Honda Jazz Aftermarket Stereo, dashboard fascia

[guest1732]

I recently purchased a 2003 honda jazz and wanted to replace the factory fitted stereo with my single-din pioneer headunit. Having trawled the internet and forums both in the uk, japan and us, it was clear that replacing the stereo was going to be difficult mainly because of the lack of dashboard fascia kits availble to the uk market. I have managed to get the job done and thought i would briefly explain how I did it so that fellow jazz owners could benefit...........

1) purchase of the dashboard kit

This was the main problem I had. There appear to be a couple of kits available to the amercian market for left hand drive cars but these cannot be used for british/rhd cars due to the curve of the centre dash. There were a couple of ebay sellers willing to supply a uk suitable kit for about £150 inclusive of delivery but i wasnt sure what the quality would be like.................Halfords could supply a fascia panel for £130 made by autoleads (a uk fascia panel maker)...........but in the end I went to newcastle-based car audio specialists "autosounds" who were extremely helpful and managed to source me a dashboard kit that appeared to be a genuine honda part complete with honda fitting instructions (this proved highly valuable). they also supplied me with the necesary harness, pocket insert (as mine was just single din) and antenna adapter, although it turned out that the aerial adapter wasnt actually neccesary! Cost was just under £150. I should point out that my model car is the one with the manual climate controls (ie the three round dials at the bottom of the dash for air vent select/blower speed/air temperature)

2) fitting the unit/dash kit

This took about 2 hours to fit, although I rekon a professional audio fitter would probably take about 1.5hour max. It was a fiddly job but a relative novice could attempt it, but I advise you have good screwdrivers and also a good socket set as the screws do thread easily!

Hope this helps people, as I know how much I pulled my hair out over this!!
cheers david



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[guest1828]

I've tried the FM transmitter unit which you put in the cigarette lighter, and that's great through the radio once tunned in!

Thanks anyway for this info! 

[guest1732]

 I have to admit to being an audio snob when it comes to sound quality etc, thus the determination to install my pioneer head unit!! Sometimes the fm transmitters can be a bit tempremental/crackly, but they're definitely an easy and cheap way to get over the rubbish honda stereo!! For the benefit of other users, do you use a particualar make/model of fm transmitter and how good do you find it???

[guest1828]

Hi Dave! Happy New Year to you m8!

I just use one with bluetooth that I picked up cheaply enough on ebay...it also has a small screen to watch mp4 movies (if you've good eyesight!).

As you've taken out your main headunit, can you tell me whether the unit had a CD Changer block on the back?

[guest1583]

HI
  where did you bought the jazz fascia? ive seen £150 fascia off ebay, but its a bit pricey and dint trust its quality.
Please let me know as  I wanted to change the streo unit off my jazz 2003 .
thanks
ric

[guest1732]

http://www.autosounds.co.uk/

They have the above website, but I suggest you give them a call. I think it was a chap called Ian I spoke to, but cant be sure about that. All very helpful guys, long established business in newcastle.

hope this helps.........

[guest1583]

thanks for the info..

do you need to dis asemble the manual climate controls as well?
how long did it take you do it, im not electrically inclined, but willing to give it a go, any chance of giving instruction step by step, i will really appreciate.
thanks in advance and more power.
Ric

[guest1732]

yes, you need to dismantle the manual climate controls.

Took me about 2 hours (I took my time and was careful to follow all instructions)

The instructions that I received in the box appear to be the same as those that someone else has posted on the web.

[Rbz5416]

Did the fascia have a part no. on/with it?