I think you are right - it is separate on your LX. It's only the EX with the 6 disc changer that has the integrated climate controls. I think the EX actually displays climate control information on the radio screen - is that right? So when you find an adapter that will allow to directly replace the CD player, you don't have to worry as much about your AC controls. It's more complicated for the EX owners.

On the other hand . . . on the LX and DX, it still does look like the bottom part of the faceplate, with the AC controls, might be attached to the upper radio part. So I don't know how that can be dealt with - still more easily than on the EX, though, I would think.

 

Well, I just researched this a little - gets even more confusing. It looks like, although the faceplate is all one big piece on all models, behind that faceplate is a separate upper radio/CD unit and lower climate control unit. I can't really tell how (or if) the LX and EX differ behind the faceplate, although obviously they do.

This is all too confusing for me - I'm just going to replace my speakers!

 

the stock radios in all 03 accords are one piece. There is no way to remove the radio, because you'll lose the climate controls. There would be no reason to send sound from an aftermarket deck into the stock deck... that'd be pointless. If you add an aftermarket deck, it goes below the radio... and you'll essentially bypass the stock deck (eventhough it has to stay there). It does make for a shitty situation... personally if I had an 03, i'd just leave the stock deck and work from there... I would never be able to stand having 2 decks in my dash, with one that dosent even do anything.

I'm sure someome will get creative and make a new faceplate that replaces the stock radio, but leaves the climate control buttons in their places. That would be a total custom job involving fiberglass and everything. And who knows how power gets to the climate controls... weather they're fed from the radio, or they have their own harnesses, seperate from the radio.

 

SumAccordGuy94, the problem is that the stock CD player skips every CD i have like a mother f*****, because I only listen to CD-Rs. The aftermarket deck wont skip, that's for sure. Also, check out this guy, he made it! http://www.sounddomain.com/member_pa...=375038&page=5
I wonder how he did that (it was custom).

 

Ok...

i talked to my guy at I.E.I. (interstate electronics inc.) here in Jersey....


he says that they as well as mannnny other installation establishments use METRA head unit kits.

theres a METRA website he said..and when METRA comes out with a design thats the REAL head unit kit to use.


reason being is that....they have yet to think of a way to include the dual zone climate controls into the head unit.

I must say it is the shittest part of having my car cause that was the 1st thing i wanted to do to it was to put a Pioneer Premier p9000 head unit in it..and to hear that they do make any kit for it yet was devastating.

My guy who is very refutable btw unlike some installation dealers...says until METRA makes one....all the other head unit kits are bogus because there if METRA doesn't make one...then no one does.

By that he means...companies have cheap rip offs and non-complete kits....i have seen a few of these 2003 head unit kits on ebay and the net...and they all look like they would work but they wouldnt cause u still gotta have someone skilled in possibly sodering the dual zone climate control features to the new knobs on a head unit kit.


Bottom line is that:

**** getting a new head unit plain and simple


just get some nice JL audio subs (*preferably 10"s) an amp and a high level/low level adaptor and run that shit so u can enjoy yer music.

 

Quoth, thanks a lot for your research, let's hope Metra comes out with something real soon.
Two points:
1. My LX doesn't have dual climate controls.
2. Again, I NEED to have a new deck, since mine SKIPS LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW with CD-Rs, I will be happy without the sub for some time, as long as my CDs play and dont skip.

 

yea yer welcome no doubt.


but to coincide with point #2 u made....

Typically you really should not use CD-R discs in the factory head unit of any car....the surfacing on CD-R is not quality therefore that creates the skipping.

When u buy a new cd from the store for example...most cd's are manufactured from a company named, WEA Manufacturing.

What they do is put a type of "coating" on the cd's u buy in the store...hence why the difference in color on the underside of cd-r's and normal store bought cd's.

What i would have done if u need the cd-r playbacks that bad..is i woulda invested in the honda mp3 player...though its mad expensive plus its a friggin honda cd player...it would prolly help u more in this case.


But from personal experience....i too play cd-r's in my factory head unit....a few times i find it has trouble reading the cd's and i only use either SONY or TDK. But sometimes i suppose because the lack of factory "coating" on the layer that store bought cd's have, the cd player does not recognize the cd being played.

Trust me i feel yer pain...i was happier than a pig in shit when i got my car cause i figured that Metra made a kit for it cause i was soooooo destined to get the Pioneer Premier P9000 head unit which aside from having the oragnic EL display...also plays mp3's...wma...and .wav files.....so u could easily put about 2 or 300 hundred songs on one disc and just play the shit.

I have the very 1st generation organic EL display head unit from pioneer but that shit don't even play mp3's and i bought it when it came out in 1998 i belive?

well...i'd go on and on but its 2:35am here in New Jersey and i just got back from the city and all that Guinness i drank has my pale irish ass down for the count.

hope u and or anyone else find this info useful.

enjoy.

-Quoth

 

Quoth, as I understand the Honda OEM MP3 player mounts in the same little cubby as well... so what's the point for me to get another shitty Honda player when I could get the Pioneer (I'm a fan of Pioneer also) and stick it into the same cubby with the current kits on the market?? The only reason I'm not getting it is I'm waiting for one to replace the original, not to add on. You see my point here?

 

i see your point here..


but you just seem anxious so i was trying to suggest something to appease yer anxious appeitite.

If you are patient..then definitely wait.

But the question comes: how long do you wait?

I mean i may not even be another year or so until Metra comes up with a proper design to fit every single component of the factory head unit in its space.

As for the cubby hole..i would never put anything in there (cept maybe a tv cause its like perfect size) other than that...anything put in there looks highly ghey and very tacky because u still have that big bulky ass head unit to deal with.

my advice to u as well as to myself to be patient and hope metra comes out with a design soon.

Just as in Technics 1200's are the industry standard turntables that dj's use.... Metra is the industry standard head unit kits that installers use.

So wait for them and accept no imitations no matter how tempting they look or sound on ebay and other net sites.

damn i need to go to sleep already haha.

hey if anything we are in this search together so i shall keep u informed if i hear anything from time to time.

peace.

 

I went through a similar process trying to figure out how to upgrade the sound system in my 03 EX 4cyl (does not have duel zone climate controls.) Keeping the OEM head unit is too much of a quality compromise so I finally broke down and had an after-market deck (MP3 capable) installed in the CD holder tray down below. It looks the same as the kit pictured above. Anyway, it looks great. I was very pleasantly surprised with the results. The OEM deck is still powered so it holds 6 CD's and the clock still functions but the outputs are disconnected. The only regret I have is the loss of the steering wheel controls but there is a kit that works with the infrared remote of after-market head units that will regain that functionality if desired.

I also had the stock speakers replaced and powered their replacements with a 4 channel amp. A Infinity self powered sub in the trunk gives the low end a little boost. Now the car sounds right.

If you want to do the sound system right, I personally believe that the stock head unit should not be used. It is a poor base to build from. Besides being a cheep hunk of crap, it does not have enough power. So you need an amp, but the head unit doesn’t have pre-outs…. On and on, compromises, expense and less than optimal results.


JeffA