted into a CRV which won't be far off what we have in our Civics;


https://www.hrvforum.com/threads/dasaita-8-android-head-unit-upgrade-ha5248-v840-8.39897/
Looks to retain all features, but again not found any good information when fitted in a 9G.


3. Phoenix looked to make one that integrated well to; https://www.phoenixautomotiveinc.com/collections/open-box/make_honda But no 9G, maybe a universal would work.


With regard to root on the iMid, you can do this yourself if you're up for the challenge?
All the information you're likely to need can be found here; https://forum.xda-developers.com/general/security/honda-connect-android-t3179549 it's a long thread, but there is a lot of good information in there.
Radios linked above that appear to retain features do so because the Honda specific apps have been extracted from the iMid I assume and rebuilt into APK's, so there is hope there.


If you find anything out please let us know, as I have not delved deeper.


Ian Contessa
 
#18 ·
Watching programs installed on my rc8 connect i can see some interesting system app such: com.fujitsu.ten.displayaudio.imidservice.
Is there any user with rooted Connect able to extract these applications and make them installable as apk on standard android radio?
It may be possible to make the i-mid fully compatible with third-party android radios
 
#20 ·
Hi Coolice all replacement i see are for civic with standard radio or Pioneer navigation multimedia system.
In these models models I-Mid (Honda secondary screen) has autonomous clock.
In models with Honda Connect (with or without Garmin Navigator), a (obsolete) android based multimedia system, the secondary display, despite being identical to view to old I-Mid does NOT have any autonomous clock setting, but the time is connected to the one set in Honda Connect.
Without Honda Connect is totally impossible to set time on secondary display.
Being Connect an Android device, i suspect that the time display function on the secondary screen is driven by the pre-installed com.fujitsu.ten.displayaudio.imidservice system-wide application on Honda connect, hence my request
 
#21 ·
Hey Buddy.


The iMid will still work independantly if the main head unit is removed, but information from the radio will obiously not be shown.
As to the clock, I've not gone looking through the iMid menu's to see if something can be done there and also do not know whether if it didn't detect the headunit, would it allow some other parameters to pop up. Just thinking otusdie the box here.


It might pay for you to read this post; https://www.civinfo.com/forum/electronics-ice-9g/385650-chinese-double-din.html as with the right interface module you may well get the functions you want back.
Mind you, with a much better Android headunit fitted would you really miss the clock up in the iMid screeen? I don't think you would.


Ian
 
#22 ·
Hi guys,

apologies as this will most likely sound like a newbie question, but I can't find clear information anywhere. I have a civic 2013 EX (right hand drive - UK) with the OEM GPS unit.

I hate the thing with a passion and really wanted to get something with Car play (as I understand all modern android units allow for that with a USB adaptor, but it doesnt have to be an Android unit). But, after researching a lot and looking at many options, I have a few questions. Maybe you could enlighten me?

1. I can't seem to find looms/harnesses for my car. I've seen plenty of options for the civic without GPS unit, but not for the one with.

2. Would it be possible to retain the OEM rear camera and bring this to a new headunit interface?

3. Would I be able to retain the OEM facia or would I have to purchase something like this: www .aliexpress.com/item/32830735015.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.687d2e0eHKKyWb
If I have to buy it fine, but they look identical to what is already there. I just don't know if the cut out size for third party units would be ok or if there's a universal size for these things.


The most promising thing I've seen have been the units in aliexpress, but there are two big concerns here:

4. the units have few or worrisome reviews

5. they are all for left hand cars.


Any help would be really appreciate it. Has anyone actually replaced their native GPS unit?


Thanks in advance
Marlon
 
#23 · (Edited)
Evening Marlon.

From what I have seen and read, I think your task of changing the stock headunit to a better one will be quite simple. Additional problems arise when there is more data connections handled by the headunit via Canbus, my TypeR for example pulls MPG, trip etc from the Canbus. Whereas yours I think will only need the steering wheel controls which I would imagine will be Canbus controlled and headunits from Dasaita for instance will work quite easily.

Two examples I think should work for you with the right Canbus decoder box;

1. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33010915960.html?spm=2114.12010612.8148356.4.152c7ea7jyiFTw

2. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33058388173.html?spm=2114.12010612.8148356.2.152c7ea7jyiFTw

As they have a "Honda Port" connector/wiring loom option, but a message to the seller with your cars specifications will no doubt help them advise you.

You will then need the facia adaptor like you've linked to, as while externally it looks the same as yours currently, the rear is where it differs as your current one will have the stock Honda radio built onto the back of it and you'll most likely break it trying to remove the radio. So it's best to leave that alone and buy the universal facia panel.

One thing to watch out for is if your Civic has the factory amplifier, as if so you need different wiring or to actually bypass the Honda amp and use the radios own one or another.

I've not attempted to change mine in the R, but have been looking longingly for the future, hence the links above.

This guy does a lot of headunit reviews with the odd Honda install to, so it might be worth browsing his videos which is what I have done to see what these radios above offer you;

https://www.youtube.com/user/notorious9i6

If you decide to get something keep us posted, as these units do look good with a lot of features at decent prices.

Ian Contessa
 
#24 ·
ive just done a crv for the missus and im looking at getting a mk9 ex gt in feb from what i have found this place looks good its not the cheapest but the parts i got for the crv worked well and provide a mini guide to help install too
the only other thing to think about is what headunit your getting i will be getting the pioneer da230dab


incartec.co.uk/Honda/Civic-9th-gen/Stereo-Upgrade-Double-Din/Pioneer-Double-din/0
 
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