| vasbridge |
iPod Working perfectly in 2002 MDX with steering wheel controls and direct access to playlists. This is installed in a 2002 MDX with the 6 Disk In-Dash Bose branded changer, but with no nav.
I had previously installed a Parrot bluetooth system which also works perfectly in the car, which can be seen in the attached pictures.
Car: 2002 MDX with 6 disk in-dash changer
Works: USA- SPEC PA11-HON
Does not work, but company was very helpful: DICE
Does not work and company was rude and unhelpful: Metra HOIP01
I'm posting this note in hopes that other MDX users will benefit from my experience and save some of the time I wasted trying things that did not work.
DICE Electronics i-honda-r2 - NO
I first bought the DICE electronics i-honda-r2. The company was not sure if it would work with my in-dash 6 disk Bose changer, but agreed to take it back if it did not work. The radio never saw the device at all. Their tech support was helpful and friendly, and they took the unit back with no issue. The unit did not work with the 6 disk changer, but I was highly impressed by the support.
Metra HOIP01 - NO, and please read my experience with the company.
I next tried Metra HOIP01. I bought it at Circuit City. They thought it would work, but were not sure. They agreed to take the unit back if not. The unit worked a bit, in that it would select playlists, and play fine, but after 1 minute or so, it would totally lock up the radio. Also, note that the cable that interfaces from the unit to the radio is way too short to allow convenient location anywhere but right behind the head unit.
I called Metra tech support, and they actually yelled at me over the phone! Really, I'm not kidding. The tech told me that the box stated the 6 disk changer would not work, and that further more the documentation also stated the same. Neither of these statements was true, and I was not trying to assign blame. I just wanted to know if I was wasting my time, or if there were some setting I could change. Their only goal was to make me feel like an idiot, and to blame Circuit City for selling the wrong product. Even though I had the application guide open in front of me, the tech continued to state the guide had information about the 6 disk changer, which it did not.
Based on my experience with the tech support from Metra, I would never go near any product manufactured by them. They have lost me as a potential customer permanently.
I wrote to the company to voice my severe displeasure, and received no reply. Pitiful experience overall. Circuit City took the unit back without any issue.
USA-SPEC PA11-HON - YES!
The holy grail. The unit is well built and has solid looking cables, which are long enough to put the unit anywhere. I chose to mount the unit right behind the radio head unit, there is a mounting location that worked perfectly with one wire tie as a retainer. The unit works perfectly, hit the CD button once and get the in-dash 6 disk changer, hit it a second time and get the iPod. The unit also has AUX inputs, which I disabled with the optional switch, but I'm sure would work perfectly as well.
Installation was simple, after pulling the radio out. See pictures of the mounting (next to the parrot bluetooth) and final installation. I chose to permanently pull out the ashtray to mount the parrot controls, so I just dropped the iPod right in the tray under the ashtray. |
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| Biloxi |
Good info, but I am having trouble viewing your picture(s).
Thanks. |
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| vasbridge |
| Forgive me, I'm new to this forum. I browsed to the pictures, and included them, but nothing showed up... I asked for support and got email suggesting that my pictures were too big (1.2M). At the weekend when I have a bit of time, I'll try cutting the size and re-posting... The Attach file rule states the pictures must be less than 5242880, which mine are. Has anyone else had this issue with 1.2M .jpg files? |
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| dapretendr |
| count me in, i want to do this for my mdx also |
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| vasbridge |
| Picture 1 unit mounted behind head unit |
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| accmdx |
I have a 2001 with Bose cd changer and Nav. Does anyone know if the radio is identical to the 2002? From the looks of that photo they look the same. Discount car stereo wants me to make sure that there is a free 14-pin connector for the USASEC PA11-HON before ordering. Is the nav connected into the stereo or is it separate? I don't really have a way or the balls to open the dash to check. I will have a professional installer do the work, but they are over an hour away.
Just got a 30GB black iPod last week and would love to hook it in to the MDX and still be able to use the changer on occasion.
I haven't seen any responses so far on connecting and iPod on a 2001. |
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| vasbridge |
I'm guessing the radio is the same based on what I learned (finally) getting one of these to work, but I can't tell you if the nav uses the 14 pin connector behind the radio (which the usa-spec uses).
However... I got so good at pulling the car apart, I can do it in about 5 minutes with only a phillips screwdriver.
My trick. Grab the adjustment tab on one of the two vents in the plood. Pull gently, and the plood will come away from the dash about 1/2 an inch. Then grab the other vent and pull. Once you've got the top apart, you can just gently pull grabbing the plastic further down as you go. About 7 clips hold it on. Once it's free, there are three electrical connectors, just squeeze the retaing clip on each of these and pull the connectors free. Put the plood aside then you are just six phillips screws away from getting the radio out. It should come out enough to see if the 14 pin connector is in use. |
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| amishp11 |
| The site says this doesn't work with factory Nav. Anyone know if it does? |
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| dapretendr |
what is the parrot blue tooth device for in the ash tray area?
is that the device to make the ipod work correctly with the cd controls? |
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| dapretendr |
| do you have instructions on how to take off the radio console??also? |
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| bluebogi |
Do you need CAS-HON2Y ?
Or just only need PA11-HON?
I have 02 MDX w/ 6-disk bose.
Thanks |
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| ecsw |
Navi needs USA-SPEC PA11-HON2 or PA11-HON2Y I believe. Y is with pass thru Y cable included so you don't have to buy an extra y cable.
Parrot is the Bluetooth handsfree. I have the same unit in my car. :) |
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| dapretendr |
so where can i buy this usa spec -hon thingy and how much..
i just want mp3 with steering wheel controls. |
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| ppessoa |
HI.
Does anyone know if the PA11-HON2Y will work with my 2001 MDX with Bose/6 cd in dash and Navi? Help Please. I have read that the 2002 works but nothing says about 2001.
Philip |
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| ecsw |
quote:
Originally posted by dapretendr
so where can i buy this usa spec -hon thingy and how much..
i just want mp3 with steering wheel controls.
it won't work with anything other than iPod. Other MP3 player is just a pure Aux input, no controls available.
even with control of ipod, u can only control the playlist I believe. Control of CD 1 - 5 is the Playlist 1~5. CD6 is to play all the MP3 from your iPod. |
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| dapretendr |
| i think with the cost of the usa spec + ipod , it might be a good idea to just get a double din indash with 6.5 lcd screen |
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| Extroverts |
| I just use a cassette player adapter... lol. either way you have cords and that box looks kinda funky. But that is my opinion maybe others like the added functionality. |
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| illmatiq |
I have tried and spent over $250 on wireless FM transmitters and tape cassette setups and I have been dissapointed by the audio quality each and every time. I wanted a cleaner setup with at least cd audio quality. My wide has a 2001 MDX with the 6 disc CD changer in dash, bose, no navigation. The whole dashboard looks exactly identical to yours.
I am wondering if anyone has tried for the 01', and if anyone can offer me a quick run through (what and where to buy) and then a quick assembly. It would be GREATLY appreciated... THANKS! |
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| Extroverts |
| But you aren't getting TRUE CD quality with an MP3 unless you record them at 300 kps or higher, so even if you go to that expense and time are your MP3's from your MP3 player TRUE CD quality? Only way is to record it at higher quality and well, I wouldn't doubt if most ppls collections are off P2P file sharing programs and most of those are recorded at 192 kps at best. I guess its all a matter of opinion, My cassette setup is wired straight to my MP3 so I get good enough sound fadelity and quality, not true 300 kps but still good sounding. Just another opinion though. If you disagree that is fine. |
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| amishp11 |
Does anybody know of a unit that will plug into the back of my '02 Navi. I just need the audio input. Not really any sort of ipod adapter.
I want to use my ipod for video playback in the car, and I'm not looking for steering controls.
Thanks. |
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| ecsw |
quote:
Originally posted by amishp11
Does anybody know of a unit that will plug into the back of my '02 Navi. I just need the audio input. Not really any sort of ipod adapter.
I want to use my ipod for video playback in the car, and I'm not looking for steering controls.
Thanks.
P.I.E. or Soundgate |
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| amishp11 |
| I went with Blitzsafe. |
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| vasbridge |
The parrot blue tooth is nothing to do with the mp3 adapter. It's a blue tooth adapter that lets my Motorola cell phone work through the car.
Sorry, I should have mentioned that.
V |
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| vasbridge |
I've been gone for a while, and I think most of the questions have already been aswered by other members, but the ones that weren't covered.
Getting the radio out is deceptively simple. The ploud (wood grained plastic around the radio) can be pulled out by grabbing the vents at the top and pulling forward. Search this forum and you will find a coat hanger method for grabbing the vents. I do it by just grabbing the vent adjustment by hand and pulling forward. Once the top's out, just work your way carefully to the bottom, pulling out the clips. Takes two mins once you get it.
There are three wires connected at the bakc. Just push the release tab on each connector one at a time, and pull the connector free.
Once the wires are off, there are six phillips screws that hold the radio/screen (My car has no nav). Unscrew them, then pull the unit forward to expose the wires. Once again, release each connector one by one (two up behind the screen, one for the radio).
I bought the unit at Crutchfield, because they said they would take it back.
I only needed the PA11-HON, no additional cables.
V |
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| ScarEye |
I just got a 2002 MDX with Navi. So all I need is PA11-HON2Y and it should do the trick ?
P.S. This is a great site you guys rock !!
Thanks
ScarEye |
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