How To Remove a Car Stereo

Many people have found that it's easy and relatively inexpensive to upgrade sound components in their cars. Head units, or stereos, are the most common component to be replaced. It's a job that should take a full afternoon for a do-it-yourselfer. One of the first things you'll have to do when you want to replace your head unit, is to remove it from your car.  How you remove it depends largely on the type of stereo and the type of car that you have.

There are really two main methods for removing a car stereo:

1. Spring Mounted Clips
   Inside stereos held in place with this method are 4 small clips that prevent the stereo from sliding out of the dash. You will need to buy a pair of DIN tools in order to remove the radio. These are simple tools that are U-shaped. At the top of the "U" are small poles that engage the clips in the stereo. Once inserted properly, you should hear a "click," and the radio should simply slide out of the dash.

2. Bolt-on
   Stereos that are bolted to the dash can be a little more difficult to get out, but it doesn't require any special tools. A slight variation to this method is to have brackets mounted to the stereo that are bolted to the car. You will undoubtedly have to remove a few trim pieces in order to access the screws or bolts that hold the stereo in place. Removing the trim can be tricky, but it get's much easier with practice. Here's how in generally works:
• There should be a trim piece, maybe two, that surround the face of your stereo. Find the screws that hold this in place. They are usually well hidden from normal view. You may have to access them through the ash try, cigarette lighter assembly, or glove box. Remove them.

• Trim almost always has hidden clips as well, and you'll need to pull firmly, yet carefully to remove the trim from the clips. Be careful not to lose any clips, or you may notice a few new rattles when you drive down the road. You can buy trim removal tools to help you remove those clips without damaging the trim plastic. Another alternative is to use a large flat-head screwdriver, but you run a large risk of scratching or cracking the trim when you use a screwdriver to pry the trim away.
• Once you have the trim pieces removed from the front of the stereo, remove the screws or bolts holding it in place. The unit should slide out of the dash.
• Now that you have the stereo removed from the dash, you need to disconnect the electrical connectors in the back of the stereo. Unscrew the antenna cable first. It's usually the furthest connection towards the passenger side.
• Next remove the power connection. It's usually the connector closest to the driver's side.
• Finally, remove the wiring harness connector from the back of the stereo.  The wiring harness is the plastic connector that incorporates all of the wiring for the speaker system into a single connection.
• Now that you have removed the electrical connections from the back of the stereo, it should come completely free.