Catch 22 - dash removal without removing radio ?

[Nashy]

Is this possible?

My radio has stopped working, but it's a Kenwood mask unit where the front of the unit turns itself round to present a blank facia. According to the handbook this also locks the unit into the mounting bracket. My problem is the radio is dead and is stuck in this locked position. From what I've read elsewhere you can't remove the lower dash section without first taking the radio out. Seems like catch 22 ...

Anyone got any ideas please?

[puffsorted2]

Yeap the Mask ribbon cable will be broken - easy fix, pick up the ribbon from ebay for a fiver or so.

From memory u can remove the plastic bezel from around the edge of the unit, it unclips, and then use radio keys to pull the unit out

And yes you are right the lower dash is screwed in with 2 screws behind the radio

Edited by puffsorted2 on Tuesday 16th October 15:18

[Nashy]

Thanks for the reply. I tried removing the unit with the removal tools with no success - even with foot against the dash board type efforts (not really!) it won't budge.
In desperation I turned to the manual which claims the unit locks itself to the metal sleeve which in turn is keyed to the dash???

[silverback mike]

I had the same thing, just a thought, but do you have the small blue fob that came with it.

I put a new battery in the fob, pressed it down for 3 seconds, boing, stereo front revolved nicely

[Nashy]

I do, and that's a good suggestion thanks. Although any time I've disconnected the battery, when you next turn on the radio via the slide switch the front rotates but won't play anything until you've zapped it with the blue fob. Seems to be a different fault but I'll try anything.

The reason I think there's a fault is because it stopped working after a track day, when all the transmission got rather hot. That made me think either the unit has a fuse somewhere that might have failed due to the heat, or there's something else affected by the heat.

I know you're all thinking 'it's a V8 why do you want a radio?' but actually I want to replace the dash surround as its breaking up honest!

[silverback mike]

I remember I had to hold it down for quite some time though....got to be worth a go

[Bunglist]

I used to have one of these kenwwod mask head units, and i succesfully removed it from one car to another.

There is a certain way to do it, otherwise you lock it up completely and it will not work again. They did this to stop little oikkkks stealing the head units out of cars, and saving the owner having to carry a face for the headunit around whilst not in the car.

Anyway enough of that..........

I cant quite remember exactly but i thick you have to have the face open and then use the keys that came with it, that slot down the sides of the head unit and there is a little part on the keys which fits into a clip which lifts up, only then will the headunit slide out.

But make sure you check the manual for the correct procedure otherwise you could FK you head unit.

[Cider Andy]

I had a similar problem with one of these in another car a while back. I think I had to press and hold in the lower left corner of the face for a few seconds with the ignition on, after which it opened up.

[Nashy]

I'm fairly confident the unit is dead, it worked in the morning and not in the afternoon. The only thing that happened in between was a very enjoyable track day at Castle Combe. So I'm confident it's not 'user error' as these things usually tend to be. I've had the battery disconnected for a while too as I thought maybe something might just reset itself.

So back to the original question, assuming I can't get the unit to work again, and it is locked in place, does anyone have any suggestions how I might remove the lower section of the dash? As I'm taking it out to replace it I'm not too worried if it gets damaged but obviously don't want to break the mounting points.