Yours is EX-L(oops), what trim did you pull the '08 unit from? Besides differences between Touring trim and below, an EX-L like yours could be with or without Rear Entertainment System or RES. That can account for differences in head units. Could also be that mid-generation '08 refresh, besides adding MP3 could have changed the wiring.

 

Yours is EX-L, what trim did you pull the '08 unit from? Besides differences between Touring trim and below, an EX-L like yours could be with or without Rear Entertainment System or RES. That can account for differences in head units. Could also be that mid-generation '08 refresh, besides adding MP3 could have changed the wiring.

They said EX, not EX-L. But I do agree, trim difference is probably the issue.

This is good information to know though, I've been wanting to do this swap myself.

 

There are wiring differences between the 07 and 08-10 models. I have been wanting to swap out the 6CD Changer behind the NAV screen but have never gotten the unit to gamble with. I have both the 07 and 09 NAV model wiring diagrams buried in one of my many computers.

 

If even the non-NAV units have a difference, then what I'd say to OP is I doubt you'll find an off the shelf solution. Your only chance may be if you can somehow splice the two together, but that's a can of worms you'd be opening.

 

No splicing but they do need the wiring diagrams. The antenna seems to be the same so perhaps the above two I posted are all they need? But I would do all the wiring homework first.

 

2006 Odyssey EX stock head unit that doesn't has MP3, and bought a 08 stock MP3 capable head unit.

Discovered that the mine has 2 (radio, power, aux - I guess), but the newer stock mp3 model has 5. Antenna cable fit to the new unit, but the power connector doesn't fit.

I didn't realize Honda of the same generation 2005 - 2010 has 2 different wiring hardness.

What is the wiring adaptor that I can buy, or what keyword I should search in Google/eBay to look up such wiring adapter to connects the old connector into the new head unit? Without knowing what the connector name is called, spent 3 hr and still clueless what to buy

Buy at your own risk AFTER you do all your research and homework.

You need one of these to plug into the back of the 2008 radio.

Reverse Radio Wire Harness for OEM Factory Stereo Installation WH-1007 | eBay

OEM Reverse Wiring Harness. Harness is designed to plug in the factory radio. Plugs into factory radio. HONDA Odyssey (2008-2010). HONDA Fit (2007-2008).

www.ebay.com

you need the following to connect to your factory 2006 harness.

Metra 70-1721 Wire Harness for Aftermarket Stereo Installation | eBay

This wire harness is vehicle specific and makes the connection between your new car stereo and your vehicle's electrical system. The wire harness housing is made from high grade ABS plastic. The wires are made with 100% copper for a secure connection.

www.ebay.com

 

Also. The Metra I linked above for the 2006 has the wiring information. Same metra harness for 2008 ALSO has the wiring information.

Metra 70-1722 Wire Harness for Aftermarket Stereo Installation | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Metra 70-1722 Wire Harness for Aftermarket Stereo Installation at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Download both images and compare may be?

A cursory look indicates that the wires are the same from both images but it seems, there is still a need to figure out what the extra plugs do or why they are needed.

 

This website may help.

Crutchfield - Seriously Into Audio Since 1974

Need a radio wiring harness for your 2008 Honda Odyssey? Get free shipping and free lifetime tech support with your order.

www.crutchfield.ca

 

I hope you also got the radio code or the VIN of the vehicle where the 08 HU came from? It isn't gonna work without one of those.

 

True, but it is also not hard to obtain that with the radio serial number.

 

There are quite a few different '08 radio back side configuration. This one appears to match your '08 one the CLOSEST and yours does not appear to have RES system connector though:

The Connector A pinout is:

Unfortunately, I do not have same connector diagram for '06, but I do have this wiring diagram of the audio unit connector which should help - Look at A# ones and their label - looks like the wire color matches:

 

This is incredible information! I'm actually looking to find more detailed wiring re: the entertainment system on the rear harness for oem radios.
My project is to make a switch/toggle to go between the rear RCA inputs on my 2010 EX-L and output from an Android powered unit I'm piggy packing where the NAV screen would go. I can't find any info on which harness or cables on the back of the head unit are the inputs from the back. I know they are routed up front because I've seen people do it but I don't understand how or which wires.

 

Thank you everyone for helping me. I am overwelme with so many detail info, and very happy to know that I can use this 08 head unit into my 06 (non RES), and get the mp3 functionality with stock appearance.

I will make my own converter from buying 1 connector to fit 06 wiring, and 1 connector to plug into new head unit.

No further question. I am clear

 

No further question. I am clear

Happy to help. But. Please do come back and report if it actually worked or not.

 

I wish Honda had created an one head unit fits all so they would all have the same wiring setup. My 2006 has 6 plugs and im trying to replace it with an aftermarket android unit but i cant get any help anywhere trying to find out what the other 4 plugs do and if i can use any of the wires for my new head unit. I need to hook up a reverse wire and the Steering wheel controls but cant figure out what wires i can use.

 

What type of plugs are they? I mean how many pins? do you have NAV? Do you have RES?

Take a picture of the back of the unit and maybe I can look up wiring diagram to check which plug does which. That said, I do have decent wiring diagram for 07-10, but not really for 06.

 

I apologie but when i got my van the head unit had been messed up by some previous owners before it could be repoed so i no longer have it and i didn't think to take pictures of it but i wish big time that i had and that i had kept it. I didn't have NAV but i do have RES and i didn't have the backup camera or the amp under the drivers seat either. ive been looking for info for months about the wiring but so far im stiff in the dark. I went to the Honda dealership and spoke with a tech and ha printed a bunch or papers about the dvd system but they didn't help me with my problems and i could hardly understand a lot of what was on them. Sorry i rattle on at times. Thank You.

 

Report back on on my 2006 head unit upgrade to 2008 without NAV, without RES. I couldn't find pre-made adapter, so I bought 2 separate connectors to convert the old stereo connector to the new connector using spade connectors as shown below.

However, I didn't realize that most of the wiring hardness has missing wiring. In this case, it is missing the remote control wiring that connects to the steering wheel.

I missed read hpark21's diagram. Corrected my understanding:

1. the power connector is Connector A in the 1st diagram
2. the 2nd diagram is Connector A in the 1st diagram
3. the 3rd diagram is for 2005-08 headunit, and not for new 2008-2010 headunit
4. So 3rd diagram's Connector A is older headunit's wiring, not the newer headunit which has 17 pin
5. New headunit's Connector A does not has Remote Control wiring
6. Needs to match old and new headunit's wiring by their color code, even old connector is 20 pin, and new connector is 17 pin

I bought following wiring hardness (for 2008 model) which in the middle of the connector -> there is only 1 red wiring (for ACCessory power on). For those who has RES, you might need to buy the connector with 2 wire. This connector seems to refer to as WH-1007 reserve hardness in eBay.

The rest of the wires are for 4 pairs of speakers (8 wires), battery power (2 wires), illumination (on when headlight turns on), and ACC (when key turns to ACC & ON position).

For other members, who has RES, remember to ensure this 17-pin connector has 12 wire instead of 11 wire (which is what I bought). Following is a incompatible wiring from Amazon (don't buy this for RES) CAD$5:

Amazon.ca Something Went Wrong / Quelque chose s'est mal passé

I can see Amazon sell a CAD$38 Metra cable, but no picture to confirm it has 2 wires in the middle section:

Amazon.ca

eBay US sells this WH-1007 connector for US$7 as well
Reverse Radio Wire Harness for OEM Factory Stereo Installation WH-1007 | eBay

Even this 2008 connector has no standard name, but all sellers are using the same wiring color code. So you can carefully examine their color to determine whether in the middle of the connector, there are 0, 1, or 2 wires. I find it is very difficult to count how many wires from their picture. If you are getting 12 or 13 wires, then this will be a suitable connector for RES, If number of wires is 11 or less, then there are missing wire, and don't buy. For my EX w/o RES. it is sufficient.

Originally, I though I could buy the connectors' pin and crimp myself. However, after searching for years of Honda headunit connector and the pin, there are way too many models without clear description which one is for this 2008 connector. Current Honda/Acura headunit no longer use this strange 17-pin connector, it is not logical/reasonable to buy all sorts of pins, so I will just leave it as-is (lost remote control functionality)

The new head unit from 2008 is fully functional, and I added a generic Bluetooth 5.0 with external mic to the new 2008 headunit as well. It connects to the rear 20-pin connector that I can press the "AUX" button, and use this module.

So now it has following new functionality:
1. Plays MP3 CD
2. Power saving Bluetooth 5.0 (instead of higher power usage of Bluetooth 3 to 4)
3. Plays music from phone (via Bluetooth) - iPhone
4. Bluetooth hands free - with mic that I glue to steering wheel area

AliExpress CAD$10 Bluetooth 5.0 module: https://www.AliExpress.com/item/1005002944347900.html

Update 2025-03-01: The steering wheel remote control uses connector F, which used by my Bluetooth 5.0 module. Originally, I though it uses Connector A, but after tested all the pins, I found it is not in Connector A, but in Connector F, which I connected as AUX for external aftermarket Bluetooth 5.0 module

 

Good to know that it's at least possible.

 

Newer 2008 OEM headunit, like the one I bought, has AUX button (separate connector), and XM button (separate connector) which allows me to feed 2 input. So I have 2 different BT + mic module that I can choose that I can used to connect to the back using Honda OEM connector. I picked the BT module that is cheaper that connects to AUX. If I bought the XM port BT unit, then it should be able to control the phone to forward, pause, skip the song from the steering wheel control button, My plan is to use as speak BT headset, so this is not important to me. Moreover, I seldom pick song that I uploaded to my phone

 

There are quite a few different '08 radio back side configuration. This one appears to match your '08 one the CLOSEST and yours does not appear to have RES system connector though:
View attachment 168000



The Connector A pinout is:
View attachment 168001

Unfortunately, I do not have same connector diagram for '06, but I do have this wiring diagram of the audio unit connector which should help - Look at A# ones and their label - looks like the wire color matches:
View attachment 168002

This post is GOLD. I bought a new head unit for my 2010 EX-L with RES and 6CD changer. Can you share where you got these? My new head unit has li

There are quite a few different '08 radio back side configuration. This one appears to match your '08 one the CLOSEST and yours does not appear to have RES system connector though:
View attachment 168000



The Connector A pinout is:
View attachment 168001

Unfortunately, I do not have same connector diagram for '06, but I do have this wiring diagram of the audio unit connector which should help - Look at A# ones and their label - looks like the wire color matches:
View attachment 168002

This is GOLD. I have a new head unit for my 2010 ES-L with RES and 6 CD changer. Can you share where you got these? Looking for more of the connector diagrams.

 

The wiring diagram was posted my members who have access to Honda online document (paid license/loyalty fee). Honda no longer sells hard copy manual. So I will suggest you to create a new thread post and post your questions for head unit wiring diagram with RES and 6CD changer. It will be helpful to indicate in your new post whether yours has NAV and rear entertainment unit

I did found a hit in Reddit.com, which only shows 1 out of 3 pages of the wiring diagram:

RADIO – Honda Odyssey Touring 2010 – SYSTEM WIRING DIAGRAMS – Wiring diagrams for cars

RADIO Radio Wiring Diagram, EX-L with Navigation (1 of 3) for Honda Odyssey Touring 2010List of elements for Radio Wiring Diagram, EX-L with Navigation (1 of 3) for Honda Odyssey Touring 2010:(behind glove box) g503(behind right kick panel)(in right \

portal-diagnostov.com

 

My steering wheel remote control never work with only using Connector A in the new headunit. When I refer to my 2025-01-07 post, I realized that Connector F has following 2 remote control pin:

1. Pin 6 - Brown: Remote ground
2. Pin 7 - White: Audio Remote Control

So above 2 wires should connects to old 2005-2008 headunits's wire below:

1. Pin 3 - White : Audio Remote Control to new headunit Pin 7
2. Pin 11 - Brown : Remote Ground to new headunit Pin 3

Connector F has a "name" which is MX34020SF1 .

Updated the Connector F wiring diagram with steering remote control