Symptoms:
– Loud Static from the radio
– Radio goes silent until its turned off and on
– Radio turns on while key is off the ignition
– Battery Drains overnight
Solution: I’ve created a video on how I solved this issue.
TL;DW : Replace your stereo with an aftermarket one and possibly wire it so that it only turns on when key is inserted into the ignition.
- Note: you need to connect the yellow and red wires on the OEM/Stock radio to the accessory line, otherwise the OEM/Stock radio will not power up.
Parts
Leave any comments and I’ll try and get to them as soon as I can!
————————– OTHER POSTS WITH SIMILAR ISSUES
- http://www.justanswer.com/honda/1feyi-own-2004-honda-accord-radio-randomly-shuts-off.html
- http://www.hondaaccordforum.com/forum/general-tech-help-7/2005-accord-accessories-radio-turns-when-car-off-key-out-58721/
- http://www.carcomplaints.com/Honda/Accord/2005/accessories-interior/radio_turns_itself_on_without_key_in_ignition.shtml
- http://community.cartalk.com/discussion/2291122/honda-radio-stays-on-with-keys-out
- http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/15-7th-generation/55121-radio-lcd-display-turn-themselves.html
- http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/15-7th-generation/66943-my-stereo-keeps-flashing-off-even-when-car-not.html
- http://www.justanswer.com/honda/7jerx-honda-accord-raido-nav-makes-loud-screeching.html
- http://honda-tech.com/honda-accord-crosstour-2003-current-118/2003-honda-accord-radio-audio-dead-static-not-working-2537054/
- http://www.hondaaccordforum.com/forum/audio-visual-electronics-10/my-radio-doesnt-work-42945/
- http://www.hondaaccordforum.com/forum/audio-visual-electronics-10/2007-accord-lx-radio-issues-53466/
——-Fix Sources
- http://www.kia-forums.com/2g-1998-2001-sephia/45727-trying-install-new-stereo-cant-figure.html
- http://www.audiogroupforum.com/csforum/showthread.php?t=8101
- http://forums.fourtitude.com/showthread.php?173931-radio-doesn-t-work-help
- http://www.mr2.com/forums/threads/91534-Stereo-resets-when-car-is-turned-off?s=2b4156985e0e3e57d51c124078f31854
- http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=368999
Aftermaket Stereo Install Youtube Video
On youtube user -denyRR- was nice enough to provide photos of the problem – cold joints all over the stereo. He said he’s fixed multiple stereos and that reflowing the joint would fix it. Below are the photos he provided for anyone that wants to see them.
You can resolder everything with hot air gun if you are experienced but soldering iron is safer way. 
You can see example of cold joint on resistor here. This is really visible but often you can’t see it without microscope. 
These big resistors are most problematic ones but you need to resolder all the smaler elements as well. If you don’t do the job wright you will get the sound back but it will go out or started to crack after couple of days. 
You need to resolder this chip also. It’s some kind of audio processor. I use hot air gun for resoldering this one. Use high quality soldering paste (flux) and be very careful not to damage him.
Hi, after doing it will the OEM sterio still works i mean can you turn on the radio and cd player when the car is running. The problem with my 2005 lx is the display turns on when there is no key so if after connecting the yellow with red wire the radio and CD player runs when car is running and doesnt drain battery when there is no key then it will be a great solution. Thanks
Yes the way I set it up in the video makes it so that the OEM stereo only works when the key is in the ignition (accessory mode or car running). The down side is that the clock will reset after turning off your car and you will lose the presets on the stereo, but on the plus side it wont turn on while the key is not in the ignition and drain the battery. Since I posted the video my battery hasn’t drained once so I’m pretty happy with this solution 🙂 and the aftermarket receive is way better than the stock radio. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Thanks for your reply. I will right now just plug the red and yellow wires together and stick with the OEM radio and cd. I don’t need the clock and preset right now. I will do it as soon as i get time. let me know if there are any instruction for connecting those wires. i was getting crazy and was thinking about making a fuse bypass switch with which i can bypass the Fuse#5 when i turn of the car so that no power to the radio and turn it on again when i need. Thanks a lot!
Unfortunately there isn’t much documentation on how to do this online which is why I decided to create this video. Connecting yellow(constant power) and red wires(accessory switch) coming off the stereo to the accessory line should work just fine, although make sure the yellow/red wires have the same function in your vehicle.
Is your car still doing good after everything you did?
Hey Shawn, it is indeed. Car battery hasn’t drained once since I made the video, the backlight on the stock radio just went out last week, but that has no effect on the rest car since I use the third party stereo for the clock/music. Having the same problem?
Thanks for the reply! Yes having the same problem. I was wondering is the wiring colors the same for a 2005 Honda Accord lx? And where could i get the information for the radio wiring if not the same? Thanks in advance, and really appreciate you putting this site up with valuable content!
Sorry to hear that :/ seems to be a very common issue with these cars. I did a lot of googling for my specific model (accord 07 lx) and more or less most sites listed the same wiring sheme corresponding to the same functions. When doing my research I thought i saw that 03-07 accords had the same wiring colors but id suggest doing some googling for your specific year/model and see what color scheme most sites agree with. Good luck!
So you had to leave the old radio is to maintain functionality of the climate control? It’s not possible to just replace the radio with a third party? I don’t want to lose the nifty storage space under the old radio lol
Hey Jenfro, exactly, it’s all connected in one piece with climate control, and in order to retain the backlight in the climate control buttons, the radio needs to get powered, which is why I powered it only when the car was on. What you can do is install a dash replacement kit (link below) but it is so much more expensive that it was not worth it for me, and its not great quality. Good luck!
http://www.amazon.com/METRA-99-7803G-Installation-Navigation-Mounting/dp/B00Q6QQB0A/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1461173199&sr=8-14&keywords=accord+07+climate+control
I know this kinda old but i tried doing this and my aftermarket radio dont get no power and dont want to turn on u think its just my wiring its a 07 honda accord lx
It’s possible, double check the harness wiring specifically for your lx model, and make sure the connections are all solid. Also double check that all wires are color matched correctly. Usually the red is for power and black is ground, so make sure those are connected and check if your aftermarket radio gets any power. good luck!
It’s possible, double check the harness wiring specifically for your lx model, and make sure the connections are all solid. Also double check that all wires are color matched correctly. If the power cables are connected correctly it should at least power up. good luck!
I hate watching videos. Put all the steps into writing please so that we don’t have to piss away over three minutes watching a stupid video. Thanks
My 2004 accord is have same problem, if i install an aux outlet will it work?
I don’t think so, my brother the same problem on his accord 07 and he installed an aux outlet but eventually installed a third party stereo because the issue didn’t go away. Aux outlet still uses the stereo to power the speakers maybe thats why it didn’t work. I think its pretty cheap to install an Aux outlet so you could try that first. Good luck!