mp3 player install, 2011 EX-L

[northerncrown]

It's a little nerve-wracking to drill into the dash panels and such on a new car but I did it anyway.

Wanted to install my Sansa Fuze on a permanent mount (t-mount, like XM radios and such). This could be easily modified for iPod, or similar. The lineout cable for the Fuze doesn't charge, so I'm only working with audio here.

Parts:

Bracketron cradle for ipod (and fits my Fuze) with t-mount (

Amazon.com: Bracketron IPM-202BL Docking Cradle Mount for iPod and iPhone (Black): Electronics

Amazon.com: Bracketron IPM-202BL Docking Cradle Mount for iPod and iPhone (Black): Electronics

)
XM-style t-mount swivel (XM Radio Roady, Xpress, Dash Swivel Mount FREE SHIPPING - eBay (item 110650043894 end time Feb-23-11 17:00:00 PST))
Line-out cable for the Fuze (

Amazon.com: FiiO L6 Line Out Dock (LOD) Cable For Sansa Fuze: Electronics

Amazon.com: FiiO L6 Line Out Dock (LOD) Cable For Sansa Fuze: Electronics

)
M-F extension cable, 6-feet. (

Amazon.com: Cables To Go 40407 3.5 mm Male/Female Stereo Audio Extension Cable, Black (6 Feet/1.82 Meters ): Electronics

Amazon.com: Cables To Go 40407 3.5 mm Male/Female Stereo Audio Extension Cable, Black (6 Feet/1.82 Meters ): Electronics

)

Flashlight
Fishtape or wire coat-hanger
Drill

Steps:

1. Remove right panel next to radio. It's just clips so grip it at the top and it will let go a little before your fingernails do. See the instructions http://www.installer.com/pdf/99-7876.pdf.

2. Unclip the cigarette lighter plug from the back of the panel. It's tight and there's a release clip on one side. Put the panel aside.

3. Passenger-side, push the seat the way back. Next pop off the lower console panel, in my car it's black and meets up with the grey of the console. Pull it out gently but firmly. It uses the same clips that the other panels uses. Pull it out 3-4 clips and wedge it open with a cloth.

4. Rather than splicing wires or other things, I chose to have the Fuze audio go into AUX inside the console. Drill a hole in the bottom of the console, I chose front-right. Make the hole big enough that your extension cable's plug can fit through it. Go easy with the drill. I don't know what's below the console, but there wasn't much room.

5. Attach the female end of the extension cable to your hanger/fish tap. Feed it down through the hole you just drilled and look for it to come out where your lower panel is wedged open. A flashlight helps.

6. Grab the wire, detach from hanger, then feed it along the bottom of the console and floor and then up through the dash and come out the hold below the exposed AC vent. Leave it hanging. 6-feet gives you plenty of slack.

7. Reattach the lower console by pushing the clips into place.

8. Attach your mount of choice to the detached dash panel. Use short screws so you don't hit stuff behind the panel. I used a swivel that had two screw holes. I drilled those and used small nut and bolt with a washer on the back side.

9. Take a close look at the square holes below the vent so you'll know where to drill. Drill a hole for the L6 audio wire in the dash panel, generally to the right of the swivel mount, feed the cable through.

10. Back in the car, plug the L6 audio wire into the extension, cable-tie together so they don't come apart inside the dash.

12. Reattach the lighter plug.

13. Put the panel back into place, making sure not to bind any excess cable anywhere.

14. Plug the male end of the extension cable into AUX. Replace console mat, clipping a small slice in the corner for the cable.

15. Rejoice!

Total time: 60 minutes, but I'd done this same setup for my XMp3 player in my Subaru outback.


Left to do: find a couple of grommets to make the holes in the dash panel and in the console look a little nicer. And also, a couple of small tie-downs to keep the cable in the console out of the way.

[cwa107]

Very nice installation - but I have to say, I'm perplexed as to why you would have gone to all this trouble for a Sansa? For a few bucks more, you could have picked up an iPod Nano and gotten an integration kit. You could have avoided making permanent modification to any part of the Pilot, safely stowed the MP3 player in your console and done all of the controls with your factory stereo, and the car's own display. Granted, I'm not familiar with the relative strengths of the Sansa, but it just seems like a lot of trouble to go to in order to maintain convenient access to the player itself.

[northerncrown]

1. I choose not to use an iPod due to the awful iTunes.

2. I don't want the player inside the console. I want to see it, see the songs, skip to the next, etc.

3. It was very little time, trouble or expense, 60 minutes.

4. Permanent modification extends to 3 screw holes in a piece of plastic. It wasn't done with a sawz-all, and since I plan to drive this car, as I did with my last one, for 10+ years, some holes in the plastic (hidden by the swivel mount) barely register in the scheme of things.

[cwa107]

A few misconceptions here (not trying to change your mind, just educate for future purchases):

Originally Posted by northerncrown

1. I choose not to use an iPod due to the awful iTunes.

You don't have to use iTunes with an iPod - you can sync with Songbird which is excellent (amongst others). See: 6 Ways To Sync Your iPod To Computer Without iTunes

2. I don't want the player inside the console. I want to see it, see the songs, skip to the next, etc.

But that's the point - you see your track/artist info on the built-in (read: BIG) screen and control it with the factory controls, all while keeping your player safely away from prying eyes.

3. It was very little time, trouble or expense, 60 minutes.

4. Permanent modification extends to 3 screw holes in a piece of plastic. It wasn't done with a sawz-all, and since I plan to drive this car, as I did with my last one, for 10+ years, some holes in the plastic (hidden by the swivel mount) barely register in the scheme of things.

I understand and not trying to change your mind, just suggesting something that might be more convenient. I've done iPod integration in my last few vehicles and have been pretty happy with the result in all except my '05 Pilot, where you couldn't have true integration.

Just something to chew on for the next purchase. I don't know much about the Sansa, but it would seem to be at least somewhat distracting trying to focus on such a tiny screen/controls while driving.

[stevek2010]

Originally Posted by cwa107

But that's the point - you see your track/artist info on the built-in (read: BIG) screen and control it with the factory controls, all while keeping your player safely away from prying eyes.

How is that possible when the only input from the iPod to the sound system is an audiojack? Am I missing something? I thought to get the track and artist as well as control it with your audio system (main or steering controls) was with the touring/USB input option?

What am I missing and how do I get this option in my EX-L. That'd be great to have those features but i didn't realize it was possible with EX-L without USB option.

to the OP, good job man. I did a similar modification, removing the same panels you did, for my GPS. Everything just looks so much better with wires hidden, even if I did have to make a small hole in the panels.

Removing Panel

[northerncrown]

Thanks. Stevek2010. That was the entire goal, to get that pesky wire out of the way and not be snagging stuff.

[cwa107]

Originally Posted by stevek2010

How is that possible when the only input from the iPod to the sound system is an audiojack? Am I missing something? I thought to get the track and artist as well as control it with your audio system (main or steering controls) was with the touring/USB input option?

There are a number of kits on the market which plug into the 14-pin expansion bus at the rear of the radio. They typically emulate XM Radio to display the text. I'm guessing (and this is truly just a wild guess) that the Touring model has such a kit factory installed. If Honda is anything like Subaru, they're just rebranding a DICE or USA SPEC kit.