Also adding the Connector Diagrams from the other thread so they are easy to find. @CentexG2 if this is not ok let me know and I will remove them.

 

Good write up!

 

Thanks! Its a shame it was necessary but the factory unit just kept having issues. First one was replaced under warranty for losing SiriusXM signal on sunny days after bringing it in 3 times and showing them recordings. Then this unit just started randomly disconnecting CarPlay which I use every day. I'm planning on keeping the truck so it was worth it but Honda really needs to step up their game since even the 2021 units are just as bad.

 

Does that Kenwood have a startup disclaimer that never goes away unless you tap a button or something? I absolutely hated that on my last after market HU and decided I would never again buy one that had such an annoying startup.

 

It has it but it does go away after 10secs like the OEM unit. It boots fast enough that I just tap it.

 

Great work, @cryptic1. The new unit fits nicely into the dash. The first one you tried was HUGE. Thank you for sharing.

 

Thanks! The screen was huge but damn it looked amazing during the day!

 

Man, I wasn't gonna say anything about that 10" in there because you did such a good job getting it in, but I was worried about it sitting in front of your vents like that. The smaller one looks incredible!

 

Yeah my wife basically snapped me out of that one...I was in awe of it for a few days but it really is pretty ridiculous. I just wish there was something in between that fit in the dash.

 

Man good write up but,,,,,Damn! A little work involved!

 

Yeah i was in too deep to stop! 😂 and now i just took it all out to trade it in for my new 2023! It really was worth it.

 

Are you honing to put it all into your 2023? I’m looking to do this all to my 2022, but am hesitant to do so because currently leasing.

 

Not planning on it. I did move all of the speakers over but the newer head unit doesn’t disconnect nearly as much as my 2017 so ill probably just leave it.

 

Then there is hope. My 22 didn’t do it in the beginning but after 15,000 miles it does it daily…

 

A fine bit of work, but you must have really, really despised the old factory system, not sure I'm ready to tackle that, although I've swapped out several factory radios before they got so finely "integrated" into all the vehicle's systems.

 

Actually dont mind it but the Carplay disconnects suck! I am now pouring through wiring diagrams for my 2023 since it has started happening all the time on my new Ridgeline. I can pretty much get everything back in except my new truck is an RTL-E and has a separate amp. Going to have to test and see if i can use the existing amp and just feed it from the Kenwoods preamp outs. Also need to figure out if the remote on wire will work on the oem amp. I did pull the head unit out and verify its basically the same as my RTL-T and does not throw any visible codes or lights when not connected so i am probably in luck. Same as the old truck where it appears to just keep the existing settings. Guess we are gonna find out!

 

Was able to locate the wire on the amp harness that tells it to power on and was able to get some audio out but the levels were very low. Its a start!

 

Well using the Honda amp is a no go. I found a couple of bypass connectors and built a harness from the Pioneer down to the kick panel where the amp is. Came across a few new things this time...apparently my 2023 does not have the cd player connector so i need to hunt for a new place to connect the illumination wire, having all sorts of issues with the existing backup camera (fuzzy,shaky,odd), and sadly my metra mount doesnt quite fit..seems that when they changed the oem head unit they changed the part of the trim where the hazard button is...going to have to trim the metra down. As of now i have a 9 inch Pioneer 3800 NEX in and mostly working. May just run a new backup cam off the license plate if i cant figure this one out. Not really in the mood for routing that wire though.

 

Hello, I been following your post -

So you were never able to re-use the backup camera with success in the Kenwood? or it an issue with your new Pioneer?

And they do not make an XM antenna adapter? you had to splice in?

I have a 21' RTL-E, as for the amp goes, theres a simple pre-amp input from factory headunit that does about 2v , its a constant 2 volts, the amp controls the volume, in order for my DSP to get a clean signal, I tapped into the Pre-amp going into the factory amp , I had to use a volume control off DSP.

Thanks ,Dave

 

 

Still hunting for an easy access illumination wire to tap.

 

Tapped in to the led interior lights and added a new backup cam over the hitch. Other than a little trim cutting to fit the Metra dash with the newer 2023 hazard plate this is done. Everything working well above expectations and totally worth it again. So happy with the 9 inch screen.

 

 

 

 

Finally complete. Had to add a remote wire to the old amp to power it up which for some reason ties to the bed power outlet. Also replaced the hazard bezel with one from a 2017 pilot which matches the install kit. Looks factory and works perfectly with no issues since.

 

I was just looking at the bezels, they look the same , hows the 2017 pilot one different?

 

thank you for doing this. I may need to upgrade my 21' in the future.

 

I figured it couldn't be much worse then my 2017 and i had almost all of the harness's and connectors left over from the old truck. The only thing i dont have working is the center channel speaker and i really dont miss it but may work on that in the future.

 

Impressive work - even with my automotive experience, not sure I'd tackle it.

 

My automotive experience is the only reason i even tried! and my total frustration with that POS Clarion OEM unit. Love my Ridgeline in every way except that garbage.

 

Probably would have tackled that a few years back, and have done similar to a couple; but at 73, just not feeling it. Fantastic work though and congrats on a job well done.

 

Guess I'm just old school.

Turned 72 last flag day and I pick my battles now. Ugh.