1996 Honda Civic Radio Installation Guide

The Civic's 1996 model year marked the debut of the sixth generation of the popular Honda model. This model's styling was highlighted by the dropping of the round body style in favor of more aggressive body lines and exaggerated headlights. The 2006 Civic's audio system is a two-piece system when fitted with a CD or cassette player. The actual radio sets in the dashboard, whereas the tape or CD player mounts on the bottom of the center console -- near the gear shifter. Installing a new radio requires removing and replacing only the dashboard-mounted unit.

Instructions

1

Find the radio code -- the five-digit code provided by the dealership. If you do not have this code, contact a local Honda dealer to obtain the code, prior to removing the radio.

2

Disconnect the negative battery cable, using a combination wrench.

3

Remove the driver's side dashboard lower cover -- the plastic panel located directly below the steering wheel -- by removing the three screws with a Phillips screwdriver and pulling the panel downward to disengage the clips.

4

Unplug the power mirror and moon roof wiring harnesses from the driver's side dashboard lower cover, if applicable, by pressing the locking button on each harness and pulling the harness away from the cover.

5

Open the glove box and press the sides inward, so that the glove box stoppers clear the glove box. Pull the glove box downward. Remove the two bolts on the glove box hinges with a ratchet and socket. Pull the glove box from the Civic.

6

Remove the five screws on the center lower dashboard cover -- the cover on the bottom of the dashboard, under the radio -- using a Phillips screwdriver. Remove the bolt on the center lower dashboard cover, using a ratchet and socket.

7

Pull the center lower dashboard cover downward and unplug the lighter socket wiring harness by pulling it from the rear of the lighter socket.

8

Look through the opening where the center lower dashboard cover was and locate the two screws securing the rear of the radio to the dashboard. Remove these two bolts with a ratchet, socket and a 6-inch extension.

9

Pull the radio from the dashboard until you can access the wiring on the rear of the radio. Remove the two wiring harnesses from the rear of the radio by pressing the locking button on the harnesses and pulling them from the radio.

10

Remove the antenna wire by pulling it from the rear of the radio. If applicable, pull the CD player or cassette player input wire from the rear of the radio. Remove the radio from the Civic.

11

Plug the wiring harnesses into the rear of the radio -- the harnesses have different sizes, so they can only fit in one direction. Plug the antenna wire into the rear of the radio and, if applicable, plug the CD or cassette player input wire into the rear of the radio.

12

Slide the radio into the dashboard and tighten the radio retaining bolts with a ratchet, socket and 6-inch extension.

13

Plug the cigarette lighter wiring harness into the rear of the cigarette lighter. Set the center lower dashboard cover back in place under the radio and tighten the six screws with a Phillips screwdriver. Tighten the center lower dashboard cover bolt, using a ratchet and socket.

14

Reinstall the glove box and tighten the two glove box bolts with a ratchet and socket. Press the sides of the glove box inward, so that the glove box stoppers clear the dashboard, and insert the glove box into the dashboard. Close the glove box.

15

Plug the power mirror and moon roof wiring harnesses back into their respective switches on the driver's side dashboard lower cover, if applicable.

16

Set the driver's side dashboard lower cover in place under the steering column and press it until the clips snap into place. Tighten the three screws with a Phillips screwdriver to secure the driver's side dashboard lower cover in place.

17

Reconnect the negative battery cable and tighten it with a combination wrench.

18

Turn the Civic's ignition to "Acc" and observe as "Code" appears on the radio's display. Enter the five-digit radio code using the corresponding preset buttons.