It is difficult to imagine a modern car without an audio-video playback device. Without car audio, perhaps, lovers of silence or those whose car radio is faulty go.
Every year, manufacturers improve car radios, adding new features, improving sound quality, and design. Over time, the car owner wants to replace the outdated model of the car radio with a more modern one, but not everyone can do it with their own hands. In many cases, they cannot do the elementary, remove the car radio. And you don’t have to do it yourself, because there is such a rule “Do no harm”. All car radios have a mount hidden from the eyes that allows you not to disturb the design of the car. And in addition, I would like to say that different car manufacturers use their own developments for mounting car radios, from simple latches, for one din, to fastening with bolts or self-tapping screws, for two dins. Both of them have their own characteristics, which will be discussed in this article, which will give some idea of the attachment of radio tape recorders, keys for removal and homemade keys, if it is not possible to purchase factory-made keys.
The photo below shows factory-made keys for removing radio tape recorders. different manufacturers, which you can make yourself, will be shown and described below.
And so, let's start.
To get started, carefully inspect the radio for key holes, which can be round or flat, resembling slots, as in the photo below.
Usually, there are four round key holes and on some radio tape recorders for car opel the holes are closed with screwed-in screws preventing the insertion of keys. To unscrew the screws, you will need a hex screwdriver inserted into the inside of the screw.
Then, the keys are inserted into the released holes, as shown in the photo, slightly spread apart, releasing the latches, pull towards you, the radio tape recorder is removed from the landing basket (sled).
The rectangular holes of the radio have two (one din), such as VW BETTA, VW ALPHA and others, or four (two din), such as AUDI NAVIGATION +, FORD 6000 and others. For one din, see the photo below.
VW BETTA, VW ALPHA and others, with vertical holes
FORD 6000, AUDI NAVIGATION+ and others, with horizontal holes
To remove the car radio, insert both keys, left and right, to the stop. You will feel the latch click. This means that the key has moved the locking latch and fixed in the groove, which is visible on the key, the top photo with a set of keys. Now we pull the car radio towards ourselves.
For a two-din radio, you will need 4 keys, but you can get by with two. First, insert the keys in one direction, top and bottom. we pull out a little the side of the radio, take out the keys and do the same procedure with the other side.
Everything, the tape recorder is removed.
There is one din radio with no signs of key holes, photo below. These radios include BE6507 BMW BUSINESS from the manufacturer BECKER. To remove the radio, remove the volume knob and under it we will see a hole. Insert a hexagon into this hole and turn counterclockwise. We pull out the BC with the same hexagon, then we will see two screws, also for a hexagon, unscrew it and that's it, then everything is clear without explanation.
Other car radios from manufacturers such as JVC, SONY, PIONEER, which have a removable control panel, do not have locking latches on the car radio, but they are on the basket where the radio is inserted. To remove the radio, we remove the control panel and insert removable keys on the sides, between the basket itself and the radio. The key removes the locking latches from the grooves of the car radio, fixing the inserted keys in these grooves. Now it remains for us to pull the keys towards ourselves and the radio will be released. See photo below.
Locking latch holding car radio shown
Retracted lock latch with key shown
As promised at the beginning of the article, I give the sizes of the keys for home-made manufacturing, the files can be downloaded here:
Attention! You do not have permission to view hidden text.
These techniques are described for such models of car radios that have holes for access to the locking latches and which are still found among car owners. But for more modern cars they began to use radio tape recorders installed under the design of the car itself and two din ones, fixed inside on bolts or self-tapping screws, hidden by a decorative grille. Some grilles are held on by clips, and there are those fixed with bolts and you have to disassemble the floor of the cabin. Below are a few examples of removing such car radios.
And so, let's go...
In this example, consider the removal of the car radio in the car Korean production Kia.
In order to get to the radio, we need to do a lot of operations to access the mounting bolts. Raise the armrest and take out the glass.
Having taken out the glass, we will see the tensioners hand brake. We put our hand into the hole where the glass stood and press the cup holder up, there the socket is on the latches, it just snaps off.
When we remove the decorative panel, it is made of plastic and some have an imitation of precious wood, we will see and unscrew 2 screws to remove the beard.
We disconnect the connectors of the emergency gang and the clock.
We disconnect the climate and put the beard on its side.
That's all, we have access to the four bolts of the car radio. What to do next is up to you.
On this car HYUNDAI Removing the radio is very easy. The fastening bolts are covered with a decorative silver panel, which is fastened with four latches. Carefully pry the panel from below with a special key with a bent side by 90 *, slightly pulling it towards you. The edge of the panel should come off. Then do the same with the other side. Next, the upper clips are snapped off by hand and the panel is removed.
But not all HYUNDAI cars are so easy to remove. Parts of J3 Machines for Removal head unit it is necessary to disassemble the dashboard. This procedure is described below.
This is what it looks like at the start of the journey:
The first step is to unscrew the 2 screws that are in the visor above dashboard. Next, take out the ashtray and unscrew the 2 screws behind it:
Then we lower the steering wheel to the lowest position and begin to carefully pull the trim towards ourselves, from below, in the area of \u200b\u200bthe ashtray, gradually removing it. little problem may occur at the left air duct, you may need to slightly pry the casing with a flat screwdriver. It is not recommended to use a knife - the plastic is soft. As a result of the whole operation, the "slightly removed" skin looks like this:
OK it's all over Now. The time has come to study the fasteners of the radio and the box for small things. The figure shows 6 bolts that will need to be unscrewed later.
This can be the end. It remains only to warn the "home-made" that the procedure for removing the radio is not a very simple matter, and without experience with these devices, you can ruin not only the radio, but also the car's upholstery. After all, many parts are made of plastic and over time, and our cars are not new, plastic becomes brittle under the influence of sunlight. You can break it in "six seconds". Understand correctly, this article is not a guide to removing car radios, but only tells how to shoot on some cars, for self-education. For those who want to repeat everything that is described in the article, you do it at your own peril and risk, and the author of the article does not bear any responsibility for damaged parts.
Do not be stingy, contact the experts and sleep peacefully.
Many motorists face the problem of removing the radio in the car. Some cannot pull out the standard device installed at the factory, others inherited music along with the car, and others simply lost their special keys. There are also enough reasons for dismantling - from repairing wiring to buying a new stereo system. Hence the demand for information arose, how and with what help you can carefully remove the car radio without damaging the plastic of the front panel. And although the operation is primitively simple and calmly performed by improvised means, it has pitfalls that you need to be aware of.
Varieties of radio mounts
To choose how to remove the car player, you need to understand how it is fixed inside the panel. There are the following types of fasteners:
- on 2 side clamps;
- on 4 latches located on the side and top of the case;
- fastened with self-tapping screws or screws to the brackets.
Note. The last method of fixation is typical for standard devices, which the car is equipped with by the manufacturer.
The principle of mounting on latches (latches) is that the body of the radio is enclosed in a metal mounting frame, and not directly integrated into the panel niche. This intermediate part, which has special petals with protrusions or grooves (depending on the brand and model of the device), is securely fixed in a niche. The body of the turntable is equipped with reciprocal latches that engage when the turntable is inserted into the socket.
Keys are used to unlock the latches and remove the car radio various forms supplied by the manufacturer complete with music for the car. They are lost over the years of operation of the car, since they are used extremely rarely. As a rule, the key is a figured strip of metal or a pen inserted into 2 pairs of holes located on the front panel of the device.
The fastenings of regular radio tape recorders are most often made on bolts screwed to the brackets and hidden under the front plastic panel. Here you can not do without a minimum set of tools for dismantling this panel and unscrewing the fixing screws or bolts.
Reference. All of the above wisdom with hidden latches and special keys were invented by manufacturers with one goal: to make it as difficult as possible to steal a car radio when thieves break into a car.
Removing the device according to the instructions
The algorithm for removing the radio in the presence of keys is simple to disgrace. It is worth considering in order to understand how to act in case of their loss. The order is as follows:
- Remove the player's front panel and decorative plastic frame by prying it out with a flathead screwdriver if necessary.
- Insert the first key into the slot between the housing and the mounting frame located at the end. You should feel a slight resistance when the tool bends the latch.
- Repeat the same action with the second key.
- Take the radio with your hands by the protruding parts on the sides of the case and carefully remove it from the niche.
Advice. You don't need to apply much effort, the device should be removed quite easily. At the end, be careful once again do not pull the wires and do not break the contact.
When the radio is equipped with four latches, they are accessed through 2 pairs of round holes. It is necessary to insert 2 U-shaped keys into them and pull them out by the body, as described above.
How to remove the player - video instruction
How to remove the radio without keys?
If the standard keys are lost, you need to make homemade ones, focusing on the shape of the slots. To see them, remove the removable panel of the device and the plastic frame. Here is a list of improvised means, with whose help the owners different cars manage to unlock the latches:
- thin steel strips 6-15 mm wide;
- stationery knives;
- plastic clamps for electrical wiring;
- carnations and even wire - for round holes;
- thin screwdrivers and other similar items suitable for the shape of the slots.
Reference. In many recorders mounting slots are visible from the outside, so there is no need to remove the front panel and plastic frame.
To pull out the car radio, use the same algorithm:
- Insert into the technological opening, first one, and then the second strip of thin metal(or a clerical knife, a thin screwdriver). Feel every latch unlocked.
- If the turntable is held on by 4 latches, insert four tools.
- Slowly remove the radio from the niche at the same time as the impromptu keys.
Advice. When you use steel strips to open the latches, be sure to wear cloth gloves so as not to cut your hands on sharp edges.
Video on removing the car radio without keys
Dismantling of the regular music center
Often, standard head units (they are also radio tape recorders) are removed in the manner described above, since they are attached to 2 or 4 latches. For example, a factory player on a Lada Priora car is held on by two latches, and in order to unlock them, thin steel strips must be inserted between pairs of radio channel switching buttons “2” - “3” and “5” - “6”.
Advice. Before proceeding with disassembling the factory radio, find out about the method of its attachment, so as not to poke the pieces of iron at random if you do not find technological openings.
To remove car radios screwed on, you need to prepare a simple set of tools:
- thin flat screwdriver or knife;
- a Phillips screwdriver;
- a set of heads of small sizes (from 6 to 10 mm).
On various brands auto regular players can be mounted in different ways, but the principle is approximately the same: the device is bolted to brackets that are closed from the outside with a plastic lining. As an example, it is proposed to consider the removal of the radio on Korean car Hyundai Solaris executed in the following order:
- Pry with a flathead screwdriver or knife bottom corner plastic decorative panel framing the music center. Pull back the edge and grab it with your hand.
- Gently pull it towards you and release the first latch, and then move in a circle and unlock the rest.
- Holding the panel with both hands, remove it and, if necessary, disconnect the connectors located at the bottom.
- Unscrew the 4 mounting screws with a Phillips screwdriver and pull out the radio.
Advice. When dismantling any player, do not rush to disconnect the battery from onboard network, because the device after 10-15 minutes. may be blocked and the next time you turn it on, you will need to enter a security code that you do not have.
Removing the standard device on Hyundai Solaris - photo
The edge of the panel is hooked with a knife and lifted 
The edge of the panel must be picked up by hand 
The decorative panel is removed by hand 
To remove the panel to the side, disconnect the connectors 
The player is held on by 4 screws that need to be unscrewed 
When the screws are unscrewed, the device can be easily removed
Decoding problems
The main pitfall of the described procedure lies in the security code embedded in the memory of most radio tape recorders. The bottom line is this: disconnecting the music center from external power for 10-15 minutes will lead to the fact that the next time you turn on the car radio, you will be asked to enter a security code (usually four digits), without which it will not function.
Advice. Removing the unit to replace it with a new one is not a problem, unless you plan to use the old player on another machine. In any case, try not to disable battery for a long time.
If the code card is lost or missing, the issue can be resolved in several ways:
- when it comes to a standard device, then for a fee they will help you find the code in dealer center selling cars of your brand;
- there are firms and individuals dealing with these problems;
- free way - search for code through various programs.
Regardless of the method chosen, you will have to remove the radio from the socket to find out serial number. It is applied along with a barcode on a tag pasted on the side or top of the case. After pulling out the device, rewrite these numbers, and then try to calculate the pin code from them using various online calculators on the Internet. If it was not possible to determine the desired cipher using this method, then remove the music center and carry it to specialists in this field and get ready to pay for their services.
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An important point. If you do not know the pin code of the radio, then when searching on your own, do not enter combinations of numbers more than 3 times! Otherwise, the device will be blocked, and in this state, its decoding will cost much more.
The issue of removing the car radio from the socket is not very difficult and will not take much time. But the consequences can be unexpected for an unprepared motorist. Hence the last tip: find the lost pin code before turning off and removing the player in order to save your time and nerves.
On many automotive forums, you can often read questions from motorists about how to remove regular car radio. In this article, we will talk about some tricks and subtleties for correct and quick removal. Of course, it should be clarified that it is possible to remove the radio built-in at the factory, taking into account the brand of the car and the vehicle equipment necessary keys and screwdrivers.
Absolutely all built-in car radios are protected by fasteners hidden from the eyes. Also, each car manufacturer, of course, uses its own developments, which differ in the process itself: from snap-on mechanisms for fastening to those screwed in with special screwdrivers.
Removal tools
- keys, different types, which are usually equipped with a head unit at the factory;
- screwdrivers, with tips in the form of stars or hexagons;
- stationery knife;
- plastic card - to make withdrawals on some models, at home;
- tweezers in order to remove the lining in some cases.
To remove the radio with your own hands, you need to know some little tricks that will tell the photo below.
The design of the radio in different cars has a different configuration. There are usually 4 round holes, two rectangular ones. They also differ in their approach to the removal of regular radio tape recorders. Of course, if there are keys that are included with the radio together with the car, the process will be simple and will take only 5-10 minutes.
Instruction
First you need to dismantle the cover of the radio, in the form plastic panel. This should be done carefully so as not to scratch the skin and so that the radio itself is not damaged. Next, sequentially unscrew the bolts that secure the head unit with a screwdriver. Pull out the radio and carefully disconnect the connectors. To do this, pull up the blue locks and press on the released petal, disconnecting and removing the connector from the radio. The antenna is simply removed from the socket.
The simplicity of these operations does not exclude the utmost care and slowness in their implementation. Removing the head unit is quite easy.
Important Points
- The holes are sometimes secured with screws that must be removed with a hex screwdriver. Slightly spread the grooves to the sides. The device is pulled towards itself.
- Rectangular holes have a different mechanism by which the radio is removed. Two keys are inserted from different sides, until they stop. As soon as a click is heard, which means the locking latch has been pushed back and the key has been fixed, you can pull the radio towards you.
- Sometimes, the head unit requires 4 keys in stock, but with patience and accuracy, it is possible to do everything with the help of two. Having first installed both keys on the left, we slightly pull out one side, then we do the same for the other side. The car radio has been removed.
- If the keyhole is not visually observed, then you just need to remove the volume control, seeing the hole for dismantling the radio, turn the hex screwdriver counterclockwise and remove the panel. Further, it is also easy to see two screws, and unscrew them with the same screwdriver.
If you want to see in more detail how to remove the radio, the video shows the process step by step.
In more modern stamps car radios are decorated to match the design of the salon itself, and the mounts are hidden behind the grille, which performs a decorative function. Then the removal takes longer and requires additional operations.
The process of removing the radio
The removal of the head unit is carried out as follows:
- Raise the armrest by removing the glass.
- Having observed the handbrake tensioners, it is necessary to push the cup holder up. The panel can be easily removed.
- After removing the panel, we will see two screws. They need to be unscrewed and removed.
- The screws that fixed the beard should be set aside and removed as carefully as possible. The beard is also fastened with latches.
- Disconnect the clock connector.
- Having disconnected the climate control, we put off the beard.
- After that, access to the bolts of the radio opens, and removing it with your own hands remains a matter of simple technique and skill.
Results
Using this instruction, you will change the car radio in your favorite car without any problems, nerves, lost money and time, and you will enjoy the trip to your favorite tunes.
New cars go on sale with built-in radios, but for most drivers, the proposed functionality is not enough. This makes them think about replacing the standard device with a more advanced audio system. About replacing the old player with new time From time to time, owners of used cars also think. Before installing new radio, you need to dismantle the old device. This can be done independently, taking into account some nuances.
Mounting options for radio
Head units that come with a new car are most often attached to the panel with screws or self-tapping screws. Non-native radio tape recorders are attached by means of latches or side clamps.
"Native" or standard radios are bolted to brackets hidden under the front panel of the car. To dismantle such a structure, you need to remove the frame and unscrew the fasteners.
Non-native radio tape recorders are attached to the mine with the help of clamps and latches. Initially, a mounting frame with grooves is inserted into the shaft, into which the device is then installed.
On the body of the player, latches are provided that firmly fix the device in the socket.
To unlock the latches, the keys that are supplied with the radio are used. Most often, the keys are in the form of a metal strip or recess inserted into paired holes on front side radios.
With hidden fasteners and special keys manufacturers deliberately make it difficult to remove the radio when the car is broken into.
Removing the head unit
Before proceeding with the dismantling of the head unit, it is necessary to prepare the following items:
- a set of keys for the audio system;
- radio operating instructions;
- cotton gloves;
- building hair dryer.
To begin with, they remove the negative terminal from the battery and study the operating instructions for the radio, which describes step by step how to remove the device without any problems. After that, the front panel of the audio system is sequentially removed, the radio tape recorder is removed and disconnected from the wires.
To access the audio system, you need to remove its front panel. To do this, just take one of the pre-prepared keys and gently pry off the panel on one side. Fasteners disengage and the lining can be easily removed from the radio.
Some difficulties may arise for owners of used cars. If previous owner already removed the radio, and the broken fasteners were “seated” with glue, then for re-extraction front panel you will need a hair dryer. Facing, well warmed up with a hair dryer, can easily be separated from the glue. After removing the audio system, you will have to carefully clean the areas that got glue.
After dismantling the front panel, proceed directly to the extraction of the radio. To do this, unscrew all the screws holding the frame, as well as the screws of the adapter (if we are talking about a 1-din device).
Then the key is inserted into the hole and, pressing on it, they try to move the radio to the exit from the socket. If the operation is performed correctly, then the radio tape recorder smoothly leaves its seat.
In some foreign cars, you can get close to the radio mount only after dismantling the glove box. After the glove compartment is removed, the car owner will have convenient access to the rear panel of the shaft in which the player is located. Through this shaft, you can push the device out of the socket without much effort.
At the final stage, carefully disconnect all the wires with which the device was connected. The wires disconnected from the radio are hooked in such a way that they do not fall back into the shaft, from which it will be very problematic to remove them.
How to remove without keys
If the keys to extract the radio are lost, it is necessary to make their substitutes from improvised materials. The following devices can replace the keys:
- thin metal strips 6-15 mm wide;
- stationery knives;
- plastic clamps for electrical wiring;
- nails and even wire;
- thin screwdrivers;
- knitting needles;
- rods for a ballpoint pen;
- mounting tape.
Consider the features of extracting the radio with the help of some of the listed devices.
Instead of keys, you can use strips of thin metal, stationery knives, or elements of disassembled frame wipers. It will take as many metal blanks as technological holes provided on the radio (usually 2 or 4).
Stationery knives or metal plates are sequentially inserted into the grooves and the radio is pulled towards itself. After that, both knives are reduced to the center of the radio and simultaneously pull the device out of the shaft. If the knife slipped out of the puzzle, the procedure is repeated again.
Not original keys
Instead of native keys, you can use the keys right size from other car radios. To do this, non-native keys are inserted into the grooves until they stop, then they are bred into different sides and at the same time remove the radio from the mine. Nothing should prevent her from freely leaving the nest.
Rods or thin screwdrivers
Knitting needles, thin screwdrivers or ballpoint pen refills are inserted into the holes in the corners of the radio. The first rod is installed in the upper right corner, the second - in the lower left, the rest in random order. Screwdrivers are not inserted into the gap between the radio and the shaft, but into special holes on which the latches are installed. Screwdrivers deactivate the latches and the radio comes out of the socket.
mounting tape
To use this method, you need to cut two strips of 0.8x10 cm in size and no more than 1 mm thick from the mounting tape. The tapes are inserted into flat holes until they stop and are carefully bred in different directions.
At this point, the fastening clamps are released and the radio comes out of the socket. The radio tape recorder must be held with your hands so that the spring mechanism does not pull it back into the shaft.
Decoding problems
In the memory of most radio tape recorders, a security code is stored, which will have to be entered when connecting a previously removed device. As a rule, this code consists of four characters. Without it, the radio will not function.
If the card with the code is missing or lost, you need to rewrite the serial number printed on the side or bottom of the radio and try to decipher the pin code using online calculators.
If the code could not be decrypted, you will have to contact service center, selling similar cars, or one of the reputable services, whose employees, for a small fee, will select the code for your radio.
It is important to know that the radio will accept incorrect combinations of pin codes no more than three times. After that, it will be blocked, and only specialists of the service center will be able to unlock it.
Thus, removing the radio from the nest does not require any special skills. Everything is quite simple and banal. But the consequences of such an extraction can be very unpredictable for an unprepared car owner. Therefore, before proceeding with the installation of the removed device, you need to rewrite its pin code in advance in order to avoid additional time and money spent on unlocking it.
In order to remove the regular car radio from the car, no special skills are required. All that is required is a set of special keys supplied with the device. But what if there are no keys? Is it possible in this case to remove the radio from the niche without breaking it? This will be discussed in today's article.
Removing the radio with standard keys
Before proceeding to the process, we list what is needed for this.
Required Tools
- Standard set of keys supplied with the radio (keys can be either 2 or 4, depending on the model of the device).
- Knife (if you have to pry the frame).
The sequence of extracting the car radio from the niche
- The front panel of the car radio is removed, if necessary, the decorative frame under the panel is also removed (on older radios, this frame usually blocks the key slots, on more modern devices this problem does not exist).
- Provides access to keyholes. They are located at the side walls of the radio.
- Regular keys are inserted into the holes until they click. Sometimes this will require considerable force, or slightly shake the key to the left and right, while pressing it into the hole.
- After the keys are installed, the device is carefully pulled out of the niche.
Video: removing the car radio with regular keys
Removing the radio without keys
Sometimes it happens that there are no keys for some reason. They can be lost, and in especially severe cases, they are simply not included in the package. In such a situation, you will have to use improvised materials.
Required Tools
- 2 pieces of steel strip (length 30 cm, width 1 cm, thickness 0.5 cm).
- Protective gloves.
The sequence of removing the car radio without keys
Video: removing the radio with two steel strips
Important Points
- When removing the device from a niche, in no case should you make great efforts, since you can damage the wires behind the radio.
- If steel strips are used to remove the device, then they must be used only with protective gloves, otherwise it will not be possible to avoid cuts.
- Steel strips are far from the only handy tool that can be used to remove the radio. Very often, motorists use old ATM cards or thin plastic rulers, from which “keys” are cut using ordinary scissors. And sometimes even barbecue skewers are used to remove the radio.
So, you can remove the radio from the niche without keys. This can be done with the help of improvised materials, fortunately, there is no shortage of them. If we are talking about modern radios, then preference should be given to "keys" made of plastic, since the cases of these devices in most cases are also plastic, and metal tools can leave deep scratches on them.
