[newbie99]

.

Will be taking delivery of recently purchased 2014 CRV EX-L AWD in 2-3 weeks.

Since no vehicle is perfect, what DIY mods do you recommend?

I'm thinking:
- Better front headlights - replacing factory weak bulb 9003 system.
- Might install 20mm or 30mm lift kit - due to my north regions deep snow / ice.
- Do you guys have any experience with either "spacer block" systems?
- Before fall 2019 first ice/snow, apply local rust proofing treatment / since road salt is bad in my north region.
- ????

Hoping to keep this vehicle for 8-12 years.

Do you guys recommend other DIY mods?

thanks.

 

[captainbeandip]

How bout first of all learn to post in the right forum. This one is for the current generation of CR-V.

 

[newbie99]

How bout first of all learn to post in the right forum. This one is for the current generation of CR-V.

Friendly attitude??? I realized the wrong sub area after I posted. If wondering, I did try the advance edit to Delete my post but couldn't find the delete button... Thus, why I updated my 1st post to ask mods to move to proper sub forum. Thanks for your worm welcome...

 

[ard]

You just have a case of the heebie-jeebies, 2 -3 weeks waiting for your new to you car has you ready to spoil it with some mods. And I can understand that completely. I would try it out first for a couple weeks just to narrow down what you feel might be to your liking. Do a lot a reading on this site, cause the information is here. I will recommend giving weight to the senior members advice. I am to a new owner of the same model and year, and have had it for 3 weeks. I like it, and have ordered some fluids, better horns, and filter from Bernardiparts and found them recommended here from a senior member also. So we start our new journey together, and I wish you good luck.

 

[Chrisss]

First things first.
Is it the navigation unit? If not, then you might want to add a carplay/android auto headunit.
I recommend the AVH-2400NEX which can be had for as low as $200 and you can do both front and rear camera(which can be bought for as low as 10 bucks on ebay! I'd give you a link to the one i purchased for a civic).
Then, buying a harness can integrate your steering wheel controls as well.
Kit, harness and head unit plus a DIY project, it should cost you no more than $300

If you have a stock navigation unit, then I guess that'll be just fine and save yourself $300.

Then, you can add some LED bulbs and aim the headlights a bit lower. They will be brighter but stock headlight height and aim is a bit too high even on those halogens. You want more light on the ground so aim them higher until the cutoff hits below a passenger car's side mirror.

Since it's no longer winter-time, you won't need winter tires for now nor do you need a lift kit unless you have over 2ft of snow on a daily basis. If you are set on it, then that lift kit will kill your mpg. So, plan accordingly for modifications that will have a long lasting impact on your wallet on both the present(parts + labor) and future(mpg + increasing gas prices)

PS, there is a plug and play remote start kit that works with your existing keyfob. If your car did not come with that and you live in frigid temperatures, I'd highly recommend that.

 

[rocky]

Posting in the wrong section is a surprisingly frequent occurrence.

I fixed it for you.

 

[Nuoivit]

LED interior bulbs, Weathertech mats, dashcam and Meguiar’s hybrid ceramic wax.

 

[ilovemyhonda88]

All LED interior bulbs, LED fog bulb, I would not bother with LED headlight PNP bulb as it will kill your distance on night time highway vision. I like Huskyliners Weatherbeater better than Weathertech. Had them both before.

 

[newbie99]

Thanks for your friendly feedback / suggestion guys.

And, thanks to Rocky for moving my post into the proper section as well.

For my wife's new 2014 "cannot wait to obtain" Run-About CR-V, I'm thinking:
- H4 LED Headlight bulb upgrades. Already got some on order. If wondering, I have LEDs headlights in my other vehicles and they work great. Especially when properly aimed.
- Customized LED rear lighting / under its rear bumper area. If wondering, this isn't for me. Its a safety increase for my Special Needs son - when loading / unload his rear cargo equipment. I install this extra safety improvement for loading / rear lights and with his wheelchair sticker, others don't bother us. And, they even drive around us - when we're loading / unloading his support hardware near tight traffic flow areas.
- Being a used vehicle, the seller is including his upgraded front floor mats, rear seat floor mats and rear cargo area floor matts. My wife says these matt areas appear to be in perfect shape.
- Previous seller is also including winter rubber and black steel rims. I hope to be ok in this area - unless the winter rubber is > 5 years old. Need to check their date creation stamp numbers. And if needed, budget for new winter rubber replacement for this late fall cost.
- I may or may not lift it "a little". If wondering, 20mm lift blocks are easy DIY install and only lift the vehicle .78" I will see how much its under belly might drag in the snow. And, how its visual stance looks. Don't think a lift of < 1" will negative influence its MPGs too much. Especially on my < 50 mph country roads. Only time will tell in this area.
- Was told the vehicle comes with Honda OEM remote starter. Seller told me he paid $900 (after 13% sales tax) for it. Hopefully, it works ok.
- I love your suggestion of using "Meguiar’s hybrid ceramic wax". Great idea.
- I often use RainX on its outer glass as well. I need to budget for a few bottles on this stuff as well.
- Being a EX-L model (which is top electronics inclusions), I assume its comes with backup camera and factory GPS feature as well. Only time will tell in this area. In mean time, my wife & I are viewing lots of U-Tube videos - to proactively learn this area.

Many thanks for your great ideas. And, where I need to proactively budget for. Especially for the high price items.

Giant Smiles. And, do keep posting your tips / improvement ideas....

 

[wb5dx]

Thanks for your friendly feedback / suggestion guys.

And, thanks to Rocky for moving my post into the proper section as well.

For my wife's new 2014 "cannot wait to obtain" Run-About CR-V, I'm thinking:
- H4 LED Headlight bulb upgrades. Already got some on order. If wondering, I have LEDs headlights in my other vehicles and they work great. Especially when properly aimed.
- Customized LED rear lighting / under its rear bumper area. If wondering, this isn't for me. Its a safety increase for my Special Needs son - when loading / unload his rear cargo equipment. I install this extra safety improvement for loading / rear lights and with his wheelchair sticker, others don't bother us. And, they even drive around us - when we're loading / unloading his support hardware near tight traffic flow areas.
- Being a used vehicle, the seller is including his upgraded front floor mats, rear seat floor mats and rear cargo area floor matts. My wife says these matt areas appear to be in perfect shape.
- Previous seller is also including winter rubber and black steel rims. I hope to be ok in this area - unless the winter rubber is > 5 years old. Need to check their date creation stamp numbers. And if needed, budget for new winter rubber replacement for this late fall cost.
- I may or may not lift it "a little". If wondering, 20mm lift blocks are easy DIY install and only lift the vehicle .78" I will see how much its under belly might drag in the snow. And, how its visual stance looks. Don't think a lift of < 1" will negative influence its MPGs too much. Especially on my < 50 mph country roads. Only time will tell in this area.
- Was told the vehicle comes with Honda OEM remote starter. Seller told me he paid $900 (after 13% sales tax) for it. Hopefully, it works ok.
- I love your suggestion of using "Meguiar’s hybrid ceramic wax". Great idea.
- I often use RainX on its outer glass as well. I need to budget for a few bottles on this stuff as well.
- Being a EX-L model (which is top electronics inclusions), I assume its comes with backup camera and factory GPS feature as well. Only time will tell in this area. In mean time, my wife & I are viewing lots of U-Tube videos - to proactively learn this area.

Many thanks for your great ideas. And, where I need to proactively budget for. Especially for the high price items.

Giant Smiles. And, do keep posting your tips / improvement ideas....

Be sure to let us know about the LED H4 headlight functionality. Do the DRL function properly (any flicker)? Is there any radio interference? How is the beam pattern relative to the prior halogens? And ... what brand did you get?

 

[newbie99]

Hi wb5dx.

If wondering, I don't use DRLs on any of my vehicles. Say what? Each of my vehicles are converted to "always on" lighting system. Thus, its rear lighting is ON, its side Marker lights are on and front Low Beam are always ON as well. When vehicle's ignition key is ON, its LOW beam + other lights are ON. For this trick on the CR-V EX-L version (with factory auto enable lights), I simply cover the dash's light sensor with black tape. Yes. I'm serious. Simple Black Tape - so it thinks its dark time driving all the time (even during bright light days). Since DRLs (which is lower watts to High Beam) isn't used, then DRL bulb isn't starved for more power. Hence, NO flicker / due to watts delivery starvation.

For my other vehicle (2008 Elantra), I simply put its light switch in ON position. When ignition key is OFF, all lights turn off. When ignition key is ON, all lights are ON. Thus, it has "always on" lighting system. And, no flicker on its front LEDs either. For my towing vehicle, I do the same as well. Note: Before applying black tape trick on the CRV, I'll also try leaving light switch in its ON positon as well. Perhaps this will work - like my other vehicles. So in a way, I have a Plan A and Plan B trick.

These Plans might work for your vehicles with LED front lights as well - instead of removing the DRL fuse (which some folks recommend).

 

[newbie99]

Yes. In future, I will post my results of my Plan A, Plan B trick (for `always on` lights for CR-V vehicle) and my specific H4 LED bulb light details as well. And, what re-aiming I needed to perform as well.

 

[Nuoivit]

Any recommendations for low beam LED bulbs?

 

[newbie99]

Any recommendations for low beam LED bulbs?

No completed LED bulb upgrade results yet.

If wondering, I ordered my LED bulb a few days ago. Living in far north, it takes 9-15+ days for products from Amazon to show up at my front door. Sometimes (due to bad weather), it takes even longer. As Plan A, I plan to install only H4 LEDs (see below URL drill down for exact product).. And, adjust their aim. I'm sure this will dramatically improve its Low Beam. And, its High Beam lighting's "bad short range" light coverage as well. If more front lighting is needed, I got a Plan B - which is to install LEDs in its front FOG lights. And if High beams work great with FOG lights ON work better, I'll simply install a relay - to activate FOG lights with High Beams ON "at same time". Very simple 12V electrical mod for me. Yes. Always good to have Plan A, Plan B and C with some things in life...

Notes:
A - I ordered https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B071R3KTBB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 from Amazon. Their H4/9003 LED bulb seem to have very high User Ratings.
B - To eliminate risk of DRL flicker, I'll convert my Low/High beam lighting system to "always on" configuration. Thus, eliminate low volt delivery "starvation" - for its factory DRL system. Always ON turns DRL system off.
C - Yes. I do plan to adjust their physical aim - just like in my other vehicles using front area LED bulbs as well.
D - if LED fogs are needed, I got my eyes set on: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07FCL8N2S...colid=4D7MF1HQMFAQ&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Long mumblings short... I'll provide my front LED upgrade results in 2-3 weeks. Living in far north always has time delays...

 

[newbie99]

Based on historical threads, I noticed a few CR-V owners are replacing their "donut" spare tire with full size spare tire. Due to my "in the deep woods" north region, think I'll add this specific MOD to my CRV's "wish list" as well. For folks who performed this DIY upgrade, any tips/traps in this areas?

 

[Bettebet]

I agree! Sheesh

 

[Bettebet]

My 2014 EX-L AWD does not have GPS.

 

[wb5dx]

No completed LED bulb upgrade results yet.

If wondering, I ordered my LED bulb a few days ago. Living in far north, it takes 9-15+ days for products from Amazon to show up at my front door. Sometimes (due to bad weather), it takes even longer. As Plan A, I plan to install only H4 LEDs (see below URL drill down for exact product).. And, adjust their aim. I'm sure this will dramatically improve its Low Beam. And, its High Beam lighting's "bad short range" light coverage as well. If more front lighting is needed, I got a Plan B - which is to install LEDs in its front FOG lights. And if High beams work great with FOG lights ON work better, I'll simply install a relay - to activate FOG lights with High Beams ON "at same time". Very simple 12V electrical mod for me. Yes. Always good to have Plan A, Plan B and C with some things in life...

Notes:
A - I ordered https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B071R3KTBB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 from Amazon. Their H4/9003 LED bulb seem to have very high User Ratings.
B - To eliminate risk of DRL flicker, I'll convert my Low/High beam lighting system to "always on" configuration. Thus, eliminate low volt delivery "starvation" - for its factory DRL system. Always ON turns DRL system off.
C - Yes. I do plan to adjust their physical aim - just like in my other vehicles using front area LED bulbs as well.
D - if LED fogs are needed, I got my eyes set on: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07FCL8N2S...colid=4D7MF1HQMFAQ&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Long mumblings short... I'll provide my front LED upgrade results in 2-3 weeks. Living in far north always has time delays...

How do you set up "always on"?

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[Nuoivit]

I just got some Hikari LED bulbs for my low beam and they look great! The beam pattern was almost identical to the stock bulbs, so I didn’t have to adjusy anything. $37 on Amazon.

 

[newbie99]

Yes. In future, I will post my results of my Plan A, Plan B trick (for `always on` lights for CR-V vehicle) and my specific H4 LED bulb light details as well. And, what re-aiming I needed to perform as well.

Update:

Instead of always ON factory light switch, I simply upgraded its front Headlights to H4 LEDs, upgraded its front FOGs to H11 LEDs (Fog / DRL rated) and converted its front FOGs to always on DRLs. Very simple trick using 1 x wire install and an add-a-fuse. For more details, surf: https://www.crvownersclub.com/forums/404097-newbie99.html

Hope this helps others....