Please help - need to remove stock stereo on '04

[Vad3K]

could anybody please direct me to a DIY on how to remove the stock cd player on 2004 solara? i looked here on the forums for half hour or so and couldn't find any. i only figured out how to remove the black part abova it with the clock and air ducts. thanks in advance

[tacti]

here is how to remove the stereo.

1. open the arm rest console. pull the emergency brake.

2. pull the center part by putting your finger in emergency brake hole (?). you should remove the rear (close to the arm rest first).

3. continue to the front side, and remove the whole center part.

4. pull the under stereo console box toward you and remove it.

5. use a flat head driver cover the tip with electric tape and pry the top display (the black plastic part with clock, temp, multi function display, air conditioning opeining) out.
put the tip of the flat head into the side of the cover, and pry toward you. it should be able to come out pretty easy

6. now you should be able to see 4 bolts that holds the head unit. 2 on top and 2 on the bottom.

i'll post some pictures soon.

[Vad3K]

ah, i thought of doing that but didn't have enough time before it would have become dark. thanks a lot! and, yeah, if you could put up some photos, would be nice.

[tacti]

here is the link to the pictures.
I just made it real quick, so let me know if there's anything which is not clear.

http://web.mac.com/tacti/iWeb/Site/Audio.html

tact

[tacti]

btw, i think it might be in wrong forum.. but don't know what would be the correct one tho..

[Down2TheC]

How about "Gen 2 Audio/Video/Navigation"

[DaOnoKine]

Careful in step 5. I had a hard time removng this piece, and when I did it made ginormous "SNAP" sound. I thought I broke the clips but alas, no harm done.

[Vad3K]

okay! the new player is in!

the thing was very easy to replace, easier than other cars i've dealth with (honda accord, acura cl, nissan maxima)

thanks again!!

[linmk2]

I have a question regarding the removal of the pod where where clock, temp, ect are located. Just where is the screw driver placed to remove it? I don't want to damage anything or dent the dash padding. I might want to installed a BEC105 camera in the future and as I understand it the only way to access the rear of the radio is by removing the pod.

[tacti]

there are no screws behind the Pod (temp/clock/etc).
you can just pull straight out.
there are three clips and the middle one tend to stay on the dash, instead of coming out with pod.
make sure you put the clip back onto the pod before you place it back to dash.

good luck

tact

[Down2TheC]

I have a question regarding the removal of the pod where where clock, temp, ect are located. Just where is the screw driver placed to remove it? I don't want to damage anything or dent the dash padding. I might want to installed a BEC105 camera in the future and as I understand it the only way to access the rear of the radio is by removing the pod.

If you can work blind (get the pic of the back of the unit) you can reach back there fine without pulling it all out.