VXR8 head unit - easy to pop out?
Discussion
So - after THIS THREAD I did somewhat regret my decision..... and I have now taken delivery of a different LS3 and it's awesome! :-D
One small problem - the hazard switch was extremely "crunchy" when I picked it up (I tend to use a hazard flash as my std "thanks" message to other drivers). It has now dropped back into the dash.
I think the whole switch (as opposed to just the button) has become detached from the back of the head unit.
- Is it easy enough to pop the OEM head unit out and have a quick look, or is it a specialist-tool job? (It would be easiest for me if I could DIY - seller is a long way from me and dealership isn't particulary close to raise it as a warranty job.
- Is this covered in an online workshop manual that I can download / access?
One small problem - the hazard switch was extremely "crunchy" when I picked it up (I tend to use a hazard flash as my std "thanks" message to other drivers). It has now dropped back into the dash.
I think the whole switch (as opposed to just the button) has become detached from the back of the head unit.
- Is it easy enough to pop the OEM head unit out and have a quick look, or is it a specialist-tool job? (It would be easiest for me if I could DIY - seller is a long way from me and dealership isn't particulary close to raise it as a warranty job.
- Is this covered in an online workshop manual that I can download / access?
Congratulations on your purchase. 
did I miss the topic titled ' my new car ' with the pictures of this beast ????? 
. I have read that it is simple enough to rip the trim off yourself. If I recall its one of those things where you pull it and when it feels like it's just about to break pull harder and it pops off. Probably best not to take my word for it though cause I havnt given this a go. No doubt someone here has.
did I miss the topic titled ' my new car ' with the pictures of this beast ????? . I have read that it is simple enough to rip the trim off yourself. If I recall its one of those things where you pull it and when it feels like it's just about to break pull harder and it pops off. Probably best not to take my word for it though cause I havnt given this a go. No doubt someone here has.mik_ok said:
So - after [url=www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=69&t=1081509&mid=31640]THIS THREAD[/url] I did somewhat regret my decision..... and I have now taken delivery of a different LS3 and it's awesome! :-D
One small problem - the hazard switch was extremely "crunchy" when I picked it up (I tend to use a hazard flash as my std "thanks" message to other drivers). It has now dropped back into the dash.
I think the whole switch (as opposed to just the button) has become detached from the back of the head unit.
- Is it easy enough to pop the OEM head unit out and have a quick look, or is it a specialist-tool job? (It would be easiest for me if I could DIY - seller is a long way from me and dealership isn't particulary close to raise it as a warranty job.
- Is this covered in an online workshop manual that I can download / access?
One small problem - the hazard switch was extremely "crunchy" when I picked it up (I tend to use a hazard flash as my std "thanks" message to other drivers). It has now dropped back into the dash.
I think the whole switch (as opposed to just the button) has become detached from the back of the head unit.
- Is it easy enough to pop the OEM head unit out and have a quick look, or is it a specialist-tool job? (It would be easiest for me if I could DIY - seller is a long way from me and dealership isn't particulary close to raise it as a warranty job.
- Is this covered in an online workshop manual that I can download / access?
Unless you like repairing your car, id stop using that button. Robust is something its not!
The front fascia comes off, not the whole unit. It does require brute force, a scary level of it in fact. But no special tools.
L2VXR posted some links for a manual.
mik_ok said:
Monkfish1 - you don't have a link (to his link) do you?
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=1065734&r=20175437&hm=65670&mid=65670#20175437
also i've made up a file that should cover what your after that you can download from here
www.4shared.com/zip/0JMBzUGw/VXR8_radio_removal.html
www.4shared.com/zip/0JMBzUGw/VXR8_radio_removal.html
Edited by L2VXR on Friday 6th January 10:30
L2VXR said:
also i've made up a file that should cover what your after that you can download from here
http://www.4shared.com/zip/0JMBzUGw/VXR8_radio_rem...
Nice one - cheers for this! Will be useful to help me get to the rear A/V connectorshttp://www.4shared.com/zip/0JMBzUGw/VXR8_radio_rem...
Edited by L2VXR on Friday 6th January 10:30
L2VXR said:
also i've made up a file that should cover what your after that you can download from here
http://www.4shared.com/zip/0JMBzUGw/VXR8_radio_rem...
Absolutely awesome! Thank you very much. http://www.4shared.com/zip/0JMBzUGw/VXR8_radio_rem...
Has anyone done this?
I had an attempt at the weekend to remove the infotainment fascia so I could have a look at the hazard switch, but didn't want to pull too hard....
Am I removing :-
a/ The entire panel that you can grip by following the guide above - I'd guess it is around 15mm thick.... it didn't seem eager to move and I was nervous I was tearing something apart that didn't come apart....
b/ The front facing plate only - which I'd guess is 3mm think and I could just get my nails behind, but it didn't seem to want to move either.
Thanks in advance guys.
I had an attempt at the weekend to remove the infotainment fascia so I could have a look at the hazard switch, but didn't want to pull too hard....
Am I removing :-
a/ The entire panel that you can grip by following the guide above - I'd guess it is around 15mm thick.... it didn't seem eager to move and I was nervous I was tearing something apart that didn't come apart....
b/ The front facing plate only - which I'd guess is 3mm think and I could just get my nails behind, but it didn't seem to want to move either.
Thanks in advance guys.
Great - thanks gents - will take some brave pills and have another go at it this weekend in the light.
edit: this sounds a bit like the process for removing the horn pad from the centre of a Porsche "lozenge" (pre-airbag) steering wheel. Just when you think it's about to snap in half it comes off.... best to have a hanky ready for your nosebleed as you drive it into your face...
edit: this sounds a bit like the process for removing the horn pad from the centre of a Porsche "lozenge" (pre-airbag) steering wheel. Just when you think it's about to snap in half it comes off.... best to have a hanky ready for your nosebleed as you drive it into your face...
Edited by mik_ok on Tuesday 10th January 20:52
Yes it does take some considerable force doesn't it. :-0
Unfortunately the rear of the hazard switch isn't accessible without stripping down the face panel.... which I'm reluctant to do (in my imagination there are approx eleventeen hundred springs tensioned inside hatching plans for freedom as soon as first screw on the backing plate is removed.....).
I think I'll investigate the possibility of a warranty replacement before I do so....
Unfortunately the rear of the hazard switch isn't accessible without stripping down the face panel.... which I'm reluctant to do (in my imagination there are approx eleventeen hundred springs tensioned inside hatching plans for freedom as soon as first screw on the backing plate is removed.....).
I think I'll investigate the possibility of a warranty replacement before I do so....
Hazard switch fixed.
Took a couple of images for others future reference.
Removing the infotainment fascia plate does - as already stated - require brave pill only. You can see from the image below that it's just held on by 4 large-ish friction clips.
No access to the rear of the hazard switch without removing the rear plate, so despite my "attack of a million springs" fears above, I decided to risk it.
19 screws on the rear. 19!
They are a non-tamper security type screw that isn't a flat, or a phillips, or a torx. Luckily there is a shallow straight cut on them that you can get a small flat bladed screw driver onto. Which would be fine if there wasn't 19 of the bu66ars.... 19!
Everything is sandwiched by the rear plate, so once it is off you need to be careful not to let any of the facsia stero/heater buttons unseat or become dislodged. It was kept strictly "face down" throughout to ensure this.
As soon as I got the plate off I could see the pillars that the hazard switch is screwed onto had snapped cleanly at their bases, and once I felt the action of the switch it was clear they were already partly sheared when I got the car. Superglue was my friend - you can see there is plenty of surface area around the pillars that sits against the rear of the fascia - I glued here also to get ensure a strong bond).
You can also see the marks on the face of the switch that I made on day2 of ownership, trying to encourage it back out of the fascia. I know now this was never going to work. I'd used a tape-covered screwdriver, but part of the tape was worn through. Dammit. The marks are far less obvious without such magnification though - barely noticable in fact.
Decided I'd pack something behind the switch to stop it ever moving again, but when I offered the rear plate back up it was clear the packing was also squeezing (and narrowing) the CD aperture, so that wasn't going to work. Packing removed, everything was reassebled and the fascia popped back in. Everything works (phew) and I can be a hazard again.
Thanks again to L2VXR for the initial info - wouldn't have got the fascia plate off without your guidance sir.
Took a couple of images for others future reference.
Removing the infotainment fascia plate does - as already stated - require brave pill only. You can see from the image below that it's just held on by 4 large-ish friction clips.
No access to the rear of the hazard switch without removing the rear plate, so despite my "attack of a million springs" fears above, I decided to risk it.
19 screws on the rear. 19!
They are a non-tamper security type screw that isn't a flat, or a phillips, or a torx. Luckily there is a shallow straight cut on them that you can get a small flat bladed screw driver onto. Which would be fine if there wasn't 19 of the bu66ars.... 19!Everything is sandwiched by the rear plate, so once it is off you need to be careful not to let any of the facsia stero/heater buttons unseat or become dislodged. It was kept strictly "face down" throughout to ensure this.
As soon as I got the plate off I could see the pillars that the hazard switch is screwed onto had snapped cleanly at their bases, and once I felt the action of the switch it was clear they were already partly sheared when I got the car. Superglue was my friend - you can see there is plenty of surface area around the pillars that sits against the rear of the fascia - I glued here also to get ensure a strong bond).
You can also see the marks on the face of the switch that I made on day2 of ownership, trying to encourage it back out of the fascia. I know now this was never going to work. I'd used a tape-covered screwdriver, but part of the tape was worn through. Dammit. The marks are far less obvious without such magnification though - barely noticable in fact.
Decided I'd pack something behind the switch to stop it ever moving again, but when I offered the rear plate back up it was clear the packing was also squeezing (and narrowing) the CD aperture, so that wasn't going to work. Packing removed, everything was reassebled and the fascia popped back in. Everything works (phew) and I can be a hazard again.
Thanks again to L2VXR for the initial info - wouldn't have got the fascia plate off without your guidance sir.
Edited by mik_ok on Sunday 19th February 21:18
HSV Keith said:
I finally got round to sorting my switch out with the help of those pictures.
As others have suggested you do need a bit of brute force to remove the front of the stereo but thankfully my face stopped it from shooting in to the back of the car.
LOL, your all pussies, a quick tug and it pops off easy! As others have suggested you do need a bit of brute force to remove the front of the stereo but thankfully my face stopped it from shooting in to the back of the car.
S800VXR said:
HSV Keith said:
I finally got round to sorting my switch out with the help of those pictures.
As others have suggested you do need a bit of brute force to remove the front of the stereo but thankfully my face stopped it from shooting in to the back of the car.
LOL, your all pussies, a quick tug and it pops off easy! As others have suggested you do need a bit of brute force to remove the front of the stereo but thankfully my face stopped it from shooting in to the back of the car.
I found all the little pieces scattered around the gear stick & front seats.
The damaged clips look like they slide on & can be removed so I'm hoping i can buy new ones
Edited by HSV Keith on Wednesday 31st December 20:44
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