Thread: quick (dumb) question

how do i remove my stock radio? its a 97. I'm worried I might crack the trim that goes around the radio, a/c, heat contols etc.

Don't worry about cracking the trim. It is pretty durable. I have replaced my radio 3 times and i haven't cracked the trim yet. I was afraid the trim would crack the first time i went to pull out the radio but it pulled off fine. I have a 2000 GT but i believe the 97 is designed the same way. I would check into that first.

Here is how i removed my radio.

There is a panel underneath the steering column that needs to be loosened first before removing the dash trim. There is one screw on the left near the parking brake and the other is on the right side kind of above the pedals. After unscrewing the panel, pull up on the panel slightly to loosen it a bit. Don't remove it, just loosen it. After you do that, you can pull on the trim piece and it will pop out. Just go slowly around the trim piece and you will be fine. My car has the fog light switch in the upper left of the dash so as you are pulling out the trim piece you will have to disconnect the fog switch before you fully remove the trim panel. After that, like BwolfGT said, just unscrew the radio, pull it out and unhook the connection. The only thing i really had a problem with was that underneath the trim panel there is a rubber strip that goes over the steering column. Mine fell off but it looked like someone had removed the panel before so maybe it didn't go back on correctly. I was able to reattach it without a problem.

Hope this helps.

thanks guys! The replies were very helpful, I'm going to work on getting it off tonight. Thanks again!