Headrest Monitor How To, 91 Accord

Here's some simple steps and photo's on how to install a headrest monitor into a removable headrest. The techniques outlined in this step by step is my own personal techniques and experiences so please feel free to modify the way it is done here. Let's begin:

Take the head rest(s) off the vehicle and size up the monitor to the back of the head rest to ensure that it will have enough room side to side and top to bottom to support the size monitor that you wish to install. In this case we are installing a 5 ½” TFT LCD color monitor. The casing dimensions area is 6 ½” x 4 ½” so be sure you double check this before you begin the project.

On this particular headrest you can unzip or unclip the headrest cover off the foam. You will need to work the cloth and sponge to one side as the fabric is very tight around the sponge. Don’t be afraid to use a little elbow grease during this portion of the installation as it will probably speed up the process.

The next step is to measure the outside dimensions of the LCD monitor and cut your self a template so you can transfer this to the fabric portion of the headrest with accuracy.

Here we have a piece of MDF ( medium density fiberboard ) cut to the outside dimensions of the LCD monitor and ready to transfer the template to the sponge part of the headrest.

Measure the center of the headrest and position the MDF template over the sponge. Take a fine tipped felt marker and trace the template on the sponge headrest.

Take an Exacto or utility knife and carefully cut the traced out template. Make sure that you cut deep enough to be able to remove the entire traced out area. Peel back the sponge where it was cut and remove all the sponge within this area. In this case the sponge was attached with glue to the back plate which caused a bit of a sticky situation.

After you have taken out the sponge and clean up back plate of any glue residue and stuck on sponge, try a test fit of the screen. Now you are ready for the cloth portion of the installation.

You will need to refit the cloth cover back over the sponge headrest. This step will be easier now that you have taken out a large portion of the sponge. Position the cover back to normal and take your fingers and push the cloth so you see a definite line as to where the sponge edge is. From this point take the knife and cut about 5/8” inside of that edge. DO NOT cut any closer as you need this extra material to tuck under the screen when it’s time. When you are done you should have a smaller cutout area than the MDF template.

After you have cleaned up the back plate and the hole has been cut out you can take 2” strips of Velcro ( use the double sided tape Velcro ) and stick the strips to the back plate. When you trim the cloth make sure that you cut in a reverse “V” shape into the corner on all 4 sides of cutout so that the material folds properly when you insert the screen. ** TIP: You can make youself a bracket as well to screw the screen into place instead of the Velcro.

Apply the other side of the Velcro to the backside of the LCD monitor. Now it’s time to install the monitor into the headrest. Make sure that you slip the M-bus connector through the headrest leg before you put things back together.

Time to put everything back together again and make sure that you slipped the M-bus connector through the plastic seam cover plate before re-installing the plugs.

Take the finished product to the vehicle and reinstall it onto the seat. Slip the M-bus connector down inbetween the seat and connect to the junction box or audio/video selector module to the monitor and your done.

Another shot of the finished product. If you have seats without the removable headrests, you can follow the same steps as above, but you will need to add a metal plate to attach the screen to. There are not any braces in those types of seats and custom fabrication is required.

jeff im sure you do  this alot  but i thought i would tell  you how i do it.my  normal install has a headrest shroud.

i remove the shroud...center it on the headrest. use masking tape to outline the shroud. i then cut the headrest a bit smaller than my outline....heres the thing.....i round the cuts on the corners. when i strech the material it wont rip at the cut......i then cutout the foam inside a bit larger than the opening.....i insert the shroud all the way in and pull the material over it .....then i insert the wire just as you did and carefully press fit the lcd into the shroud.....this pinches the material tightly and smoothly......this serves 2 purposes.....first---it holds the lcd firmly without any type of fasteners  and secondly---- if someone pushes on the headrest material , it cant move or pull out.  ....very clean look....ive gotten pretty good at this type of install and can do each tv in about 6-8 min.   great profit potental.

just thougt i would share.  ill take some pics of my next job and post em.

XS

This is a 1991 Accord. Same as the 90, 92 & 93.