Radio Removal (2002 SE)

[Tom Anderson]

Hi can anybody offer any advice on removing the standard radio cassette? There is also a Honda CD player at the top of the centre consol above the ash tray.

I have removed the dash etc and have released the 4 screws that hold the air-con/radio ***embly. I was hoping that it would pull forward enough to disconnect the electrical connectors at the rear, and what I hope is to undo the 4 side screws and remove it.
I can see the electrical connector at the back of the unit but there is no slack on it to lift the radio out.

Has anybody got any clues or pics of what needs to be removed next?

 

[Shiny]

Grab the gearstick gaiter to the rear near the handbrake (actually grab the plastic bit sticking up which you can feel under the leather gaiter, don't pull the leather gaiter itself in case you pull it out or pull the stitching). Give it a sharp pull up and the carbon surround will pop out by the handbrake.

Work the carbon surround all the way round until it comes out, there are two clips at the top which may need a little bit of force so be careful not to snap the carbon surround. Twist the gaiter/carbon surround on the gearstick so you can move it out the way.

Once that is off, you can see 4 screws that need to be taken out. Hopefully you will then be able to take out the clock/ashtray unit and cd on yours. This leaves a nice big hole in the centre console under your stereo head unit.

Then get your hand up through the hole to check there are no bolts holding in the head unit above it, which there wasn't on mine. I couldn't see anywhere that a stereo removal key would fit the head unit, so with my hand behind the stereo, it just pushed and wiggled it until it came out (with lots of swearing about stupid Hondas etc.)

Once free, I then took out the head unit cage, put in the cage for my stereo, connected up my stereo (needed a new ISO block converter) and put it all back together. The carbon surround then clicks back in.

Hope that helps.

 

[Tom Anderson]

Shiny,

Thanks for you help Dude.

That was the key to it, removing the gearstick trim, as you said you can take all if the stuff out and pretty free access to it all.

I think my main problem was the retard that fitted the Honda cd unit. They cable tied all of the cables together at the rear and it was all a solid mass with no movement.

Anyway thanks once again.

 

[Shiny]

No worries, glad you sorted it.

I changed my JVC to a Pioneer unit on Boxing Day and changing the HU just took a few moments. It was fitting a microphone and handbrake sensor that was a pita.