Honda Civic Mk9: Replacing the Factory Honda Connect Head Unit with an Aftermarket CarPlay Double-DIN
Introduction
This guide covers swapping the factory Honda Connect infotainment unit in a ninth-generation (Mk9) Honda Civic for a modern aftermarket double-DIN head unit with Apple CarPlay, using a JVC KW-M560BT as the example unit. It applies to Mk9 Civics fitted with Honda Connect, including facelift cars from around 2015 onward and versions carrying built-in Garmin navigation and the dated Android 4.0.4 software. The upgrade delivers a faster, smoother interface and phone mirroring while retaining the original reversing camera and the main steering wheel controls. Before buying, note an important limitation raised in the discussion: the Connects2 adapter is advertised as not rated for amplified audio systems or for cars with factory built-in navigation, so confirm your exact configuration first. Adapted from a community writeup by amrits90 on Civinfo (https://www.civinfo.com/threads/honda-connect-replacement.431814/), including corrections from the follow-up discussion.
Reference
Tools Required
- Trim removal / panel pry tools
- Socket set and ratchet
- Wire crimps and connectors
- Multimeter (optional, for confirming the reverse feed wire)
Parts Required
-
JVC KW-M560BT double-DIN CarPlay head unit (or equivalent aftermarket unit)
-
Connects2 fascia and wiring adapter kit
-
ATD CRC-27070 rear reverse camera retention cable (Honda i-MID OEM 24-pin connector)
-
USB extension lead for a new dashboard-mounted socket
Safety Warnings
- ⚠ Disconnect the battery negative terminal before unplugging dashboard trim and harnesses to avoid electrical shorts.
- ⚠ The Connects2 adapter is listed as not compatible with amplified or factory-navigation systems; verify your exact configuration before purchasing.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1 Confirm compatibility and gather the adapter parts
Identify your factory system before ordering. The car in this guide is a Mk9 Civic with Honda Connect, some cars including built-in Garmin navigation. The Connects2 adapter listing warns that it is not compatible with amplified systems or with factory in-built navigation as standard, a caveat worth verifying against your own setup. Source the Connects2 fascia and wiring adapter kit plus the ATD CRC-27070 reverse camera retention cable, which mates to the Honda i-MID OEM 24-pin connector.
2 Remove the factory Honda Connect unit
Disconnect the battery negative terminal first. Release the trim surrounding the stereo, unbolt the factory Honda Connect assembly, then unplug its harness connectors and aerial lead. Keep the original fascia surround: it shares the same dimensions as the one supplied in the Connects2 kit but keeps the interior vents and hazard switch in place without any transfer work, and often matches the surrounding trim better.
3 Wire in the Connects2 harness adapter
Plug the Connects2 loom between the vehicle's factory connector and the new head unit so power, illumination, and speaker feeds map across without cutting the OEM harness. Identify the reverse trigger: the purple and white wire carries the reverse feed, and it ties to the Connects2 kit's purple wire. Leave the kit's separate Bluetooth module wiring unused, because cars fitted with Honda Connect have no standalone Bluetooth module for it to serve.
4 Add the reverse camera retention interface
Connect the ATD CRC-27070 retention cable to the factory 24-pin i-MID connector. This interface converts the OEM reversing camera signal so the aftermarket screen can display it, letting you keep the original rear camera rather than fitting a replacement.
5 Set up the steering wheel controls
Configure the Connects2 kit's steering wheel control interface so the volume, track, and menu buttons keep operating the new head unit. Be aware the phone-call buttons will stop working: on Honda Connect cars that telephony was handled by the integrated system rather than a separate module the adapter can drive. Retrofitting a pre-facelift Bluetooth module may restore those buttons, but that route was untested in the thread.
6 Mount the head unit and route a new USB port
Secure the JVC KW-M560BT double-DIN unit into the retained fascia and refit the surround into the dashboard. The factory USB and HDMI sockets in the armrest become redundant once the original unit is gone, so route a fresh USB lead to a convenient location, such as beneath the heater controls, for a CarPlay connection.
7 Reconnect power and verify all functions
Reconnect the battery and power up the system. Check that CarPlay, the reversing camera, and the retained steering wheel controls all work. The clock should sync automatically from the vehicle, so no manual time setting is needed, and some trip and MPG data typically remains accessible through the retained menus.
Pro Tips
- 💡 The clock syncs automatically from the car, so there is no mismatched time to correct after the swap.
- 💡 Reusing the original fascia avoids moving the vents and hazard switch and can blend in better than the supplied surround.
- 💡 A pre-facelift Bluetooth module may potentially restore the steering wheel phone buttons, though this was not confirmed in the thread.
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