So I have a 1990 civic si, all original. Needs some new speakers, which are easy enough. My question is: what should I do to play normal music through the stereo? Obviously, I have no tapes. The deck is the normal honda one with a tape player and am/fm radio.

Do I have to go with one of those tape adapter things? Or is there a way to connect something to the back and bluetooth my music?

Don't even get me started on the fact that I only have two speakers...

 

Check this out for a pretty straight forward solution... http://www.instructables.com/id/Conn...ayer/?ALLSTEPS

It looks like the sensor head that reads the cassette tape has three wires: left channel, right channel and ground. It appears as though you just solder your aux cable to the left and right wires and you're done.

Edit: also read the comments on that instructable. Another option is to tap into the tuner circuit, which from what the comments say, has much better quality.

 

Thanks! I appreciate it.

 

Seems like a lot of work and somewhat ghetto of a solution. Either:

1) Get the cassette adapter if you don't want to spend much money

2) Replace the headunit. You could get a decent one and the needed connectors for probably around $100 or so. And keep your stock stuff in case you want to reinstall.

I would not take a soldering iron to the OE unit as described in that link.

 

There are, or were adapters, that were added that accepted speakers right behind the rear seats in the "coin dish" ish thing, or just DIY

 

One more option...

Search for "Wired FM Modulator" on Google or eBay. This is a small apaptor of sorts that goes in between your stereo and antenna cable. You plug your antenna cable into this unit, and the unit into your antenna port on your stereo. It has RCA (white/red) inputs on it which allow you to plug in your headphone jack cable. The unit converts the input from your aux cable into an fm signal that the deck thinks is regular radio. It comes with a switch so you can switch between the aux input and regular radio. It looks like these can be had for $30 or so shipped.

There's a bunch of pictures and info on google to see how these are used.

This method is 100% reversible and can all be hidden behind your factory deck.

 

Keep the OEM radio, looks much cleaner than any gaudy aftermarket unit.

Get the adapter that you plug into your mp3 player and broadcasts an FM signal.
Then you just turn your radio to that FM signal.

Or yea, the cassette adapter.

 

why even bother running through the OEM stereo from 1980s? its got a weak amp and cheap analog circuitry.

just redo the wiring and stick an aftermarket amp and a bluetooth receiver behind/under the center console (theres a ton of room).

 

Another option if you want a Honda head unit to look OEM:
pie Hon-aux Acura Honda auxiliary audio input mp3 accord civic

Buy a head unit with the factory 8 pin cd changer port. Look for one of the compatible models listed on the link. I am pretty sure most of these use the same factory harness plug as your Civic and would look correct in the dash.

That being said, a new head unit with aux in and USB on the front panel, and a cd player( if desired ) can be had for around $1-130.00. Add a $15.00 harness adapter and you are done.

I do like the idea of a factory looking head unit though.

 

Tyson, do you have any links for this? This sounds like a good idea. I've wanted to do something like this.

 

They are called bluetooth amplifiers - made for vehicles with no input source (no radio needed)
This site lists a few Bluetooth Car Amplifiers at Sonic Electronix
Prices are a little high on that site, but it's about right at $150~$300


Apparently you can build bluetooth into any amp.
Add Bluetooth To Any Powered Amp for $8

Read through it quickly. Looks a lot like the internal mod to the tape deck head to ad AUX.

You could also add AUX to ANY amp with a simple AUX to RCA cable.
This would be really easy!


Downside to going the way of the amp is that you are going to be cutting into the wires to your radio (at the least, your speakers).
Pretty much making the FM/AM radio useless.

I think you could get the AM/FM to work as well, but is might be kind of a pain.
First, you would need to take your amplified outputs from the radio and convert them to low voltage.
Line output converter.
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-LtzPB9s...onverters.html
Then, you would need a passive mixer to be able to combine the radio and aux signals into a single input for the amp.
read.
http://sound.westhost.com/articles/audio-mixing.htm

 

I put a radio delete plate/antennae delete plate and just bring a logitech ue boom bluetooth speaker with me

 

i dont want to install a new radio because i feel like it would look ugly. but is their any way to install an aux cord to a 1990 honda accord

 

This thread was started to answer this question. Read above.

 

why not just get tapes?
also you can record any music from digital back to tape.
that is what I would suggest.
you can alos play CD thru a tape to cd converter.

do you thin mp3 and digital formats today, will be relevant in just 5 years? NO
just like records, then 8 tracks, then cassettes then cd….s

 

They sell those tape adapters at Walgreens for $5, Walmart has them that say MP3 for $16

 

Bumping this from before.

I bought a tape adapter and the tape player just keeps switching sides back and forth then ejects it. I disassembled the tape adapter and removed the auto-reverse mechanism and am still having the same problem.

If I get a bluetooth receiver, can I just hide it out of the way and control everything from my phone? That would be kind of cool, because then I wouldnt need the head unit but it would still be there. Maybe I will look into that.

 

jesus, welcome to 2016

 

What Mr Tyson said..

If a person wanted to stay stock and use BlueTooth, this would also be a good solution:

 

I don't understand...why is getting a decent $100 aftermarket unit such a no-no (or another OE Honda DIN unit)? Unless you have a pristine all-stock 90 Si that you take to car shows, then what does it matter?

Heck, I have a stock S2000 headunit in my 91 Si, but I kept the stock headunit just in case I wanted to put it back some day. No splicing needed as all plug-in wiring adapters are available.

 

I don't get it, either. If you don't like the looks of one aftermarket headunit, get another. It's pretty simple.

 

I was somewhat inspired by this thread and ended up successfully modifying an OEM deck to add an AUX input. Check it out if you like...

https://honda-tech.com/audio-securit...-deck-3270236/

 

thanks, this is very helpful.