Removing a Factory Car Stereo
- Factory car stereos have electrical connectors that house all the wires, including the power for the memory, the main power (switched), the grounds and the speaker wires--all in a particular orientation. When replacing a factory car stereo with an aftermarket radio, it is far simpler and far less time-consuming if an adaptive harness is purchased with the radio. These harnesses are not expensive and they are a simple plug in and play. They have two ends, one fits the original connector and the other the new radio. All large stereo stores that specialize in electronic equipment have these. A new faceplate will also be needed to make the new radio fit properly. Just give the year and make of the vehicle at any stereo shop or big box audio store to get these items.
- You will need some basic tools to complete the removal of the factory car stereo: Phillips screwdriver, set of ¼-inch sockets, ¼-inch socket driver and a common screwdriver.
- Remove the front reveal-molding on the dash. All vehicles are different, but these directions provide for most of the possibilities necessary to remove any reveal-molding or dash cover. Your vehicle may or may not use all of the items in the following outline.
Remove any screws starting by the speedometer on the top in front of the speedometer and along the bottom side of the top part of the dash cover. Remove the panel on the driver's side under or around the headlight switch. There will be screws to the dash cover concealed under the panel. Remove the panel under the steering column to reveal screws holding the dash cover. Use the common screwdriver, and starting at the driver's side, pry the cover out. Most all dash covers have snaps that snap into a hole in the dash to keep them on.
If the vehicle has fuses on the driver's side on the side of the dash facing the door, look for a screw inside the cover. This screw will be holding the dash cover. Screws and snaps are the only things that hold the dash covers on. - Remove the screws around the faceplate holding the radio in and pull the radio out enough to disconnect the antennae and the electrical connector. Remove the radio. Open the box with the new faceplates and locate the right one for the vehicle. Make sure that it fits in the opening in the dash cover or reveal-molding.
- Install the faceplate over the front of the radio and bend the tangs up provided on the new radio to hold the faceplate in place. The tangs to be bent are right behind the faceplate and this also keeps the radio from being pulled out of the faceplate.
Install the new harness connector to the factory connector. Hold the radio close enough and attach the harness to the radio and plug in the antenna. Push the radio in the recess and install the screws to hold it in place. Install the dash cover the same way it was removed.
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