Stereo Removal Help

[hugepiece]

I'm having an issue removing the sony stereo from my 94 chim. The unit seems to be completely stuck. I've tried all the normal ways (knife down the side etc) but it won't budge, doesn't seems to be locked by keys in the cage. Does anyone know of a way of getting the stereo and panel out from behind, the "bible" only shows how do do it if the stereo is already out. Would appreciate any ideas...... Unfortunately the vaneer has also got damaged in the process so a nice Leven dash will be on the cards now.......

[jason1788]

I'd go to an ICE shop for help, my local one is great like that. I have extractors for JVC and Pioneer, they are both bespoke unlike the universal U-shaped wire extractors of years ago. Usually you have to pop the bezel off to expose the slots.

[victormeldrew]

The metal ISO frame holding the head unit is only located by bent soft metal tabs in the first place. Best bet is to push the whole lot in a little further, then remove the four screws holding the veneered faceplate in place. With that out of the way you should be able to poke the tabs back and pull the head unit out along with the ISO frame.

You have tried using the Pukka head unit removal tools? These cheap bits of bent tin, readily available from Halfords and the like, should do the job anyways. You knife probably isn't getting as far in as is necessary.

[parrot of doom]

Have you removed the plastic trim from around the fascia to begin with?

[hugepiece]

ive got all sorts of removal tools but none of them seem to be hitting any catches. BTW the knife has a 6" blade so should go past any catches that are there.

I can't obviously get to the screws to remove the lower piece of dash (radio section) hence finding out of there is another way. I assume there must be one.

If I take the face plate off there are 6/7 screws holding on a plastic panel on the front of the stereo, next drastic action is to remove it and see what I can see. Not bothered about wrecking the stereo as I have another one to replace it with anyway, just don'y want to damage the dash any further.

thanks for suggestions thus far.

If I take the da

[Podie]

Get yourself a chav scrote for ten minutes (try outside Maccy D's)... reckon you could blink and the stereo would be gone...

[victormeldrew]

hughpiece said:

BTW the knife has a 6" blade so should go past any catches that are there.

Only if its very narrow; the proper tool goes through a narrow slot (or on early Sony is a cylindrical shape - a coathanger might work).

Podies's right, a chav would have the unit out before you could say "m8"!.

Have a look here: www.avforums.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-63322.html

>> Edited by victormeldrew on Tuesday 7th June 11:49

[victormeldrew]

For what its worth, I've had the head unit out and the dash panel off mine a few times. They are not very securely held in at all!

It doesn't take much to damage the two thing uprights of glassfibre that the whle lot is screwed to (by the four small crossheads). The holes in these uprights get sloppy and the uprights collapse. I know you probably don't want to hear this at this point, but I'm trying to help, honest! Having completely trashed these mounts its not that hard to fix.

I made a couple of small alloy plates which I bonded to the stubs of the original uprights using a fibreglass repair kit (Halfords). These are much more sturdy. Some neat holes drilled in once I got the panel in place and a set of four chunkier self tappers and its better than new.