Here’s the problem. The Kunilou kids had an obscenely expensive audio system installed in their car. Shortly thereafter, one of them totaled it. The car is now sitting in our garage, undrivable. They want to rescue the audio system, and got the speakers out with no problem. The CD player, however, is in the dashboard and not going anywhere. I can’t find any hidden mounting holes or anything else that would suggest why it won’t move. There’s no damage to the passenger compartment, so the dash isn’t warped or anything like that. The audio store said they will take it out for $25 if we drive there (not likely we’ll drive it anywhere).
What do we do? What tools do we need?
-
-
- Normally there’s some kind of clips or tabs around the edge of the radio’s face that snap or bend out behind the dashboard when the radio is inserted, you have to reach underneath the dashboard to undo those. The other attachment is that usually there’s a metal strap bolted to the back-end of the radio/CD/whatever and connected to the dashboard somewhere above the radio, to hold the radio’s rear end up (the rear end that is facing the front of the car when installed, if you get my drift).
~
- Normally there’s some kind of clips or tabs around the edge of the radio’s face that snap or bend out behind the dashboard when the radio is inserted, you have to reach underneath the dashboard to undo those. The other attachment is that usually there’s a metal strap bolted to the back-end of the radio/CD/whatever and connected to the dashboard somewhere above the radio, to hold the radio’s rear end up (the rear end that is facing the front of the car when installed, if you get my drift).
-
The one and only unit I ever installed is held on by nuts on the power and tuning shafts (a steel strap was included for supporting the rear of the unit).
Remove the knobs and look for hex head nuts - remove them and run your hand around the unit (assuming you can reach it) and snip, unscrew, unplug, etc. as needed - and look for an in-line fuse on one of the wires - that is the 12v+ line.
p.s. - be glad it’s not buried in the console (unless, of course, it is)
If the car is “totaled” break out the large hammers, chisels, saws, and whateve else you might have in your toobox. Is much more fun to be destructive getting to the part you need.
It would help if I knew what you had,you said expensive so I’m assuming new, new means there’s usually a pic online somewhere…
Also I’m assuming they had it installed,if so ask if the installer left them any special tools. All new units usually come with these tools,they’re similar to keys only long and narrow and straight(no key-like profile)
These "keys"are used to detach the unit from the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket is fastened into place, then the unit slips into that and is snapped into place via tabs on both sides.
Anyhow ,is there a removeable faceplate? If so pop it off.
Behind that are small screws,take them off also,then take off the faceplate mounting “cradle”…
Now you can usually see a small gap all around the unit.
Here’s where the tools come in, you slip the tools(2) in either sides of the unit about midpoint from top to bottom,usually you can feel the tabs depress and the unit come loose
Gently pull unit out,unplug wiring harness -enjoy!
BTW breaking out the large hammers, chisels ,etc will only make the job harder since there’s usually metal framework behind the plastic dash, and its tougher than it looks…
Oh, and if you dont have the tools,Macguyver something.
It only needs to be about the width of a key, only flatter and twice as long.
Easy. Find the name & manf of the unit, search the net for the installation book for it & read where it says how to uninstall unit or just do the reverse of installation.