:blah: New member here!

I just purchased a 1998 Honda Accord about 3 days ago. I used to drive a 1992 Accord but after a lot of wear and tear and high milege I decided it was time to let her down. Anyways enough for the intros here's the question...

Do 98 factory cd players play mp3 encoded cd's (burned)? Ive tried using a regular cd and it would play versus a burned cd. I was considering going to circuit city to get one installed but I just wanted to know the answer about that until I decided to spend anymore money on it. Maybe by any chance the cd I was playing was a different model of a cd that the 98 doesnt read because it would basically just make a lot of noise like it was loading it, then when it loaded it would make the noise and let me scan through tracks. But no play.

So if someone could please assist me with that, I'd be greatly thankful.:confused:

I don't think it was designed to handle MP#'s, although the CD player should play CD-R's (burned).

Would it be cheaper (and better looking for your dash) to get an adapter to play your portable MP3 player through your existing stereo?

Yeah that could be an option...like a media player like the one dell has??

How'd I go by installing that?

I'm no expert, but I would start with Crutchfield.com.

I would guess you have 2 or 3 options:

1. cassette adapter (if you have a cassette player)

2. FM modulator (similar to what is used with XM radio hook-ups)

3. Auxiliary connection to existing head unit. I think there is a slot to connect an external CD Changer to a Honda head unit - if you get the right harness adapter and the right MP3 player adapter, this would be the cleanest option. Have you browsed the accessories threads here?

If you can get the right wire harness to connect your head unit to your MP3 player, the install is very easy. Maybe a call to Crutchfield would be in order. Then you could give them the make and model of your MP3 player, and they can tell you if it is possible.

Sorry I am not more specific - I know the theory here, but not too good on the execution.

:sorry:

Honda also makes an attachment MP3 player in-dash but it looks ugly. The unit is not designed to play MP3's, and is finicky when it comes to discs, same with most other car head units. For instance, my 02 EX V6 headunit plays most of my discs, but on occasion it will reject one or two (not play at all, not even static noise). However, that rejected disc might play if I tried to put it in some other time. It's weird. Different brands also make a difference, but I think for sure CD-RW will not work. My mom's ML320 has accepted every CD-R I put into it, but never any CD-RW's, almost the same story with my Accord.

We no longer do MP3's, but CD's burned at home have worked fine in both Hondas. Generally we use CD-R's, but have used a few "W's" too.

There's always the iPod stuff too.....

This is an old forum... but.. i have the same problem w/ my 00 accord... it wont play most burnt cds... just makes noises like its tryin to read and spits it back out at me... thats why i was thinkin of gettin a new cd player.. but then again i have an ipod mini and i might as well just get a $40 itrip and mount.... but what is the best way to set my lil mp3 player up so it doesn't just slid around in my car???

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Section_Id=201526&pcount=&Product_Id=186782

it wont play most burnt cds... just makes noises like its tryin to read and spits it back out at me

Katie - I had the same problem in my 2000 Accord. I discovered that the CD player is sensitive to the CD media used to burn the CD. If you use only high quality "Music" (not data) CD's, I think you'll find that they will play just fine.

Others have mentioned "blue" CD's or specific brands (Memorex, Sony). When I switched, they started working great. The only problem is the other 50 burned CD's that I have to re-do now... :mad:

thanx so much.. i'll try that :banana:

I have this same problem in my '99 Accord, however it used to play burned CD's just fine until a few years ago. I burn all my CD's as "Music" and I have experimented with various brands of CD's. Anyone else have any luck getting it to work?

I took it to my Honda dealer since my car is still under warranty and they told me that since it plays regular CD's fine they have no justification for replacing it.

I had similar problems with the single disc unit that fits right under the cassette radio. it played regular cd fine, burned cds it was weird, it sometimes worked, and others not, or it would just take a verrrrrrrrry long time to start playing. I Happened to have a 6-disc factory changer unit from my friends civic Si but the cable didnt work with that radio, when I got my new(er) accord (2000) there was no cd player but the changer cable pluged right in . the changer has no porblems at all reading any burned cds, and doesnt skip nearly as much as the in dash unit... you may want to look into a factory changer on ebay (unfortunatally they run about $300+ from a dealer). oh they dont read mp3s though if thats important to you, I just use a cassette adaptor (much better SQ than rf trasmitters those are crap). I dont know if cdrw's are important to you, I havent tested any with the changer. :dunno:

ok I ran out for a smoke and tested the rw's no they wond work with the factory changer. you may want to take a look at this sight it has aux inputs that plug it where the changer would plug in. what you would be looking for is in the third table on the page...its the 14 pin one with the blue and white ends

http://www.installer.com/cars/honda.html


ps if you decide to get a changer if you dont like the idea of going to the trunk to swap the cartrage, it fits very nicely in the dash glove-box, thats what I did, very convenient(just have to cut a hole through the inside of the golve-box to run the cable to the H.U.