| Satellite Radio Install?
- Click HERE for Original Thread
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| CIOMAN |
| I just bought a 2004 MDX and I want to put in satellite radio. What I don't want, is a bulky little box hanging off of the dashboard. Has anyone installed an aftermarket satellite radio system in their MDX without it looking tacky? Any pictures of the install would be helpful. |
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| thodgdon |
The portable units wouldn't work for me because taking them in and out of the vehicle, or hiding them every time I stop just seemed like a pain. The only solution is a permanent install like I had in my Passat (Kenwood Music Keg FM Sirius Adapter). It looked almost factory.
I have the XM Commander and Blitzsafe adapter sitting in boxes ready to install. I personally like Sirius better, but it won't install nice in the MDX as well as the Commander will. In my case, the install is more important than Sirius or XM.
I also will not accept rediculous installs with the boxes hanging on the dash. It has to look at least partially factory, and not degrade function of any other controls. The commander fits perfectly under the "not an ashtray" area, and won't obstruct the power port "not a lighter" to the right. I've bent a bracket that will be mounted to the plastic under the black rubber pad which is in the cubby-hole area under the "not an ashtray". It's a fairly thin steel bracket that I got at Home Depot, but is stout enough to support the Commander. It will bend and position the Commander at a perfect angle and just between the edge of the wood trim and the not-an-ashtray.
If I can get my wife to stop driving the X, I'll get this thing installed.
Most people installing XM use the Blitzsafe adapter because it powers the XM (no splicing) and also plugs into your stock audio system (no FM adapter), assuming you don't have the rear entertainment system. I got mine (as a lot of people have) at Logjam Electronics
You can get the instructions on how to take apart the dash in the section at www.hondacuraworld.com where they have the accessory installation instructions.
The Cigarette Lighter and CD Changer install instructions have detail on how to get the radio and trim out, and how to reset the idle and windows after you disconnect the battery (which some people don't do when they install this stuff, but which I think is cheap insurance).
Here are some links I have accumulated in preparation for this install:
Zafer's Blitsafe Install for IPOD
Wazowski's Blitzsafe/Ipod Install
This guy didn't use the XM Commander and related Blitzsafe adapter, so had to tap into power at the accessory outlet. The Blitzsafe adapter would have made it easier: Ipod/Skyfi Install
Olneymd's XM Commander Install
This is somewhat similar to what I am doing, but I didn't like how the commander fit in the not an ashtray, plus I didn't want to fill up the not an ashtray with the unit anyway.
XM Commander install in Pilot (close enough to MDX)
These Handsfree Kit Install Instructions also have good diagrams on taking apart the dash to get to whatever you need. Grab the .pdf file called 03MDXhfcpkitinst.pdf
Hope this helps. I'll post pix of my install when it's done. The only other thing I noticed a lot of people say to protect the edges of the dash after the radio is out because it is easily damaged.
Tom |
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