frustrated with direct line in

[matsci]

I don't have my iPod yet, but I plan on purchasing a 3G 30GB model in the very near future. I want to be able to play it in my car (a 98 Honda Accord-- my first car purchase ever, I just got it a month ago! :) ), since I'm going to be spending a lot of time on my commute...

Trouble is, I have no cassette player, and I'm reluctant to go the FM transmitter route since I'm in suburban Cincinnati and there aren't many empty frequencies. I'd like to put a direct line in to my factory head unit.

More trouble. I don't have my security code, which I apparently need before I do any work on the radio. Additionally, I have absolutely NO experience with car audio, so I was planning on having Best Buy or my dealership or something install the audio input converter (which I found online).

So: nigh on $400 for an iPod, $70 for the input converter, and I just found out, about $70 more for having a dealership retrieve my security code. TOO MUCH $$$ for the college student who just bought a car.

Does anyone have any better solutions? Is there a way to do this without needing my radio code? What about an FM modulator-- I haven't seen much information on those-- are they significantly inferior, and what sort of radio-tampering do they require? Anybody want to make a donation? ;)

Thanks for any assistance you can give. I've been doing a lot of internet research on this, and I really really want my iPod to play in my car-- it's frustrating to have all of these obstacles popping up.

[tanakasan]

For $140, you could do an aftermarket HU with aux-in for direct connection to your pod. Of course, if you do not have or want to use the dock, you would need an additional cable-Sik, Monster, Belkin- to get the line out signal to your HU. Check some of the other posts here.

Did you get any documentation for the car? You should have gotten the code. Bug the dealer, I am sure that he bragged about the great "AM/FM/CD player" in the car. Get them to pay for the code retrieval in lieu of an "adjustment" for not being able to use the stereo. Does not cost them $70 to do.

[bhb399mm]

YES! buy an afermarket head unit from www.crutchfield.com - get one with aux imput capability. if i'm not mistaken, your accord has a single din radio.... so itll be no sweat putting a the new one in. crutchfield sends awesome DIY instructions for free with every purchase. you can get a good head unit for around $100. then just hard wire your ipod to the new head unit using a power cord with a line out (belkin, monster or sik imp) DONE!

btw.... you can go to your honda dealer and have them reset your radio code for like $90... ouch

[matsci]

Thank you both for the help...

So, if I install a completely new head unit, I don't need the radio code at all? Even though I have a security system?

That sounds like a good idea-- then I can just get one with the aux in on the front.

But first I'm going to call the dealer again and argue a little. ;)

Thanks again!

[BorisMD]

I may be wrong, but I think the charge for getting the security code has to do with getting the serial number of the head unit. This usually involves pulling the head unit. I'm thinking that if you are pulling the head unit anyway, you may just be able to provide the serial number to the dealer, and they could get you the security code.

FWIW,


Boris

[matsci]

BorisMD, you're right. I made a few more phone calls (Honda, dealers, etc.), and any Honda dealer can give me the security code if I just call in with the VIN and serial number of the radio.

(Which, by the way, is AWESOME!)

iPod, here I come. :)