Installed Metra dash kit & XM Radio today.

[NetDragon]

Damn I feel so cool.. :cool: I took apart my front dash and pulled out my Pioneer 7400MP. I connected the IP Bus cable and wired in the power into the wiring harness. In the process I had to pull the single DIN head unit out and replaced the crappy Scosche 99 Honda Civic EX dash kit. Had to pull up the panels along the right side of the car and run it to the back where the IP BUS Cable connecte to the GEX-P900XP Receiver. What do you know. It all workd just fine. The other end of the IP Bus Cable had a ground lead on it and the plug to give power to the receiver. What about the roof mount antenna? How do I get it into the car? Well if you open ther hatch and look at along the right side of the lip you will see a wire casing with a big gasket sealing it off. Just run the wire through there and along the inside of the plasic along the side. I used the rubber gasket that seals the hatch closed to hide the wire because I mounted the antenna in the center of the roof just infront of the radio antenna. It looks a little goofy but not bad, and it works really well. Kudos to Clear Channel Broadcasting for XM. Also Kudos to Honda for making a "Snap-N-Go" Car. Most of the plasic in there just pulls right off if you apply a bit of force. I will try and post pictures tomorrow, thanks.

- NetDragon :confused:
http://www.dragonspot.net/gallery/civicsi/

P.S. - I forgot to mention my thoughts on the Metra kit for our car. It fits great. The black one was the only one they had. I was considering painting it but I think it looks good with the solver, it works well with the rest of the dash. Also the nice thing about the Metra is that it does Single DIN, Single DIN ISO (Smaller), Double-Single DIN or Double DIN.

[esmith13]

Do you happen to have a step-by-step for pulling up the panels to run wires???

I want to put an amp and sub in my hatch area and the only thing stopping me is WHERE TO RUN THE WIRE????


Please, help... If you can...


Thanks in advance,

Eric

[NetDragon]

I do not have a lot of time so I will type this fast. Sorry in advance for any typos.

What is great about Honda is that allmost all the panels are just pull apart. Just YANK and they usually come off. NOT THE CELING though. learned that one the hard way. Gotta go get soinme Shoe Goo to fid the back part of the celing.

Anyway, Where do you plan on putting the AMP? Under the passanger seat, or in the trunk/hatch?

I do not know a lot about AMP's but I am assuming the AMP needs inputs and outputs and a nice big phatty power cable? For me, the best place to start was the passanger kick panel. If you reach back along it there is a little release hole. grab under the bottom of the kick panel and stick your finger in the release and bend the flap, PULL and it should come off without breaking. Although it feels like it will. Key word, *SHOULD* I take no responsibility for broken panels. After you get that off you can take the one off the bottom of the door jam. I was not able to get it totally out but I pulled it up enough to get the IP Bus Cable under it. I could not get the rear passanger kick panel off at all, but it was raised JUUUUUST enough off the carpet to pull it back and stick the wire under it. There is a rubber stopper on that rear panel. jam your fimder under it and pull it out. It is there to cover up a screw I think, but with it missing you have something better to grab on to to pull the panel back and fit the cable under it. I did all this my self but I would suggest getting a friend to help you. THEN, just feed it under the seat cushon. It was VERY tight approaching the base of the seat belt. Just get it through there best you can. Since I am using a full fledged data cable I did not want to risk damaging it, was 50 frickin' dollars plus tax!!!! Just for a stupid cable.

OK thewn put the back seat down and fit the wire through it, between the plastic and the seat so when you put it back up it is way low, I though it looked fine. NBow I am sure someone else here could mayeb give you a better rout but it may end up taking off the panels I am talking about completely and even removing the seat.

It depends on how much effort you wanbt to put into it.

What about the dash borad? Use small flat head screw driver. and pull off the round silver blank spot. You may want to wrap some electrical tape orr a small peace of plastic to help protect the metal from the screw driver. After you get the blank out you have a place to put your finger. Before you pull off the lower half of that silver dash section carefully grab the silver collar under the shifter nob and pull down, it should seperate, then unscrew the shifter nob. Now use a finger and grab onto that hole and PULL, it shgould come out without too much effort. After that happens there is the top section. You will see a metal brase to help support that top section. I was not able to get the top section off without first unscrewing that metal brace. Then just PULL on the botom of that section, it should come right out. You do nto need to take the nobs or anything out, they are all part of the front panel. You may want to unplud the 3 green pluds connection the stuff on the upper section to the rest of the car. If you already have a 3rd party head unit you should have a wiring harness in there. That will give you a bit more slack, But unplug the antenna lead first. it is a little too short.

OK Well I guess that is everything. I do not have time to proof this. Hope it helps.

[fishboy]

hey, you're back!!! what up foo.

[JaycivicSi]

xm radio, what about sirius radio??!!!!??!? You shoulda went with sirius.











im just playin man. i just really need for the sirius radio stock to go up.

[HondaMan]

Originally posted by fishboy
hey, you're back!!! what up foo.

Yep, good to see ya back dude!

[ep3_hatch]

Hi, I've been researching XM radio and am very interested in it. Please answer a few questions:

What antenna did you use? I will probably go with the "Antenna Specialists XM20 Constellation Rooftop Mount Antenna" because it's fairly low profile and is designed to be on the roof of hatchbacks and SUV's with pre-existing wire conduits. It should work perfectly in the same channel you cited.

Where did you install the tuner? This is the part I'm not too excited about. Aside from a new head unit, I have to buy the tuner and find a place to install it!

How do you like the programming? NIce variety? Is it a good value for 9.95 a month?

How is the reception? Any big dead spots, aside from tunnels, bridges etc.?

[mental]

OMG... thats a lot of pics of a seemingly stock looking car!!! someone must really really love thier new si... lol nice pics though... good quality and tastefuly done...

[NetDragon]

Fishboy & HondaMan: You talking about me? It IS good to be back. I have been quiet because I have been unemployed. Almost lost the "Dragon Wagon" a few times since November. But I am working again!

EP3_Hatch: To answer your questions:
I use the Pioneer Shark Fin antenna roof mount.

For now the tuner is in the trunk. It is sitting on some
"traction foam" so it will not move, it is just sitting back there. I do not have the heart to drill holes and screw it into my wheel well yet. But I plan on doing that this weekend.

I really like the programming. I mainly listen to News, because of the state of the world, and listen to the Techno/Trance/Dance on 80, 81, 82. I have to say the 100 channels are totally worth it.

As far as the reception it is crystal clear all the time! Unless you are driving down a narrow pass and it does not have a complete view of the sky. But I have never had any laps in service with a clear view of the sky. No pop & hisses and nooo static!

Mental: Thanks for the kudos on the pics. Yeah it is VERY stock! Sept for the Pioneer Head Unit and the XM. There is a lot I want to do to it. But modding my car is low priority because I have other places I need to sink my money into. Maunly getting past credit paid off.