norton2j
Members
Hi all,
After picking up a pre facelift EX 2.2cdti at the weekend and seeing all the guides on here I decided to DIY install an Xcarlink. I thought I'd post about my experience and a possible incentive for others. The stereo is the factory sat nav and inbuilt 6 cd changer version.
I was debating getting the bluetooth model or one with just aux.
For reference at the moment the versions available are:
Bluetooth model: £129.98
Ipod with aux: £78.25
USB and SD: £78.25
Ipod, aux, usb and SD: £99.98
The last 3 all have an add on bluetooth kit for £40.65.
Next day delivery was £6.07
Despite not owning an Ipod, that version is the cheapest model to use a 3.5mm aux connection, and adding the BT it is still cheaper than the dedicated BT model. The downside is no USB.
I decided on this, but without the BT kit, knowing I could add it later if I wanted.
After placing the order it was dispatched within a few hours and received the following day as promised.
To my surprise though, what I had been sent was the £99 model with ports for the (included) dedicated 30 pin Ipod connector, USB, SD card, aux in and bluetooth. Essentially a "Free" £20 upgrade.
Jumping ahead, the xcarlink usb does provide power for charging, so this now frees up my lighter socket for the passenger to charge from.
If anyone was looking at this model, there's obviously no guarantee that the same would happen for you, but it may be worth a gamble on ordering the cheaper version. Just be prepared to return it if it doesn't happen.
Anyway, following this guide: http://www.civinfo.com/wiki/index.php?***le=Install_Xcarlink_in_2007_Accord I started to dismantle the dashboard.
All was going smoothly until point 12, and the final bolt needed to get the stereo out. I later found out that this is a regular nut and bolt, but the nut is welded onto the stereo framework for the bolt to screw into. At some point, possibly even on install, the bolt was clearly misthreaded and jammed, and whoever was turning it managed to shear the nut away from the framework. If you do this yourself you'll find that there is next to no way to get a finger, let alone a spanner onto the other side. Whoever it was simply taped over the loose but unremovable bolt and forgot about it.
So I now have a bit of an issue as I cannot get the stereo out and there isn't enough wiggle room to get to the ports. After a frustrating half hour of attempting to resolve the issue cleanly, I went to the shed and got a number of more ungraceful implements.
The winner was a pair of long nose pliers and some brute force. Luckily the metal the bolt secures through was fairly soft and with a bit of effort I was able to bend it until the hole was big enough to wiggle out the washer and bolt head. It is not very pretty but after pushing it back a bit had no effect on putting everything back in place. Even when it was out though I couldn't get the nut off - well and truly jammed.
Anyway, this is getting long so I'll wrap up. Once out the rest was simple. The xcarlink lead plugged straight into the available port on the back. It can be disconnected from the xcarlink box at the other end so is easy to feed to wherever you want it. It's well over a foot so plenty long enough to feed wherever you want it. Currently I've opted to take out the removable ash tray and tuck it into that gap. After also getting 2m long charger and aux leads, I've run these out the back right of the centre console, under the steering column and popped them through the spare port next to the VSA switch and light adjustment. One of these phone holders https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01M151YBX/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 in the corner sits my phone just over the air vent and the leads plug straight in.
The excess lead is coiled into the little cubby drawer under this area. Seeing as the xcarlink is also powering the charger cable now instead of the lighter socket, I can tuck the unit into the gap and the lid still shuts cleanly.
The only downside is that it was pretty difficult to get the sat nav dvd drive out of the centre without the frame scratching the plastic surround - I'd definitely recommend protecting these if you try this.
While I was at it I tried cleaning the sat nav lens, again pretty simple with help from on here, but the issue is clearly the copied disc.
Thanks,
James
After picking up a pre facelift EX 2.2cdti at the weekend and seeing all the guides on here I decided to DIY install an Xcarlink. I thought I'd post about my experience and a possible incentive for others. The stereo is the factory sat nav and inbuilt 6 cd changer version.
I was debating getting the bluetooth model or one with just aux.
For reference at the moment the versions available are:
Bluetooth model: £129.98
Ipod with aux: £78.25
USB and SD: £78.25
Ipod, aux, usb and SD: £99.98
The last 3 all have an add on bluetooth kit for £40.65.
Next day delivery was £6.07
Despite not owning an Ipod, that version is the cheapest model to use a 3.5mm aux connection, and adding the BT it is still cheaper than the dedicated BT model. The downside is no USB.
I decided on this, but without the BT kit, knowing I could add it later if I wanted.
After placing the order it was dispatched within a few hours and received the following day as promised.
To my surprise though, what I had been sent was the £99 model with ports for the (included) dedicated 30 pin Ipod connector, USB, SD card, aux in and bluetooth. Essentially a "Free" £20 upgrade.
Jumping ahead, the xcarlink usb does provide power for charging, so this now frees up my lighter socket for the passenger to charge from.
If anyone was looking at this model, there's obviously no guarantee that the same would happen for you, but it may be worth a gamble on ordering the cheaper version. Just be prepared to return it if it doesn't happen.
Anyway, following this guide: http://www.civinfo.com/wiki/index.php?***le=Install_Xcarlink_in_2007_Accord I started to dismantle the dashboard.
All was going smoothly until point 12, and the final bolt needed to get the stereo out. I later found out that this is a regular nut and bolt, but the nut is welded onto the stereo framework for the bolt to screw into. At some point, possibly even on install, the bolt was clearly misthreaded and jammed, and whoever was turning it managed to shear the nut away from the framework. If you do this yourself you'll find that there is next to no way to get a finger, let alone a spanner onto the other side. Whoever it was simply taped over the loose but unremovable bolt and forgot about it.
So I now have a bit of an issue as I cannot get the stereo out and there isn't enough wiggle room to get to the ports. After a frustrating half hour of attempting to resolve the issue cleanly, I went to the shed and got a number of more ungraceful implements.
The winner was a pair of long nose pliers and some brute force. Luckily the metal the bolt secures through was fairly soft and with a bit of effort I was able to bend it until the hole was big enough to wiggle out the washer and bolt head. It is not very pretty but after pushing it back a bit had no effect on putting everything back in place. Even when it was out though I couldn't get the nut off - well and truly jammed.
Anyway, this is getting long so I'll wrap up. Once out the rest was simple. The xcarlink lead plugged straight into the available port on the back. It can be disconnected from the xcarlink box at the other end so is easy to feed to wherever you want it. It's well over a foot so plenty long enough to feed wherever you want it. Currently I've opted to take out the removable ash tray and tuck it into that gap. After also getting 2m long charger and aux leads, I've run these out the back right of the centre console, under the steering column and popped them through the spare port next to the VSA switch and light adjustment. One of these phone holders https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01M151YBX/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 in the corner sits my phone just over the air vent and the leads plug straight in.
The excess lead is coiled into the little cubby drawer under this area. Seeing as the xcarlink is also powering the charger cable now instead of the lighter socket, I can tuck the unit into the gap and the lid still shuts cleanly.
The only downside is that it was pretty difficult to get the sat nav dvd drive out of the centre without the frame scratching the plastic surround - I'd definitely recommend protecting these if you try this.
While I was at it I tried cleaning the sat nav lens, again pretty simple with help from on here, but the issue is clearly the copied disc.
Thanks,
James
