Like most, my biggest complaint with driving a 1st gen Ridgeline over 10 years later is the technology. Mostly the lack of Android Auto for better navigation. I purchased a Sony XAV-AX8000 which replaced my factory navigation and looks like it was always meant to be there. This also meant getting bled by Honda for the single DIN storage tray / trim around the hazard button. I had a shop install the head unit so I don't know a lot about the wiring of it. I do know that a Maestro unit was able to save my steering wheel controls. Well... at least 5 of the buttons. I programed volume to volume, mode to pause, up to next song, and down to voice.
Anyways, the shop and I had a miscommunication and they installed the amp and a sub under the rear seat which I was livid about, because when I go to the race track, the farm, or go shooting, I throw all kinds of bags and crap back there. I kept their wiring to the battery, but removed the amp and sub. I bought an Alpine PWE-S8 which is a powered sub, so no amp is required. I removed the factory sub and its housing as it was taking up a lot of space. I used a bunch of industrial velcro and a couple self tapping screws to mount the Alpine in more of less the same location. Then reinstalled the seat.
This was actually amazing timing, since the shop had broken one of the pullies for the seat bar (to make it fold up) so I had to remove the rear seat to install the new upgraded metal pullies from Honda anyways. We tested the sub before reinstalling the rear seat. There's a phase button, but mine was fine out of the box. I think we set the level to about a 7/10 and I can't remember what we set the bypass at. The Sony unit has its own EQ capabilities so I wasn't super worried about dialing it in just right. I listed to a lot of genres of music, so depending on the producer, the EQ may be a little off, so I used a variety of songs to dial it in. Anyways... it sounds amazing. It's much fuller and punchier than the factory unit and keeps the vehicle looking totally stock. I ended up replacing my door speakers too which was somewhat of a nightmare using those crappy spacer brackets, but the factory speakers were literally paper. Most were torn up bad.
I love it though. Now I get in the truck. Android auto automatically connects, starts playing Spotify wherever I dropped off last, and opens google maps. The voice features are nice. The display feels good to touch, and looks factory. With glare, i keep the brightness maxed out, and at night you can hold down the middle button to turn the display off if you want.
These are such simple trucks, but in a good way. They're timeless. A coworker and I went to lunch and he thought it was a new vehicle and asked when I bought it, but it's a 2008. He couldn't believe it. It looks and feels pretty modern inside now. Highly recommend upgrading your sound/entertainment to keep your old vehicle relevant and feeling fresh. Why buy a new vehicle when you can drive a paid off and still highly reliable one and just upgrade a couple features?
Anyways, here's some photos of the sub install behind the seat. It fit very well and costs around $350. You'll need a wiring kit to go to the battery and there's a way to make it work with a factory head unit too. So no matter what your set up, it's a great upgrade!
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And here's a really bad picture of the stereo installed. Don't mind the cracked windshield from the storm lol.
But like I said, looks pretty much factory.
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Anyways, the shop and I had a miscommunication and they installed the amp and a sub under the rear seat which I was livid about, because when I go to the race track, the farm, or go shooting, I throw all kinds of bags and crap back there. I kept their wiring to the battery, but removed the amp and sub. I bought an Alpine PWE-S8 which is a powered sub, so no amp is required. I removed the factory sub and its housing as it was taking up a lot of space. I used a bunch of industrial velcro and a couple self tapping screws to mount the Alpine in more of less the same location. Then reinstalled the seat.
This was actually amazing timing, since the shop had broken one of the pullies for the seat bar (to make it fold up) so I had to remove the rear seat to install the new upgraded metal pullies from Honda anyways. We tested the sub before reinstalling the rear seat. There's a phase button, but mine was fine out of the box. I think we set the level to about a 7/10 and I can't remember what we set the bypass at. The Sony unit has its own EQ capabilities so I wasn't super worried about dialing it in just right. I listed to a lot of genres of music, so depending on the producer, the EQ may be a little off, so I used a variety of songs to dial it in. Anyways... it sounds amazing. It's much fuller and punchier than the factory unit and keeps the vehicle looking totally stock. I ended up replacing my door speakers too which was somewhat of a nightmare using those crappy spacer brackets, but the factory speakers were literally paper. Most were torn up bad.
I love it though. Now I get in the truck. Android auto automatically connects, starts playing Spotify wherever I dropped off last, and opens google maps. The voice features are nice. The display feels good to touch, and looks factory. With glare, i keep the brightness maxed out, and at night you can hold down the middle button to turn the display off if you want.
These are such simple trucks, but in a good way. They're timeless. A coworker and I went to lunch and he thought it was a new vehicle and asked when I bought it, but it's a 2008. He couldn't believe it. It looks and feels pretty modern inside now. Highly recommend upgrading your sound/entertainment to keep your old vehicle relevant and feeling fresh. Why buy a new vehicle when you can drive a paid off and still highly reliable one and just upgrade a couple features?
Anyways, here's some photos of the sub install behind the seat. It fit very well and costs around $350. You'll need a wiring kit to go to the battery and there's a way to make it work with a factory head unit too. So no matter what your set up, it's a great upgrade!
And here's a really bad picture of the stereo installed. Don't mind the cracked windshield from the storm lol.
But like I said, looks pretty much factory.
