hillstones
06-20-2009, 12:41 AM
I am going old-school with this one! You don't see many External CD Changers these days. The internal 6-CD stacker changer in my Nav head unit was on its way out. They are just too expensive to replace, and finding a used one means you might get another dud. While browsing eBay, I found a brand-new in the box Honda 8-CD Changer. No one else bid on it, and I won it for $49! Talk about a steal! Ordered the Console CD Attachment Kit from Bernardi Parts for $49.
Normally, an External CD Changer cannot be used when an iPod Connection Kit is installed because the XM/Nav system uses the Aux connection on the special Y-Harness. However, since my OEM Nav was installed using a custom-made wiring harness, the Aux connector on the Y-Harness remained open. So I decided to look for the External CD Changer instead. The magazine-style changers are more reliable too.
Before installing, I hooked it up just to make sure it would work.
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd1.jpg
White 14-pin connector plugged into the open Aux connection on the special Y-Harness (Dice Silverline iPod Module attached to the inner panel, configured for XM emulation).
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd2.jpg
Prepping the CD Changer with the Console Attachment Kit (mounting brackets and foam bumpers for console installation).
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd3.jpg
Center console removed
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd4.jpg
Center console disassembled, with inner console pocket removed
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd5.jpg
Prepping the inner console. The console has bulls-eye marks specifically for the CD installation
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd6.jpg
Mounting holes on the front of the inner console
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd7.jpg
The External Changer dropped into the inner console
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd8.jpg
The External Changer and inner console reinstalled in main console
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd9.jpg
Bus cable connecting the CD changer
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd10.jpg
Bus cable connected and routed to Aux Y Harness
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd11.jpg
The instructions had a misleading graphic that appeared to show the mounting screws going through the outside of the outer panel. Thankfully the mounting screws are below the outer panel.
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd12.jpg
Apple iPod Classic 120 GB Black connected to a Dice Silverline module in XM emulation mode.
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd13.jpg
The Honda 8-CD Changer installed in the Center Console. It is a little odd that the installation places the Changer upside down from the driver's perspective. The visible cables are the iPod cable to the upper console shelf, and an extra Aux miniplug input.
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd14.jpg
The Honda 8-CD Changer, door open with Magazine. The magazine can be ejected and inserted without the key
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd15.jpg
The Navigation Head Unit in CD-C mode. I can use either the touchscreen or the Ch Disc buttons to change discs. I was hoping that the random play would be a true random of all discs since it uses a magazine. Unfortunately it operates just like the in-dash 6 disc. It will randomize the tracks on the current disc, then change to the next. My old Sony CDX-A15 10-Disc would shuffle all discs. The good news is that the 8-CD changer does change discs faster than the internal 6-Disc. The internal 6-CD changer is ignored since there are no CD's in it. So now I have my iPod in XM emulation mode, and 8 CD's in CD-C mode.
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd16.jpg
Normally, an External CD Changer cannot be used when an iPod Connection Kit is installed because the XM/Nav system uses the Aux connection on the special Y-Harness. However, since my OEM Nav was installed using a custom-made wiring harness, the Aux connector on the Y-Harness remained open. So I decided to look for the External CD Changer instead. The magazine-style changers are more reliable too.
Before installing, I hooked it up just to make sure it would work.
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd1.jpg
White 14-pin connector plugged into the open Aux connection on the special Y-Harness (Dice Silverline iPod Module attached to the inner panel, configured for XM emulation).
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd2.jpg
Prepping the CD Changer with the Console Attachment Kit (mounting brackets and foam bumpers for console installation).
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd3.jpg
Center console removed
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd4.jpg
Center console disassembled, with inner console pocket removed
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd5.jpg
Prepping the inner console. The console has bulls-eye marks specifically for the CD installation
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd6.jpg
Mounting holes on the front of the inner console
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd7.jpg
The External Changer dropped into the inner console
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd8.jpg
The External Changer and inner console reinstalled in main console
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd9.jpg
Bus cable connecting the CD changer
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd10.jpg
Bus cable connected and routed to Aux Y Harness
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd11.jpg
The instructions had a misleading graphic that appeared to show the mounting screws going through the outside of the outer panel. Thankfully the mounting screws are below the outer panel.
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd12.jpg
Apple iPod Classic 120 GB Black connected to a Dice Silverline module in XM emulation mode.
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd13.jpg
The Honda 8-CD Changer installed in the Center Console. It is a little odd that the installation places the Changer upside down from the driver's perspective. The visible cables are the iPod cable to the upper console shelf, and an extra Aux miniplug input.
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd14.jpg
The Honda 8-CD Changer, door open with Magazine. The magazine can be ejected and inserted without the key
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd15.jpg
The Navigation Head Unit in CD-C mode. I can use either the touchscreen or the Ch Disc buttons to change discs. I was hoping that the random play would be a true random of all discs since it uses a magazine. Unfortunately it operates just like the in-dash 6 disc. It will randomize the tracks on the current disc, then change to the next. My old Sony CDX-A15 10-Disc would shuffle all discs. The good news is that the 8-CD changer does change discs faster than the internal 6-Disc. The internal 6-CD changer is ignored since there are no CD's in it. So now I have my iPod in XM emulation mode, and 8 CD's in CD-C mode.
http://web.me.com/peter.hillman/Site/photos/CD/cd16.jpg