DIY: Soundgate Zune (or I-pod) controller installation (Lot of pics)

[BigBird271]

The following is instructions on installing the Soundgate HONZN4 Zune controller. My car is an ‘07 Si Sedan with Navi but non Navi/Si cars should not be that different. For more info on taking apart your dash go to the Honda owners link web site e-store and look for the music link 2.0 installation guide. Soundgate also makes an I-pod controller (HONPD4) that can be installed the same way. For more info on these products go to Welcome - SoundGate.com You should be able to find one online for about $110. Also the HONZN4 has two modes of operation. Mode 1 replaces your XM radio feature and Mode 2 emulates a CD changer. I selected Mode 2 because I do not have or plan to get a CD changer. These two modes also offer different control options. Consult your HONZN4 instruction manual for more details.

First off: You and on one else (Namely myself and 8th Gen. Civic) are responsible for your own actions, so if you mess up your car well, to quote the great Han Solo "It's not my fault!"

Required tools: #2 Philips screw driver, Utility knife/leathermans tool, soldering iron, solder, heat shrink tubing, small scissors, 10mm wrench and something to make a rectangular hole in plastic. You will also need about a dozen 6" zip ties. Optional: 1: Flashlight. 2: Small mirror. 3: Instead of soldering you can use two wire taps. If I missed something please tell me so I can fix it.


Step #1

Record your radio security code and station presets and put them some where you will not loose them! If you get set up with the Owners Link website you can store your security code there!

Step #2

Using your 10mm wrench disconnect your batteries negative terminal.


Step #3

Remove this little panel on the top of the storage bin under your radio. Now look up inside there and you should see two screws, remove them. These are hard to see so you may have to feel around or even get a mirror but they are there.


Step #4

Remove the panel on the top of the drivers side foot well by turning the knob in the center and pulling down on the panel then using your utility knife carefully remove the lower dash panel on the drivers side starting from the left and working to your right until all eight clips have released.


Step #5

Remove the screw just under the upper dash panel on the right side and put it some where safe.


Step #6 (Caution read step #7 before completing step #6!)

Remove the upper dash panel by prying around the edges with your knife and pulling it out, it is held in by about ten clips.


Step #7

Un clip the two plugs on the back left side of the dash panel and put the panel aside.


Step #8

You can now pry/pull your radio dash panel out. Caution: There are several wires plugged into the back. Once all the clips (about 12 I think) have released carefully slide the radio all the way out. FYI: this thing weighs about 15Lbs so do not drop it!


Step #9

Unhook all the wires on the back of the radio and carefully put it aside. Do not worry about marking what plug goes where they are all different.


Note: In the next part I describe how to mount the unit in the center console. If you want to put it somewhere else I will help you as much as I can but other wise you are on your own.

Step #10

Using your knife pry up the panel around the gear selector.


Step #11

Using your knife pry up the upper forward part of the center console then turn the gray panel sideways and slide it through the opening. Place the part you just removed aside. Note: you will have to release the parking brake to get the panel out so you should put wheel chalks behind your tires to prevent your car from rolling even if you think your on a level surface. (Sounds crazy but it happened to a friend of mine)


Step #12

Remove these two screws in side your center console and put them with the screw you removed earlier from the upper dash panel.


Step #13

Open your center console and remove the rubber pad on the very bottom. You should now see two screws in the bottom of the console. Remove them.


Step #14

There are two round fasteners on the front of the center console near the top in the foot wells on each side that you need to remove. The drivers side is out in the open just use your knife to pry the center of the fastener out and then pull the entire fastener out by hand and put it with the screws you removed earlier. Careful if you are too rough you may brake it! The passenger side is a bit harder to get to. First you have to remove the panel on top of the foot well. It is held in by 2 or 3 clips on the back and 2 tabs on the front, Just give it a tug straight back and it should release. Set the panel aside and look for the fastener, it should be in about the same spot as the one on the drivers side. Just remove it the same way as you did the one on the drivers side and put it with the others.

Step #15

Looking inside your center console in the front right corner you should see a yellow and black wire going to a plug mounted on the side of the console, unplug it. It is for your accessory socket in the console. Note: Mine was mostly covered in a black plastic wire wrap leaving only a small amount of wire visible. Sorry for the lack of pics in steps #14 and #15 I for got to adjust my camera so the pics I took where too big. If any one wants some I can retake them without too much trouble.

Step #16

Remove your center console by sliding it back words then lifting it up and taking it out of the car.

Step #17

Turn the console over and install the smaller of the two boxes (called the CORE) that came with the HONZN4 no farther aft than the center of the front cup holder and do not install it like I did in the picture, it will hit the shifter assembly. Instead, turn it sideways and zip tie it to the wire bundle on the side. (Green arrow)


Step #18

Now cut open the electrical tape wrapped around the plastic wire wrapper and pull out the yellow and black wires inside, you should have just enough slack in them to work. I used my soldering iron to melt off the insulation then soldered the red wire of the Core's wiring harness to the yellow wire on the car and then the same with the black wires and finish by wrapping the joints with electrical tape. Note: cutting the wires and then soldering them back together could make them too short that’s why I did it this way. Another faster way would be to use wire taps.

Step #19

Zip tie the wire with the Zune attachment to the cars wire bundle (Orange arrows) and make a hole in the bottom of the storage compartment big enough to fit the Zune connector. Once done drilling put the connector through the hole and ensure that you have enough extra wire in side the console to plug and unplug your Zune easily. You may also want to plug in your remote and a/v cables at this time.


Step #20

Back inside your car take the other box that came with the HONZN4 (RED arrow) and zip tie (PURPLE arrows) it to the beam in what is normally the front left corner of the inside of your center consol as shown. Once in place route the large “Y” adapter (GREEN arrow) to the back of your radio. One of the two plugs on top will plug into the wiring harness on the car and the other in to the back of the radio. All the plugs are different so I will be very impressed if you manage to screw this up! Also do not forget to plug the other end of the wiring harness in to the Soundgate box. Note: I found it easer to start from the top and work my way down going behind the drivers foot well air duct. (YELLOW arrow)


Step #21

Time to put your baby back together! I started with the radio. First slide it in enough that all the wiring harnesses can reach the back of the radio then starting from the bottom and working your way up install all the plugs until they click and double check that you did not miss any. A flashlight helps a lot here. Now slide your radio the rest of the way in and give the edges a good whack to make sure that all clips engage. Then install the two screws through the small panel below the radio and then install the panel.


Step #22

Install the upper drivers side dash panel. Do not forget the two wiring harness plugs on the left side and the one screw in it’s lower right hand corner.

Step #23

Install the lower drivers side dash panel and the panel on the top of the drivers side foot well.

Step #24

Install the center consol by lowering it into place about 2” behind its normal location then slide it forward making sure that the pegs on the bottom of the front mounting lugs on the consol engage the slots on the metal bracket on the car. Your remote and a/v cables (RED arrow) should be routed along the left side of the consol so as to prevent them from catching on any thing and plugged into the Soundgate box in front, a few well placed zip ties can help here. Note: I only zip tied the wires to each other and not to any part of the car in the front of the consol. Once you are satisfied with every thing install the four screws and the two plastic fasteners. Do not forget the plug in the front right corner for the accessory socket, if you do nothing will work!

Step #25

Reinstall the front top panel of the center consol. Make sure to keep the remote and a/v cables as far left as possible so as to not interfere with the storage compartment then reinstall the gray panel around the shift boot.

Step #26

Reinstall the panel on the top of the passenger side foot well and make extra sure that all the clips and tabs are properly engaged.

Step #27

Take the rubber pad that sits on the bottom of the center consol storage compartment and make a hole for your wire to pass through as shown in the picture. I used scissors to do this though a hole punch may make a cleaner hole.


Step #28

Last but not least, reconnect your batteries negative terminal, start your car, enter the security code, plug in your Zune and make sure every thing works as advertised.

After all your hard work all you get to see is this!?!?!? Well at least now you can controll your zune from your radio and steering wheel!!!

[mynameis]

Thanks for the info. I have the Soundgate CORE pack for my truck, it works great.

Does a new option show up on the Navi unit that you select for your zune? Got pictures?

[BigBird271]

Originally Posted by mynameis

Does a new option show up on the Navi unit that you select for your zune? Got pictures?

Instead of saying AUX on the top right of the screen it says CDC. (CD Changer)



Also it will only read CD 1 Track 1 Time 11' 11" Some one correct me if I am wrong but apearently your Zune/Ipod can only send audio signals to the head unit and not data. From what I have been reading it sounds like this is the case with all 08 and older Civics even with the factory Ipod addapter. '09s do not have this problem.

[mynameis]

Originally Posted by BigBird271

Instead of saying AUX on the top right of the screen it says CDC. (CD Changer)

You can still use your AUX port, right?

[BigBird271]

Good question! I had not even given my Aux port a second thought sense installing the HONZN4! The good news is YES the aux port will still apear on the list the moment you plug something in to it! I updated the pic in my previous post so you can see it for your self. :-)

[mynameis]

I am going to have to order one of those kits, too bad both of my Zunes broke this week...

[tclarkmd]

Does your vehicle have steering wheel controls (vol and track fwd/rev)? If so, can you use the steering wheel controls to control your Soundgate unit? I am especially interested in track fwd/rev control.

[BigBird271]

Sorry to take so long to reply, yes all your steering wheel controls work just fine. The ch +- button takes care of the track forward/back function. On the head unit the scan button is the play/pause, the 1 RPT button is the back button the 2 RDM button is the enter button and the tune/folder up/down rocker switch emulates the up/down buttons on the Zune. If you follow the instructions here DIY: OEM Navi Conversion to DVD Receiver/Etc. you could see your Zune's display on the head unit by hooking up the sound gates video out to the head units new video input. That would be really cool albeit a little expensive for my taste though.

[dmthegreatonersx]

nice work!

[SC_slam_Si]

I greatly respect you for taking the time for this DIY. If only I wasn't scared to do this myself.

[BigBird271]

Originally Posted by dmthegreatonersx

nice work!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by SC_slam_Si

I greatly respect you for taking the time for this DIY. If only I wasn't scared to do this myself.

Its really not that hard at all. It just looks intimidating due to the large parts of the dash you have to remove. If you need any help you can always post a question here or PM me and I will be happy to help.

BTW It has been a few years sense the install and there has not been so much as a single glitch with the HONZN4!