Cheap, nondescript stereo upgrade

[gtmotor]

When I was cleaning out my closet this weekend I found the stock radio for my old 2004 S2000 (AP2).

I'm not sure why I upgraded the stereo in the roadster but I happened to keep the factory head unit. It looked like a much better version of the Insight radio (and it had a CD player!!) so I thought I'd see if it would work in the Insight.

Long story short... it was a direct plug in affair I literally had the stereo in and working in 10 minutes (it's remarkably easy to remove the radio on these cars). The harness in the back plugged right in and all the pins were correct. It took me awhile to find the code for the anti-theft feature on the S2k radio but after putting the code in it worked! It had even saved my old radio stations I was listening to in 2004

So if anyone is looking to upgrade their radio this is a good, cheap, and EASY option that anyone can install

[joecvt]

I believe that the radio used in the 2004 - 2006 Insights are the same as the one you installed from your S2000. (Honda switched over to CD player / stereos in 2004 for the Insight).

JoeCVT = Just your average CVT owner

[freezin4]

I just ordered a Honda CRV CD player from eBay.

It supposed to plug right in also.

I looked at some from the S2000, and they were silver. I wanted a black one so it would blend better with the dash surround.

Some come with orange backlight, some come with light green.




The eBay ad states that: "This Will fit and work in:-
98 – 02 Accord 99 – 00 Civic
00 – 05 S2000 99 – 04 CRV
99 – 04 Odyssey 98 – 04 Del Sol
99 – 04 Prelude 03 – 05 Element

This unit will also fits and work:
In the following cars with additional adapter harness that we sell for $23.
90-97 Honda Accord
89-98 Honda Prelude Honda 92-95 Civic
95-98 Honda Odyssey Honda 97-98 CRV"

[ikhoudvanu199]

i really wish the prev owner of my car didnt chop the heck out of my stereo's wiring

[freezin4]

I installed the above stereo a couple of weeks ago, and I must say it looks sweet. The amber backlight nicely complements the HVAC control display. And the head unit swap has got to be one of the easiest cars to do.

I have a question: Does anyone know how to display the CLOCK function on this model?

[JohnHeller]

Your's may not have the clock function. As I recall the only Hondas with the amber display and a built-in clock are the Insight, the Civic Si and the S2000. Other Hondas have a dash clock so their radios don't have a clock. There are lots of blue ones that work too, but they don't look great at night. If you do have a blue display unit with clock (Civic EX for example), it is easy to dismantle the radio and pull the little blue rubber covers off the LEDs. You end up with an amber display of everything but the LCD readout. (which remains blue)
Later models will also play home burned CDs with MP3 files.

-John

[freezin4]

John,

Thanks for the excellent info.
Mine has the script "clock" written below the FM and above the # 1 preset buttons. But you are right, it may be to control the dash time display, because I can't get the time to display no matter how I manipulate the sorrounding buttons. (It is from a CRV.)
I didn't think about the various dash displays when I was selecting the stereo.
This is good info for anyone thinking of upgrading the OEM tape deck, or replacing aftermarket stereos.
Did the OEM stereo have amber display like the one in the top picture?

-pete