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ACTY Radio Install

Discussion in 'Honda Acty' started by OldMachinist, Feb 12, 2009.

  1. OldMachinist

    OldMachinist Moderator Staff Member

    I upgraded the AM radio today to FM stereo. There's not much on the AM dial where I live. I only use the Honda around our 70 acres so I didn't need high end sound. I found a cheap($29.99 with free shipping at Newegg.com) FM radio with a CD player and some $19.99 speakers at Wal-Mart. So I went from this.

    [​IMG]

    To this.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I wrote a Word document about it with lots more pictures and descriptions and you can download it here. http://www.mediafire.com/?oezmzzhwkdzIt's a large file(47mb) so if you have a slow connection it might take awhile. If anyone has any questions feel free to ask.

    Edit
    I just noticed in the word doc that spellcheck changed tygon to teak. Anyway the tubing I used to run the wires through the door jamb was 1/4"tygon
     
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2009
    4x4prepper likes this.
  2. Windmill

    Windmill Member

    Looks good. Changed the radio in mine also. When I got it. It only had one station for some reason.
     
  3. drempel

    drempel New Member

    Thanks for the detailed instructions: timely, since I'm doing a radio intall on the weekend.
     
  4. OldMachinist

    OldMachinist Moderator Staff Member

    A couple of things I forgot to note in the Word doc.

    The window cranks are held on by small wire clips and the standard tool for removal didn't work. The wire they are made from is so small the tool slip past without pushing it off. Also mine were installed with the open end of the clip away from the crank. On most cars the open end is inline with the crank. I made a tool that worked real good from a piece of 1/2" banding strap. Here's a sketch of it.
    [​IMG]

    I made it longer than the crank handle and insterted it in between the handle and the plastic ring, hooked the clip and pulled it out.

    The other thing I forgot to say was make sure you solder the terminals on the speaker wires in the door they are some what exposed to the weather and if they corrode you'll get crackles and pops.

    All the pictures in the Word doc can be veiwed here.
    http://s245.photobucket.com/albums/gg49/calfranch/HondaATCY/RadioUpgrade/

    If I think of anything else I'll post it.
     
    Last edited: Feb 13, 2009
  5. OldMachinist

    OldMachinist Moderator Staff Member

    Hey drempel did you get your radio installed? I just curious if you hit any snags that need to be mentioned.
     
  6. Mighty Milt

    Mighty Milt Active Member

    i haven't tried it myself, but a buddy of mine told me you can get the window crank clips out with a strip of cloth or a shop rag. you just fit it behind teh window crank and go back and forth like flossing your teeth and it will snag the clip and pop it out.
     
  7. OldMachinist

    OldMachinist Moderator Staff Member

    I've also heard about the cloth trick but it came with a warning that the clip may fly away to that place that all small object go to when dropped and are never seen again.
     
  8. Mighty Milt

    Mighty Milt Active Member

    well, there's that... LOL
     
  9. zardoz

    zardoz Member

    Any clip that can fly off into the nothingness...

    was always referred to (by my fellow mech's) as a "Jesus Clip" ... as in "Jesus... where did that go??" LOL

    z


     
  10. drempel

    drempel New Member

    Hi,

    Believe it or not, I'm just finally getting the silly thing installed (sheesh...)

    Anyway, the major snags have been getting the speaker mounted in the RH door (had to cobble together some blind fasteners since Honda went cheap and only put them in the LH door), and finding the RH speaker wire: still looking for it. Any hints on where it might be hiding?

    Thanks,

    Dan
     
  11. OldMachinist

    OldMachinist Moderator Staff Member

    The wires on mine were behind the brake fluid reservoir.
    I had to take the bolts out that hold the reservoir in to get my hand back there. And they were taped down to the rest of the harness.
    [​IMG]
     
  12. drempel

    drempel New Member

    Thanks. I looked around but couldn't see anything; I'll take another look after dinner when I''ve calmed down.

    Dan
     
  13. drempel

    drempel New Member

    Well, the silly thing's finally in; what a struggle! I honestly can't believe that such a simple job took so long, but it fought me every step of the way.http://www.minitrucktalk.com/images/smilies/frustration.gif

    Having said that, the only real snag (apart from things I'll chalk up to bad luck and stupidity) was getting the RH speaker mounted. Finally just ended up drilling new holes and using clip-on speed nuts, epoxy, and silicone seal, but it took a while to figure that out, believe it or not. The whole process wasn't helped by the adhesive Honda used to stick the plastic door liner on with: it's some kind of permanently tacky white goo that ended up on everything...http://www.minitrucktalk.com/images/smilies/eek.gif

    Anyway, all in, sounds good, and it drowns out the squeaks and rattles the way a radio's supposed to.

    Thanks for your help and instructions,

    Dan
     
  14. OldMachinist

    OldMachinist Moderator Staff Member

    I remember that white goo from when I did mine. I kept a can a mineral spirits right there the whole time I was working on the doors. Made me realize what mice feel like in a glue trap.
     
  15. I know this is an old thread, but it sure came in handy.

    I pulled my radio out of my '92 HA4 yesterday. This thread really made it easier for me.

    The 2 screws holding the radio in place are size 8 mm. I tried to loosen them with a phillips screwdriver, but that didn't work.

    Not sure what I'm going to go back with, but I'm looking for something cheap. I don't think I want to change the speakers just yet. I may try that later.

    I looked at a Pyramid CRD33D http://www.pyramidcaraudio.com/sku/CDR33D/AMFM-Receiver-CD-Player-wFull-Detachable-Face at the local Radio Shack today. It was about 60 bucks and is the same size as the original. I might go with that.
     
    Last edited: Mar 19, 2012
  16. packrat

    packrat Member

    Hey, with radios, I lucked out at re-use it store the other day for my Acty. They had a stock Honda AM/FM Cassette unit for $5. It looked to have the same connector, so I took a "huge" risk, and put down the 5 bucks. Got home, pulled out the stock radio, hooked up the connector and antenna, and it worked perfectly. Just check the local scrappers if you want a stock looking unit that fits right.
     
  17. That's a great idea. I'll have to check that out.
     
  18. I went to a 'Pull-A-Part" today. They charged me $2 just to go look in the junk cars to see if there was a radio in them!!

    I found a couple Honda Accords that had radios, but I didn't have time to pull one out, and it was raining. I may try again later. But, it looks like they will match up.
     
  19. I found a radio/cd player on eBay out of a 97-01 Acura Integra. From the pics on eBay, it seems to be the same fit as the one I pulled out of the truck. It should arrive tomorrow, and I'll get some pics.

    Also, I was able to get the left speaker out of the door by just removing 3 screws on the door, and pulling the plastic back far enough to get to the 4 speaker screws. The left side wasn't working. After I got it out, I connected it, and it worked, so I'll probably have to run some new wires to it. Again, I'll get some pics later.
     
  20. The Acura radio came in today. It seems to be an exact fit. I didn't put it in the truck yet, but you can see from the pics it looks the same. Keep in mind that if you get one of these, there is usually a theft code that needs to be programmed into it each time you disconnect the power. Make sure you get that code from the seller, because I think it will be a hassle to get it from an Acura dealer.

    The original is on the right, and the new one is always on the left.

    IMG_0675[1].JPG IMG_0676[1].JPG IMG_0677[1].JPG IMG_0678[1].JPG

    I'm not sure the old one is the original radio, because this connector was in there, and the 2 exposed wires you see were connected to the right speaker. The left speaker was not working

    IMG_0679[1].JPG
     
  21. Success!!!

    It plugged right in and worked. I hooked the right speaker wires to the exposed wires and the left speaker came on without any other modifications. And the screws holding the radio in place fit perfectly to the back of the new unit.

    IMG_0683[1].JPG

    And, here are some pics of how I removed the left speaker. I just took 2 screws out that were holding the door panel and popped out one plug on the bottom and just pulled it back by hand.

    IMG_0680[1].JPG IMG_0681[1].JPG IMG_0682[1].JPG
     
  22. drewster2010

    drewster2010 New Member

    very cool! i like it hows the sound??
     
  23. The sound is okay for me. But not really good. The original truck speakers are pretty low quality. This is not a daily driver, so I don't need really good quality sound.

    The main reason I wanted a radio is so that I can listen to LSU Football on Saturday's while I'm at the deer lease.
     
  24. SeattleActyVan

    SeattleActyVan New Member

    This thread has been a HUGE help. I just picked up a 1991 Street Van HH4 and the left/right speakers keep intermittently going out. From some troubleshooting I think the issue with the speakers cutting out is from the wiring harness at the back of the radio. This weekend I'm going to replace it with a new head unit and clean up the connections. Knowing I can use a 8 mm ratchet to get those screws holding the current one in place is going to be a HUGE help over trying to use a 90 degree phillips head.

    Hopefully once the new radio is in, the speakers will sound okay. I'm not sure if there are speakers that would fit without having to modify the door panel and already messed with that white goo during my troubleshooting ...
     
  25. Tom Metcalf

    Tom Metcalf New Member

    Hey Group, I'm looking for a replacement stock Clarion AM radio. I think it's stamped Model JY.

    Mine is DEAD, but power to it is fine. External 12V power source connected - still real dead.

    Does anyone wish to sell one that's been replaced with a new fangled fancy one?

    Thanks.......
     
  26. Sam Gamble

    Sam Gamble Member

    Old thread I know.... I finally got my ACTY going, and I replaced the radio and speakers. Everything works however the wire I connected to the radio that originally had continuous 12v power for some reason only has power when the ignition is on. I’ve checked the other power wire and it’s the same thing. I will add that I also reconnected the cigarette lighter as someone had cut the wire (which is white with blue tracer just like the “continuous 12v wire” I have connected to the radio) so maybe that’s my issue? I’m at a total loss. I wouldn’t care except it means I have to set the EQ and pair Bluetooth everytime I start the truck.
     
  27. JonP

    JonP Member

    Why don't you just splice into the continuous cigarette lighter wire? Or, swap them. I swapped my cigarette lighter for switched power so it wasn't on all the time and I could leave stuff plugged in. Only downside is if you smoke you can't use it as a cigarette lighter anymore but that doesn't really matter.
     
  28. Sam Gamble

    Sam Gamble Member

    I feel like I’ve tried that, maybe I was looking at the wrong wire? The cigarette lighter has I believe two wires going to it, one has a blue tracer and it goes into a little plastic thing that’s crimped onto the wire.
     
  29. JonP

    JonP Member

    Yeah, it has two wires going to it. Continuous 12v wire is that white/blue one and the other is the ground. Do you have a volt meter? I'd test that wire with the key turned off and make sure it's the continuous 12v and if so send that to your radio.
     
  30. Sam Gamble

    Sam Gamble Member

    That’s the issue, before the install I had a wire that was always hot, and now I don’t. Not sure what happened along the way.
     

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