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I started figuring out my power accessories installation today. I've got power mirrors, windows and door locks from a 4-door civic lx (maybe accord, I don't really know, Tom help me out). All of these require some modification of harware, and running new wiring.
First is the hardware prep:
Mirrors - Nearly done. You have to swap over the mirror part from the civic, onto the mount side from the CRX, joining them at the hinged section. It is pretty easy to do, and there is a write up on honda-tech if you need some guidance.
Windows - Swapped the CRX rail on to the civic power mechanism for each side and they are good to go.
Locks - When I sit in the driver's seat and stretch out my arm, it is less than a foot away from the passenger lock switch. Makes power locks seem senseless, I agree. However putting in electric switches allows me to add on keyless entry in the future. The locks are at a standstill because I have gotten mixed info. The door latches from my 91 Si have a different baseplate than the civic power latches + motor. One guy's write-up regarding the latch conversion shows his "crx/hatch" latches to have an identical baseplate to the 4-door latches. This makes his conversion much easier. i am thinking that maybe the 90-91 had a newer style latch or something? Or maybe he was using a civic hatchback latch that is actually a different part than the crx latch. I was planning on modifying the latches I have (and it would still be quite easy) but for now I'll wait to find out more information. One thing I noted along the way is that the 4-door latch + motor will not fit into a 90-91 door that has the beam in it, unless of course you cut a section of the beam out.
Second, is actuation/controls:
Mirrors: Stock electronic actuator. I'm using the stock mirror adjuster switch which mounts perfectly into the square space in the CRX dash, just to the right of the steering wheel.
Windows: Unfortunately I do not have stock CRX power window switches for the doors. Other people have said that they've used switches from predules. What I have got is the four switch gang box out of the 4-door. it usually mounts on the iside door handle in the civic. I have decided to use the 4 switch box, mount it in the center console area and use the top two switches for the windows, and the bottom two for the door locks. Which brings me to the next section...
Locks: I wanted to retain the manual locking mechanism as a safety measure. All cars, even with power locks, still have a manual actuator*. So as I said above the lower two switches on the gang box will be wired up to control the locks.
* I did think about using two 4-door interior door latch actuator cups with window switches in the fron of them (where the CRX lock mechanism is now) and rewire them to be lock switches. Then I could eliminate one of the bars going across the inner door, making it harder to break into. But somehow I think i've decided against that route for now.
Third is wiring in all this new stuff:
I want the harnesses to look as clean as possible. I'm not a fan of loose and randomly run wires everywhere. So I'm rerouting wires and I'll make a seperate little harness that wires up both doors and connects to the switches on the dash and console, and to the fuse box. I'm going to use the stock honda relay for the windows. it is the same type as is used for the sunroof. I'll also mount the door lock contrl box behind the dash under where the radio sits to keep things organized. I've got some door connectors from a 4-door on their way because they have a ton more pin slots than the crx connectors but are still the same size around the perimeter.
Here are a couple of bad pictures of the way I'm tentatively mounting the switches:
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Sorry about the pictures, i know they are horrible. I'll hopefully do a little writeup and post my modified wiring diagrams in the next couple of weeks so that other people will have some insight if they should want to do any of these swaps.
Cheers.
EDIT: I am not longer using these silly switches!
First is the hardware prep:
Mirrors - Nearly done. You have to swap over the mirror part from the civic, onto the mount side from the CRX, joining them at the hinged section. It is pretty easy to do, and there is a write up on honda-tech if you need some guidance.
Windows - Swapped the CRX rail on to the civic power mechanism for each side and they are good to go.
Locks - When I sit in the driver's seat and stretch out my arm, it is less than a foot away from the passenger lock switch. Makes power locks seem senseless, I agree. However putting in electric switches allows me to add on keyless entry in the future. The locks are at a standstill because I have gotten mixed info. The door latches from my 91 Si have a different baseplate than the civic power latches + motor. One guy's write-up regarding the latch conversion shows his "crx/hatch" latches to have an identical baseplate to the 4-door latches. This makes his conversion much easier. i am thinking that maybe the 90-91 had a newer style latch or something? Or maybe he was using a civic hatchback latch that is actually a different part than the crx latch. I was planning on modifying the latches I have (and it would still be quite easy) but for now I'll wait to find out more information. One thing I noted along the way is that the 4-door latch + motor will not fit into a 90-91 door that has the beam in it, unless of course you cut a section of the beam out.
Second, is actuation/controls:
Mirrors: Stock electronic actuator. I'm using the stock mirror adjuster switch which mounts perfectly into the square space in the CRX dash, just to the right of the steering wheel.
Windows: Unfortunately I do not have stock CRX power window switches for the doors. Other people have said that they've used switches from predules. What I have got is the four switch gang box out of the 4-door. it usually mounts on the iside door handle in the civic. I have decided to use the 4 switch box, mount it in the center console area and use the top two switches for the windows, and the bottom two for the door locks. Which brings me to the next section...
Locks: I wanted to retain the manual locking mechanism as a safety measure. All cars, even with power locks, still have a manual actuator*. So as I said above the lower two switches on the gang box will be wired up to control the locks.
* I did think about using two 4-door interior door latch actuator cups with window switches in the fron of them (where the CRX lock mechanism is now) and rewire them to be lock switches. Then I could eliminate one of the bars going across the inner door, making it harder to break into. But somehow I think i've decided against that route for now.
Third is wiring in all this new stuff:
I want the harnesses to look as clean as possible. I'm not a fan of loose and randomly run wires everywhere. So I'm rerouting wires and I'll make a seperate little harness that wires up both doors and connects to the switches on the dash and console, and to the fuse box. I'm going to use the stock honda relay for the windows. it is the same type as is used for the sunroof. I'll also mount the door lock contrl box behind the dash under where the radio sits to keep things organized. I've got some door connectors from a 4-door on their way because they have a ton more pin slots than the crx connectors but are still the same size around the perimeter.
Here are a couple of bad pictures of the way I'm tentatively mounting the switches:
Sorry about the pictures, i know they are horrible. I'll hopefully do a little writeup and post my modified wiring diagrams in the next couple of weeks so that other people will have some insight if they should want to do any of these swaps.
Cheers.
EDIT: I am not longer using these silly switches!
