Honda Fit Audio & Entertainment System Questions

jkandell

1)Anyone know how to or where i can get info on removing the stock radio to get access to the back
of the radio

College Hills Honda has a downloadable instructions for putting in the ipod thing; it shows you how to get to back of radio. It's a pain and you have to remove the air conditioning wires too.

hashdog

I have just purchased an '07 Civic with the Musiclink option. I have found that level 1.3 of the TTS software is not fully compatible with the iTunes level that I have, but was able to work around this problem. My biggest problem now is the fact that my system does not always play the songs I expect.
example - If I have the following artists loaded on my iPod -
The Beatles
Bona Fide
Buddy Guy

The iPod puts them in that order. The TTS software from Honda counts 'The Beatles' as a 'T' artist, instead of a 'B'. So, when the system lists off the 'B' artists, if I select 'Bona Fide', I get 'The Beatles'.

The same applies to album names (for instance, 'The City' is under 'C' for the iPod, but under 'T' for the Honda TTS software).
Definitely needs some work.

kagedude

My driver side speaker is now intermittently acting up. It becomes staticky when it hits the bass notes. This happens when you first turn on the radio but after a while, it disappears and appears like nothing is wrong with the speaker. My usual volume level is 15-20 so I don't think I'm abusing the stereo plus it is rated at 200watts.

My Fit Sport is 11 mos and over 26K miles.

bobsyeruncle

That is interesting - that describes the exact problem I am having with my passenger side speaker. I figured I must have blown it but I have not really cranked any music. It only happens with bass.

I have a base Fit about 9 mos old. Let me know if you find anything out...

tabo01

one nice part on the fit is you can get a decent sub
under the rear seat, as opposed to taking up cargo floor space. and as my cars always look like I live in them,
the mess hides the sub. you have more options on where to
put what with the Fit

kagedude

Anyone have any issues playing WMA files on their Fit audio? I tried to play a WMA file and it sees it, reads for a sec then says "format", loops back and nothing plays.

Thanks.

applered

I have ripped quite a few files from CD's and converted them to WMA using a program called Cakewalk Pyro5. They play very well. You do have a Sport model don't you? The basic Fit apparently doesn't handle MP3 or WMA.
Regards

fitluver

I have ripped quite a few files from CD's and converted them to WMA using a program called Cakewalk Pyro5. They play very well. You do have a Sport model don't you? The basic Fit apparently doesn't handle MP3 or WMA.
Regards

I have the Sport and considered buying a small portable MP3 to hold 150-250 songs. I am not sure if it is worth the bother and extra money, given that I can get 17 songs on a 75 cent disk and keep a case of them in the car.

Have you tried a portable mp3 that hooks into the USB port? I think some of them hold quite a few songs.

kagedude

I have ripped quite a few files from CD's and converted them to WMA using a program called Cakewalk Pyro5. They play very well. You do have a Sport model don't you? The basic Fit apparently doesn't handle MP3 or WMA.
Regards

Yes, I have a Sport model. I'll try to test again. I tested copying 2 files (1 folder containing a wma file and 1 wma file on the root) but it couldn't read. I'll try testing just burning wma files directly to the CD.

Thanks.

bobw3

When I use my 12volt outlet, the socket seem loose and the plug I'm putting into the 12volt outlet, while tight, wiggles around a lot. Seems like the 12volt outlet is loose. My other car's 12volt outlet seems a lot tighter.

Anyone else notice this?

newfitowner

I'm not really a forum person but found this to be so helpful when I was buying my Fit that I felt I absolutely had to return the favor and put my info on here.

I bought a Griffin TuneFlex AUX w/Dock Connector for iPod (Griffin Technology 95575GTFLXAUX) thru Amazon for $32.80 (base price without s&h). This is a fantastic solution that does it all - charges your ipod and connects it to your car stereo thru the aux jack. My Honda dealer wanted $329 for the honda music link installed. No way would I have spent that much.

It works like this - your ipod fits onto the arm of the unit(allowing for easy positioning) while the base of it plugs into the 12 volt outlet. It comes with the 3.5mm cable which plugs into the into the base and the aux jack (which is conveniently located next to the power outlet). Easy, elegant and priced right in my book.

Hope you all enjoy this.

kagedude

When I use my 12volt outlet, the socket seem loose and the plug I'm putting into the 12volt outlet, while tight, wiggles around a lot. Seems like the 12volt outlet is loose. My other car's 12volt outlet seems a lot tighter.

Anyone else notice this?

My 12v outlet base is the same. It wiggles that I have to hold it when I am plugging and unplugging something in. I'm afraid it will come off.

bobw3

I just came back from the dealer and they said the wiggle is normal.

fitchgrrl

That is interesting! I have a 10 month old Fit Sport and both my front speakers (mainly the passenger) have problems with the bass intermittently. Drives me nuts. sometimes it is so bad i have to turn the stereo off. Anyone know if speakers are covered under warrenty? I know i haven't had it loud enough to blow them myself...these speakers really suck.

fitluver

That is interesting! I have a 10 month old Fit Sport and both my front speakers (mainly the passenger) have problems with the bass intermittently. Drives me nuts. sometimes it is so bad i have to turn the stereo off. Anyone know if speakers are covered under warrenty? I know i haven't had it loud enough to blow them myself...these speakers really suck.

I wonder, how loud does one have to turn it up to blow those speakers?

You could always try to change the EQ to see if that helps. Sometimes just setting the equalizer back to "normal" is useful.

How loud have you had them up?

I think I got em up to 25 or so once or twice. (Sport 6 speakers).

fitchgrrl

yeah i haven't gotten mine up that loud. usually they are at eight or lower. once in a blue moon they are up in the teens so i don't think it was anything i did to them. I have tried playing with the equalizer...it doesn't help. and it isnt' all the time they sound bad. just sometimes which is weird.

fventura

bump...anyone know of a changer that's meant for this head unit ?

mbj

From the beginning of my 3-month ownership of a Honda Sport, the radion reception has been quite poor. (Sound is great when playing a CD or very close to a station, however.) A few auto radio shops told me that an FM booster or new antenna were not likely to help, but they would sell me a whole new system. Is anyone else getting poor reception? Anybody got a fix that does not involve a complete system shop?

masik03

My radio's sound fidelity is great and the reception is poor, just like yours. I have had this issue for the past 14 months of ownership. Just the opposite of my wife's '99 Sable with the standard factory sound system. I need a fix also!

cshiflett

Crutchfield now has a kit for the Fit for $50 so you can finally take out the factory one and put in a decent aftermarket one. Hopefully a new stereo will help with the awful reception of the factory one.

mbj

Have you tried the Crutchfield kit?

mbj

Thanks for the tip. Do you know anyone who has used it?

littled1

I have my Fit less than a year and have had no problem with my radio until recently. I'm having a terrible time with static on FM station. Depending on where I drive I can hear the radio ok, but then the static begins.AM Stations sometimes have static or can be heard. No one else in my area is experiencing problems with their car radios. :confuse:

This is a recent problem, which strangely started when I took the car in because Honda had a recall on air bags. The airbag logo is right next to the radio. Is it possible something happened when they checked the car?

Can anyone help me please.

littled1

My Fit is less than a year old and about a month ago and I started experiencing the same problem with poor radio reception. CD works great but not the radio.

My next step was to take it to the dealer. My dealer said they couldn't find anything wrong with it, so they were going to order and put in a new radio. Now, I just got a call from the dealer to ask to bring back the car because engineers experienced the same problem with some other Fits. Their solution was to check the ground wire and see if it was painted over. So, tomorrow I'm headed back to the dealer to see if this is the problem. I requested an appointment when the new radio was available (Ok, thinking of being efficient, just in case method) Unfortunately the dealer said he can't order the radio until the wire is checked.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping this solution works. If not, I'll have to go back for the installation of a new radio.

In any case, anyone experiencing a similar problem can now go to their dealer sounding all knowlegable and saying "Have you checked to see if the ground wire was painted over (apparently its located somewhere under the headlights, but let them figure that out themselves).

Wish me well

robynne

Had my Fit Sport for about a month and the radio reception is driving me crazy. Sound quality is great otherwise. What are my replacement options?

flaming_rose

I've had my Honda Fit for 1 week and it has been checked out twice for the radio (static on local FM). They told me that the other Fit on the lot had the same static, therefore it was an issue with the radio stations, NOT the car.

I have filed a formal complaint with Honda but everyone else needs to as well. There is obviously a manufacturer's error with our radios. If enough people complain, they will be forced to recall the radios and repair them.

By Phone
At our toll-free number: 1-800-999-1009

By Fax
(310) 783-3023 (24 Hours)

By Mail
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Honda Automobile Customer Service
1919 Torrance Boulevard
Mail Stop: 500 - 2N - 7D
Torrance, CA 90501-2746

robynne

Thanks flaming_rose, I will take action. I think the stock radio is crap reception-wise, I need to replace it. I will write a letter to the address above but I'm not sure I can wait for a recall, Any suggestions for a replacement that will fit the awkward dash cut-out from anyone?

ifit

I just got a new 2007 Fit Sport MT. I know somebody who just got the same model and trim. They got an antenna on the roof. Mine did not come with one. I noticed that all the pictures I've seen online show a short black antenna on the roof. I don't have that. I just have what the antenna is attached to. It's a black stub. It is covered with a black plastic or rubber cap. The cap is removable and I can see where the antenna would screw in.

Could the dealership have forgotten to screw in the antenna when they received it? Thanks.

ifit

At first, I did not see why a post on a missing antenna would be moved to a thread full of people complaining about poor radio reception. After reading the posts, it sounds like at least some of these other people are missing antennas also. It is not obvious that something is missing. I probably would not have noticed it if I had not compared it to the exact same model and trim with an antenna. I have also radio reception, but it is only mediocre.

PF_Flyer

Your observation may be the key to the solution for a lot of people's problems!

Now the big question is why is the antenna missing? I can't imagine that it's an "extra". It has to be that it's packed away somewhere in the car, waiting to be put on (I would have assumed by the dealer), or that it's some kind of snafu in the vehicle prep process that makes it easy for the dealer to miss getting it installed.

Either way, the immediate action to take would be to ask the dealer, in a friendly way, about what's going on. They ought to take care of your concerns.

Let us know what they tell you. Could make an interesting entry on my blog, the Alternate Route

robynne

I have my antenna. I'll take a closer look and make sure it's attached properly - but I'm prettys sure, at least in my case, that I have a different problem.

Has anyone has luck with the Crutchfield kit?

PF_Flyer

If the antenna is there and you still have a reception issue, I would think a likely candidate is the connection at the radio/stereo itself. I had a connector work loose back there on a prior vehicle and had to get back in there to solve the issue.

I feel a blog entry forming :shades:
http://www.carspace.com/blogs/AlternateRoute/

ifit

I just got the antenna from the dealer. My reception went from mediocre at best, to perfect.

pmery

I also have very poor FM reception ever since I purchased my Fit (Sport) in December 2007. It drives me crazy! The dealership looked at it but found nothing wrong. They did a drive around with me in another Fit (same Sport model) and I had to admit that the other Fit had similarly poor reception. I complained to Honda once and will definitely complain again. I have stopped many other Fit drivers in parking lots, etc, but haven't found anyone with my problems, which makes me wonder whether it's a subset of the cars? BTW, I do have an antenna. I would love for the factory installed radio to work, but mostly I just want a fix even if it costs me a few more bucks. I was told by a radio sales place that a new radio might not fix the problem?! I am going to keep pursuing this and will keep you all updated. Thanks for listening...

robynne

pmery - Please come back and keep us posted. I need to figure out a solution also. Can't imagine driving it for more than a few months with that kind of reception. My last car had such a great sound system that this is killing me. - Robynne

flaming_rose

I was originally missing my antenna - the dealerships remove them to prevent stealing and damage to them when they wash the cars. Adding the antenna improved the sound but not entirely.

Honda told me last week that they are starting to get complaints. However the person I spoke with said he didn't know (and couldn't offer any solutions) if anything would help including replacing the radio with an after market radio.

Actually he didn't know much at all, seemed very lost about what I should do while the tech people where *possibly* looking for a solution (he didn't know if they were actually looking for a solution).

For now I'm listening to CDs :-(

dave147

This could just be a compromised choice of antennas that resulted in one that looks ok on the car - the system has an antenna amplifier built right onto the base of the antenna, and then the 'amplified' signal runs down to the radio (note that in Honda's defense, this is the best way to do this). However, looking at the antenna, it's not ideal for FM reception so I'm not sure what we can expect. FM wavelenths are around 2.8 - 3.4m, so at ~18cm, the Fit antenna is appx a 1/16 wave antenna - not exactly an ideal way to pick up signals - 1/4 or even 1/8 would be much better - that's why antennas used to be so long before the industrial design groups started making them nicer to look at.

Honda does have a test to perform... if you can find someone else with a Fit in your area, get toghether & park in roughly the same location (e.g. in the same parking lot at the same time), away from any building or other metal structure, and do what Honda calls the "seek stop test." Just tune to the bottom end of the band and hit seek. Record the stations that it stops at. If you have the same stations your Fit should be ok (actually within 10% of the same number of stations to account for particularly weak stations that one car might catch by chance).

There's also the technical way to do this for those not afraid to enter diagnostic modes (disclaimer - I haven't tried this yet so I'm just relaying some info I have): tune both cars to the same station, then turn off the radio & hold preset buttons 1&6, then turn the radio back on while still holding buttons 1&6. The radio is now in diagnostic mode. Push & hold the FM button for 5 seconds and it will give you a readout of the signal strentgth in dB. If you and the other Fit parked next to your car are within 2 dB or so of each other, things should be normal. Note that when you're measuring dB signal strength, weird things can affect the signal so differences of less than 2 or so dB are likely inconsequential (they would be getting into measurement uncertainty even if you had engineering test equipment to use). Measure for one station at the bottom, middle, and high ends of the FM & AM bands (e.g. 89.1, 99.5, 107.1).

To exit diag mode, just turn off the radio. When you turn it back on it should operate normally.

Enjoy
-Dave

papperclippy

I am looking to replace the radio in my base auto fit 07. I want to be able to connect my ipod to it. What are people recommending for this? Also, the factory installed radio is a weird shape, will i be able to do this on my own or am i going to have to have someone else install it?

thomasbetz

I'd really like to install a 1/8 wave antenna, but I can't find anyone selling one. I can only find a shorter antenna!

Does anyone have the spec for the screw-in base connector? It wouldn't be the same as some marine antennas I've seen around, would it?

I figure I could live with a four-foot whip in place of the standard shorty antenna and not feel any pain.

big_v666

hello

I'm trying to remove my fit stereo but am having difficulty's removing the facer can any one help ?

clsjowett

Go to this site "http://www.hondafitjazz.com/default.htm then "Service Manual" then "Audio Entertainment" then "Audio Unit Removal/Installation" then "Remove the Centre Panel" for a very detailed and precise method of getting to the head unit. If you then want to remove the plastic facia from the head unit just go back a page and follow the rest of the "Audio Unit Removal/Installation" instructions.

clsjowett

Also (forgot this one) same site, "Technical" then "Dealer Options Installation Guides" then "iPod Music Link" for the official Honda guide. Just use what you need (of course). This one is good for detailing what tools you need, what to expect when you take it apart etc. It's also very handy being a pdf that you can print out and have in the car with you. Please note, for example, the instructions to push the air intake to the left and both knobs counter-clockwise. This wasn't done during a service on mine once and the temp knob was off by about 20 degrees.

clsjowett

Unscrew it and take it with you to the aerial shop.

jessi5000

I'll be installing an aftermarket stereo in my 08 Fit Sport. I was wondering, will the AUX in jack still work with the aftermarket stereo?

Also - does anyone have any pictures of their aftermarket stereo install in the Fit?

jsuess

I have a 2007 Fit Sport and was told, well before I had such a thing as an ipod (or knew how to use one), that it was compatible. So now at Christmas I get this Ipod Nano. What's the easiest (cheapest) way to hook it to the Fit?

bprenderson

John,

Are you related to Fred?

Bubba

ifit

How do I set the clock? Thanks.

mjhere

If you have a 2008:
Press and hold the CLOCK
(SOUND) button until you hear a
beep. The displayed time begins to
blink. Change the hours by pressing
the H (preset 4) button until the
numbers advance to the desired time.
Change the minutes by pressing the
M (preset 5) button until the
numbers advance to the desired time.

Press the CLOCK (SOUND) button
again to enter the set time.
You can quickly set the time to the
nearest hour. If the displayed time
is before the half hour, press the
CLOCK (SOUND) button until
you hear a beep, then press the R
(preset 6) button to set the clock
back to the previous hour. If the
displayed time is after the half
hour, the clock sets forward to the
beginning of the next hour.
For example:
1:06 will reset to 1:00
1:53 will reset to 2:00

HTH

dzan

hi, I have this honda fit 2003 for 5 years.
my problem is, the radio won't turn on. it happen 2 weeks ago. and it just happen.

can anybody help me?
do i need some kind of code to reset it?
or how to fix it?

cackley

just wondering if there is a way to connect to the aux jack in my factory stereo? if so, what is the easiest way, and what cables or parts are needed?