2006+ Honda Civic Carputer with dashkit?

**uptpilot** · 06-15-2011, 12:00 AM

I have a 2011 Honda Civic which is basically a 2006+ model (same interior I think).

I want to install a carputer but I don't see any easy way to do it. Here's what the OEM unit looks like:

OEM unit http://www.automobilesreview.com/img...c-coupe-14.jpg
OEM unit http://www.automobilesreview.com/img...c-coupe-16.jpg

My car doesn't have the OEM head unit and looks like this:
http://www.automobilesreview.com/img...ivic-gx-07.jpg

I found that Metra has a kit that is very similar (probably exactly the same?) as the OEM head unit.
http://www.autotoys.com/x/product.ph...cat=502&page=1

So while I can fit a 7" touchscreen in there, I don't know how I can keep my OEM radio, which the Carputer would rely on for audio. I also want to keep all the steering wheel controls working on it.

Does anyone have any idea how I could use my Carputer with a dashkit like this and keep the OEM head unit + air conditioning controls?

Thanks
uptpilot

**soundman98** · 06-15-2011, 01:43 PM

um, you would not be able to keep the factory radio while installing a carpc screen in the same location.

i would recommend mounting the screen above or below the factory hvac/radio cluster.

**uptpilot** · 06-15-2011, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by soundman98

um, you would not be able to keep the factory radio while installing a carpc screen in the same location.

i would recommend mounting the screen above or below the factory hvac/radio cluster.

I know that I can't have both in the same place... the problem is that I want to move the stock radio below the dash (above/in front of the shifter) but I haven't seen any dashkits that do a clean install of the OEM radio in that spot below. I'm not good at fabricating my own headunits.

**soundman98** · 06-15-2011, 05:40 PM

nope, and you won't find any. there just isn't a demand for that, so companies like metra don't make them.. you'll need to turn to a custom audio shop for that then.

**Penzance** · 06-16-2011, 07:18 AM

Especially since the OEM radio is not a standard din size. If you want to keep a head unit, it would probably be a lot easier to buy an aftermarket unit and mount it where you are looking at. I think there are some installs like that over at 8thcivic.com.

**uptpilot** · 06-16-2011, 11:40 PM

Originally Posted by Penzance

Especially since the OEM radio is not a standard din size. If you want to keep a head unit, it would probably be a lot easier to buy an aftermarket unit and mount it where you are looking at. I think there are some installs like that over at 8thcivic.com.

I wouldn't mind loosing the headunit all together provided:
- I can interface the steering wheel controls with the carputer (next/previous track & volume up/down)
- I still have some master volume control rotary dial (preferably OEM)
- The automatic volume control feature can be retained (somehow changes volume based on car speed)
- I have some kind of radio tuner using existing antennae

I don't know anything about car audio systems, but I assume that I could replace the head unit with some kind of amplifier that powers the car's OEM speakers? It would need to interface with existing car electronics to provide roughly the same capabilities mentioned above.

Any ideas? I'll look at 8th civic.

**adolfo** · 06-18-2011, 06:59 AM

it is easier to buy a OEM head unit directly. most of them are support the steering wheel controls

**soundman98** · 06-18-2011, 10:00 AM

no it's not. in the OP's case, the factory head unit does not conform to any standards at all. so there is no easy/cheap way of moving it..

they make steering wheel control interfaces for aftermarket radio's:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_127SWIX...ntrol&skipvs=T

and aftermarket radios conform to the DIN standard, so radio placement is going to be easier.

**johnklien** · 07-05-2011, 02:56 PM

Hello,

Honda civic 2011 is not 2006+ and I think it is hard to install carputer with dashkit.

Honda Civic is going to have a new shape in 2012 ... Honda Civic is always my favorite

John Klien