How to remove a Pioneer radio from a car

What kinds of mounts are there for radio tape recorders?

Different manufacturers use different types of fasteners:

Using fixing elements on the side of the device;
Using elastic latches;
Using bolts or screws.

With clamps, a frame is used that is inserted into the “shaft”. The side walls of the car radio have special recesses, and there are tongues on the frame.

To dismantle the head unit you need keys. With them you can easily straighten the tabs or bend them. But this type of fastening has a drawback - the frame can become deformed.

The second type of fastening is more reliable - it involves the use of elastic latches. They can be seen on the side and top walls. These latches fit into special seats in the frame, the simplest and most reliable way to mount the radio.

In some car models, in order to ensure reliable fastening of the multimedia system and to eliminate the risk of failure due to vibrations, installation is carried out to the dashboard, or rather to the power elements. The dashboard is held on the pipe using metal corners. Such fasteners are used in premium cars Mazda and Toyota.

The option of installing a radio in this way is considered additional, but car audio installers often remove the corners, and installation is carried out without fixing elements. This option is not reliable.

Single- or double-din radios are mounted in the dashboard tunnel without any additional fixation. It is customary to mount the device on the center console.

The media system is latched with ordinary plastic latches. This is a screwless fitting - you can see this even on the Lacetti.

With this installation, the radio simply hangs and is not able to withstand even minor shock loads. There are holes on the sides of the device, but most motorists do not know what they are for.

It turns out that these holes are made for reliable installation of the device to the dashboard using corners.

This is a factory fastener that complements the standard fastener.

How to remove the center console in a luxury package

Let's say it was decided to dismantle the panels located on the center console. You can see that there are two of them. One is the front panel of the air conditioner, the second protects the radio and contains air duct grilles in its design. These two parts are not connected to each other. However, it will not be possible to remove the radio panel unless you first remove the climate control panel. Below it are metric screws (A, B) that secure the media center shield from below.

Central console of Kalina-2, Luxury package

The question arises, why are we even talking about how to dismantle the center console, since after this the car can be removed from warranty? Usually the shield is removed to install additional equipment (for example, a rear view camera). But connecting any equipment, the use of which has not been agreed upon with the dealer, will void the vehicle warranty. If you haven't changed your mind yet, continue reading.

The climate control shield is held in place by 4 clips, which are located on the bottom and top sides of the part closer to the corners. Having disconnected even two clips (1, 2 or 3, 4), you can try to pull the panel towards you to dismantle it. But if you have no experience working with such a mount, it is better not to try - you may scratch the outer surface of the shield. In fact, all you need to do is use a flathead screwdriver (some people use a thin-bladed knife and a screwdriver).

To dismantle the climate control panel, you do not need to first remove the control knobs located on it, if we are talking about the “Lux” package. The same applies to the “Norma with climate control” package. In all other versions, a stove control unit is used, the design of which does not allow removing the shield without first dismantling the handles. Be careful.

If the climate control panel is removed, all that remains is to unscrew two bolts and just as carefully remove the media center panel. Additionally, this part is secured with nine clips:

Two clips are located at the level of the border of the air duct grille;
Three clips on each side board are located at equal distances;
Three more clips can be found on the top side (the windows they fit into are circled in the photo).

Based on the information listed above, you can try to dismantle it yourself, but it is still better to entrust this work to a specialist. It is advisable not to use a hammer, chisel, or grinder when performing any actions, as shown in this video. However, here we are talking about the “Norma” configuration, which we will talk about further.

Removing the device using standard keys according to the instructions

So, there is a radio and standard keys. But that's not all, you will need an additional tool in the process.

Required Tools

To work you will need:

Keys for dismantling. Depending on the specific model and key manufacturer, there may be 2 or 4;
Knife.

Sequence of removing the car radio from the niche

First of all, remove the front panel, and if necessary, then the decorative parts. On older models, this frame covers the key connectors. This is no longer the case with the new ones.

Then the holes for the keys become visible and easy access to them is provided. The holes can be seen on the side walls of the head unit.

Then the keys are inserted into special grooves - they need to be inserted until they click. In some cases, it may be necessary to force or rock the fixture from side to side. If a click occurs. You can safely pull the radio out of the mine.

If the head unit cannot be removed, it can be screwed to the panel with an additional pin. In this case, it is necessary to remove the dashboard to access the device from the back side.

Video

The video shows in detail the entire process of dismantling the car radio using standard keys.

How to remove the center console (panel trim)

The photo shows the general diagram of the fastenings of the central panel trim of the new Kalina. in red are clips that simply snap off under force. Blue - fastening screws that should be removed with a screwdriver.

Remove the control unit for the heater and air conditioner by unsnapping the 4 clips around the perimeter;
Remove 2 screws securing the top cover;
Remove the top panel trim by snapping 3 clips on each side;
We remove the overlay from the upper engagement with the panel.

The process of removing the plastic dashboard trim is also shown in the video:

How to remove a radio without keys

A popular option for dismantling standard radios is keys to other devices. You can also remove using plates, rods, mounting tape.

What tools will you need?

To work, you will need two pieces of steel strip 30 cm long and 1 cm wide. You should also use protective gloves. You may need a knife.

Removal process

In case of using steel plates, the steps will be as follows:

First of all, insert the first plate into the key slot on the radio;
Next, insert the second plate;
Two plates are brought towards the center of the device and pull the car radio towards you.

It often happens that an inexperienced car owner cannot pick up the latches the first time. If it doesn’t work, then the procedure should be repeated.

Another popular method is removal with incomplete keys from other devices.

This is done as follows:

They take keys from other devices;
Push it into the hole until it stops;
Move the keys in different directions;
Calmly take out the device.

If you couldn’t find the plates or keys, you can use fountain pen refills—you need four refills.

This method is well suited for foreign cars:

Look for four ballpoint pen refills;
They are inserted around the perimeter of the head unit;
After this manipulation, the radio can be pulled out.

The rods are installed one by one, but the most important thing is that the rods need to be inserted not into the gaps between the dashboard and the device, but into special holes.

It is in these holes that there are latches that will work when you insert any object into them.

You can try the original technology. This method is more applicable for radios with navigators:

Two strips are cut from the mounting tape - width 8 mm, length 10 mm. Tape thickness – no more than 1 mm;
The strips are inserted into the holes until they stop;
Carefully move apart and release the fastening clips;
They take out the radio from their mine, but they can’t let it go.

Important points

Any actions, especially with the use of steel strips and other non-standard tools, should be carried out as carefully as possible.

If the radio is encoded, then there is no need to disconnect the battery terminals before work. When removing a device, it is important not only to get it out, but also not to damage the connectors.

Video

In the video, the author shows popular methods for removing radio tape recorders without special tools. You can see in detail how this is done.

Why do you need to change your radio?

Having looked at how you can get a factory radio, you can tell us why this is done, why it is needed and what can be done with it.

To begin with, the factory car radio is not the highest quality car radio available on the market, and very often it has more disadvantages than advantages. For this purpose, the standard car radio is replaced.

It is unlikely that any manufacturing plant will bother itself and complicate the lives of its workers in order to install less powerful and high-quality head units on budget and middle-class cars.

On the other hand, removing the factory device and installing a new one always remains a big dilemma. Since the market is filled with all sorts of offers for car radios, it is difficult to choose what you really want.

So, what kind of radio does he install instead of the one installed by the manufacturer? Experts offer many options, here are a couple of their tips:

It is no longer a secret that you can replace a regular radio with a device that is more reminiscent of a media center with a screen. But as a rule, such devices that are replaced at the dealer are also not of good quality. They are very weak in their functionality, but if you installed one, then in principle you can forget about replacing this device yourself, since installation requires additional frames and so on.

It is still recommended to replace the factory car radio with one from well-known brands. The most popular today are Sony, LG, Pioneer, as well as Alpine. But if your wallet does not allow you to buy expensive car radios, then you can find good quality Chinese ones. They are much cheaper than their original counterparts, but still such devices, like radio tape recorders from the dealer, are already outdated.

Of course, it happens that a high-quality Chinese product with excellent functionality hits the market, but this happens extremely rarely.

Decoding problems

Some manufacturers equip their head units with special protective mechanisms. They operate approximately 10 minutes after the voltage in the on-board network is lost. This is a protective measure designed to protect the radio from being used after theft.

The next time you turn it on, the device will ask the user for a code. If the kit includes a card with a code, then it can be easily entered; if there is no documentation, then decoding is possible using software for a computer or mobile devices. The serial number will be useful for this.

Manufacturers allow you to make a mistake when entering your PIN code only three times. If you enter it incorrectly three times, all functions will be blocked, and this blocking can only be removed in specialized centers. You should also contact these centers if you do not have a serial number.

To prevent such situations from happening, it is not recommended to disconnect the battery for a long period of time. You can make an additional source of energy if the main battery runs out. For this purpose, a battery from a screwdriver is suitable, which is connected directly to the radio.

How to properly remove a radio without special keys

Many motorists are faced with the problem of removing the radio in their car. Some people cannot remove the standard device installed at the factory, others inherited music along with their car, and others simply lost special keys. There are also plenty of reasons for dismantling - from repairing wiring to purchasing the latest stereo system. Hence the demand for information on 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 ordinary and carried out in a relaxed manner using the means at hand, there are pitfalls in it, which

What to do?

On driving forums you can often come across a popular question: how to remove the radio without keys? Today you will learn about all the nuances and tricks that will allow you to dismantle quickly and correctly. Of course, you first need to indicate that the factory tape recorder is removed taking into account the vehicle model and its configuration, because as we know, a wrench and a set of screwdrivers are required.

Each “music box” is equipped with protective fastenings that are hidden from human eyes. Without a doubt, each manufacturer has its own developments and technologies that can affect the removal process, starting with the protective mechanism and ending with the specifics of the fasteners.

Types of radio mounts

To choose a method for removing a car player, you need to understand how it is fixed inside the panel. There are the following types of fastenings:

on 2 side clamps;
on 4 latches located on the side and top of the case;
screwed to the brackets with screws.

Example of mounting a standard head unit

Note. The last method of fixation is typical for standard devices that are supplied to the car by the manufacturer.

Latch on mounting frame

The principle of fastening with latches (clamps) is that the body of the radio is enclosed in an iron mounting frame, and is not directly built 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 the niche. The player body is equipped with mating latches that engage when the player is inserted into the socket.

The counterpart of the latch on the body

To unlock the latches and remove the car radio, keys of various shapes are used, supplied by the manufacturer complete with music for the car. They are lost over the years of use of the car, as they are used very occasionally. Typically, the key is a shaped strip of metal or a handle inserted into 2 pairs of holes located on the front panel of the device.

This is what most car radio removal keys look like

In most cases, fastenings are made with bolts, screwed to the brackets and hidden under the front plastic panel. You can’t do without a small set of tools to dismantle this panel and unscrew the mounting screws or bolts.

Handle key

Reference. All of the listed intricacies with hidden fasteners and special keys were invented by manufacturers with one purpose: to make it very difficult for thieves to steal the car radio when the car is broken into.

Location of key holes

Soundproofing panel/dashboard Grants

Probably all owners of LADA Granta have noticed that the interior of the car begins to fill with crickets over time, and the dashboard is no exception. The reason is poor build quality and materials (cheap plastic). To get rid of crickets for a long time, it is recommended to soundproof the Granta panel, and the advantage of this method is that it does not need to be removed for this.

There can be many sources of rattling and squeaking in dashboards, let's look at the most common ones:

The radio/radio plug is rattling. Solution: use anti-creak or sealant.

The air duct rattles at the point of contact of the windshield blower nozzle. Solution: use silicone sealant or anti-squeak.

The airbag plug creaks. Solution: when installing the plug, coat it with sealant, or use bitoplast (5mm or 10mm).

The panel trim creaks. Solution: Remove the dashboard trim and glue the places where it touches (on the panel and on the trim itself) with bitoplast or anti-squeak.

The panel/dashboard creaks. Solution: The solution to the problem of panel rattling must be comprehensive.

It is recommended to weight the dashboard using vibration materials (for example, 1 sheet of STP Gold 250 RUB/sheet is enough). Heat the pieces with a hairdryer and glue the panel with a “vibra” using a hard roller. A heavier Granta panel will produce less extraneous sounds.
Wrap the torpedo wires with anti-squeak.
Treat all removable elements with anti-squeak (panel trim, airbag cover, glove compartment, etc.)
Tighten all possible panel mounting nuts.

Soundproofing the dashboard is a modification that should be done at the factory, but AvtoVAZ provides car owners with the opportunity to do this with their own hands.

Remember that the best sound insulation is when a set of works has been carried out aimed not only at insulating from external noise (noise from wheels, engine, wind, etc.), but also eliminating creaks and crickets inside the car.

Similar materials

Removing the device according to the instructions

The method of removing the radio if you have the keys is simple to the point of outrage. It is worth looking at it in order to understand how to act if they are lost. The order is as follows:

Remove the front panel of the player and the decorative plastic frame, prying it up as necessary with a flat-head screwdriver.
Insert the first key into the gap between the housing and the mounting frame, located at the end. With all this, 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 along the edges of the case and carefully remove it from the niche.

To remove the radio, 2 keys are used

Advice. There is no need to put in a lot of effort; the device should be removed quite easily. At the end, act carefully so as not to pull the wires again and break the contact.

Special keys must be inserted into the side openings

When the radio is equipped with 4 latches, access to them is through 2 pairs of round holes. You need to insert 2 U-shaped keys into them and pull them out by the body, as described above.

How to get a radio without keys

It turned out that taking out the radio

from the nest, easier than usual. The main thing is to find what you can use to do this.

Quickly and easily remove the radio from the car.

This video shows how to remove the radio

from the standard mount of the VAZ Kalina 2 car. From the standard one.

Using keys, the music center is simply removed

How to remove the radio without keys?

If 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 tools at hand, with whose help owners of different cars manage to unlock the latches:

thin iron strips 6-15 mm wide;
stationery knives;
plastic clamps for wiring;
nails and straight wire - for round holes;
thin screwdrivers and other similar items that fit the shape of the cracks.

These iron strips can be used instead of keys

Reference. In almost all radios, the mounting slots are visible from the outside, so there is no need to remove the front panel and plastic frame.

First, remove the front panel of the radio.

To remove the car radio, use the same method:

Stick first one, and then a second strip of narrow metal (or a stationery knife, a narrow screwdriver) into the technological opening. Feel that any latch is unlocked.
If the turntable is supported by 4 clamps, insert four tools.
Slowly pull the radio out of the niche immediately with the improvised keys.

The strips must be inserted into the side slots

Advice. When using iron strips to open latches, be sure to wear cloth gloves to avoid cutting your hands on the sharp edges.

The music center is removed along with the bands

Important points

When removing the device from the niche, under no circumstances should you apply great force, as you can damage the wires located behind the radio.
If steel strips are used to remove the device, 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 a radio. Very often, car enthusiasts use old ATM cards or thin plastic rulers, from which “keys” are cut out 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 using available materials; fortunately, there is no shortage of them. If we are talking about modern radio tape recorders, 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.

How to properly remove a radio without special keys

Dismantling a standard music center

Often standard head units (aka radios) are removed using the method described above, since they are attached to 2 or 4 clips. For example, the factory player on a Priora is held on by two latches, and to unlock them, thin steel strips need to be inserted between pairs of buttons for switching radio channels “2” - “3” and “5” - “6”.

Advice. Before you start disassembling the factory radio, find out about the method of its fastening, so as not to poke pieces of iron at random in this case if you do not find technological openings.

In Priora, stripes need to be inserted between the keys

To remove car radios that are fastened with screws, you need to prepare the following set of tools:

a narrow flat screwdriver or knife;
Phillips screwdriver;
set of small sockets (from 6 to 10 mm).

With this mounting option, the factory turntable must be unscrewed using the heads

On different brands of cars, standard players can be mounted in different ways, but the principle is approximately the same: the device is screwed to brackets that are covered from the outside with a plastic lining. As an example, it is proposed to consider the removal of the radio on a Korean Hyundai Solaris car, performed in the following order:

Use a flathead screwdriver or knife to pry up the bottom corner of the plastic decorative panel framing the stereo. Pull 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 others.
Holding the panel with both hands, remove it and, if necessary, disconnect the connectors located at the bottom.
Use a Phillips screwdriver to unscrew the 4 mounting screws and remove the radio.

Factory car radio Hyundai Solaris

Advice. When dismantling any player, do not rush to disconnect the battery from the on-board network, since the device will power down in 10-15 minutes. It may become blocked and, when you turn it on again, require you to enter a security code that you do not have.

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 the external power supply 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 a four-digit one), without which it will not work.

Advice. Removing the device to replace it with a new one does not pose a problem, unless you plan to use the old player on another machine. In any case, try not to disconnect the battery for a long time.

The device requests a code after connecting to the on-board network

If the card with the code is lost or missing, the issue can be resolved in several ways:

when we are talking about a standard device, then for a certain fee they will help you find the code at a dealership that sells cars of your brand;
there are offices and individual specialists who specialize in these problems;
the free way is to search for code using different programs.

Serial number location

Regardless of the method you choose, you will have to remove the radio from the socket to find out the serial number. It is printed together with a barcode on a tag glued to the side or top of the case. After taking out the device, rewrite these numbers, then try to calculate the PIN code using them using various online calculators on the Internet. If it was not possible to find a suitable cipher in this way, then rent a music center and take it to specialists in this field and get ready to pay for their services.

Fundamental point. If the PIN code of the radio is unknown to you, 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, decoding it will cost significantly more.

The issue of removing a car radio from its socket is not very difficult and will not require much time. But the consequences can be sudden for an unprepared motorist. Hence the last piece of advice: find the lost pin code before turning off and removing the player, in order to save your time and nerves.

Many motorists face the problem of removing the radio in their car. Some people cannot remove the standard device installed at the factory, others inherited the music along with the car, and others simply lost special keys. There are also plenty of reasons for dismantling - from repairing wiring to buying a new stereo system. Hence the demand for information arose on 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 can be easily performed with improvised means, there are pitfalls in it that you need to be aware of.

Tips and tricks

Having figured out how to remove a standard radio or PG installed separately, you should also pay attention to one more nuance. Before removing the radio and turning off the power, it is recommended to remove the terminals from the battery.

So, after turning off the power, a problem may arise - the need to enter the device’s security code when connecting again. Typically, the radio PIN code must be entered if the device has been disconnected from power for 10 minutes or more. This problem affects both standard radios and some third-party head units.

If the code needs to be entered, but the owner does not know it, you should try not to turn off the power for a long time or perform the necessary manipulations without turning off the power. It is important to be extremely careful to avoid short circuits, etc.

We also recommend reading the article on how to choose speakers for your car. From this article you will learn about the features of selecting car speakers, what you need to consider when selecting speakers for a car, as well as which speakers are best to choose for a car.

In a situation where the radio has already been turned off and you need to enter a code, the situation is more complicated. Please note that if you do not know the PIN code of the radio, do not try to enter the password more than 2 times as part of the selection process. If there are several unsuccessful input attempts (usually 3), the radio will be completely blocked and additional decoding of the radio will be required.

So, to remove the PIN code, you can contact an official dealership that specializes in selling cars of this brand. You can also contact unofficial services, where specialists can reset all the radio settings, re-flash the device, select the radio pin, etc.

You can also try all kinds of free service programs that select the PIN code for the radio based on the serial number of the device. The specified serial number (barcode) is usually affixed to the side or top of the head unit housing. Unfortunately, if the radio is already installed, you will need to remove the device again.

Types of radio mounts

To choose a method for removing a car player, you need to understand how it is fixed inside the panel. The following types of fastenings exist:

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.

Example of mounting a standard head unit

Note. The last method of fixation is typical for standard devices that are supplied to the car by the manufacturer.

Latch on mounting frame

The principle of fastening with latches (clamps) is that the body of the radio is enclosed in a metal mounting frame, and is not directly built 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 the niche. The player body is equipped with mating latches that engage when the player is inserted into the socket.

The counterpart of the latch on the body

To unlock the latches and remove the car radio, keys of various shapes are used, supplied by the manufacturer complete with music for the car. They are lost over the years of car operation, since they are used extremely rarely. As a rule, the key is a shaped strip of metal or a handle inserted into 2 pairs of holes located on the front panel of the device.

This is what most car radio removal keys look like

The mountings of standard radios are most often made with bolts, screwed to brackets and hidden under the front plastic panel. Here you cannot do without a minimum set of tools to dismantle this panel and unscrew the mounting screws or bolts.

Handle key for unlocking 4 latches

Reference. All of the listed intricacies with hidden latches and special keys were invented by manufacturers with one goal: to make it as difficult as possible for thieves to steal the car radio when the car is broken into.

Location of key holes

What you need to remove

The tool needed to remove the player from the vehicle is included with this unit. The key for removing the radio is a steel strip 5 to 10 cm long with special slots. There are protrusions on one end that you can grab with your fingers. Using this tool, the tabs on the frame are bent and bent or the elastic clamps are pressed out.

If the branded car radio is bolted to the brackets, then you will need 2 screwdrivers. One will allow you to unscrew the fastener, and with the help of the second you can remove the decorative trim under which it is hidden. Removal of the radio, fixed with elastic latches, is carried out with special U-shaped removal keys, which are inserted into the holes on the front panel.

To unscrew the additional stud, you will need a wrench or a socket that fits the nut. If the removal tool included in the kit was lost, then improvised tools may be useful for dismantling the car radio. For example, to bend the tabs on the frame, you can use a screwdriver of a suitable width, a nail file, a car repair probe, a narrow and thin metal strip or a knife. To release the latches, several wire clamps of suitable diameter, a nail or a strong metal rod will be useful.

Removing the device according to the instructions

The algorithm for removing the radio if you have the keys is outrageously simple. It is worth considering in order to understand how to act if they are lost. The order is as follows:

Remove the front panel of the player and the decorative plastic frame, prying it up with a flathead screwdriver if necessary.
Insert the first key into the gap between the housing and the mounting frame, located at the end. You should feel slight resistance as the tool bends the latch.
Repeat the same action with the second key.
Grasp the radio with your hands by the protruding parts on the sides of the case and carefully remove it from the niche.

To remove the radio, 2 keys are used

Advice. There is no need to apply much effort; the device should be removed quite easily. At the end, act carefully so as not to pull the wires again and break the contact.

Special keys must be inserted into the side openings

When the radio is equipped with four latches, access to them is through 2 pairs of round holes. You need to insert 2 U-shaped keys into them and pull them out by the body, as described above.

The music center can be easily removed using keys

Removing the original radio

Before you begin dismantling the head unit, you need to prepare the following items:

set of keys for audio system;
operating instructions for the radio;
cotton gloves;
construction hairdryer

To begin with, 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 unnecessary problems. After this, sequentially remove the front panel of the audio system, remove the radio and disconnect it from the wires.

To gain access to the audio system, you need to remove its front panel. To do this, just take one of the pre-prepared keys and carefully pry the panel off on one side. The fastening elements will separate and the cover will be easily removed from the radio.

How to remove the radio without keys?

If standard keys are lost, you need to make homemade ones, focusing on the shape of the slots. To see them, remove the device’s removable panel and plastic frame. Here is a list of available tools with the help of which owners of various cars manage to unlock the latches:

thin steel strips 6-15 mm wide;
stationery knives;
plastic clamps for electrical wiring;
nails and straight wire - for round holes;
thin screwdrivers and other similar items that fit the shape of the cracks.

These steel strips can be used instead of keys

Reference. In many radios, the mounting slots are visible from the outside, so there is no need to remove the front panel and plastic frame.

The first step is to remove the front panel of the radio.

To remove the car radio, use the same algorithm:

Insert first one and then a second strip of thin metal (or a utility knife, thin screwdriver) into the technological opening. Feel each latch unlock.
If the turntable is supported by 4 clips, insert four instruments.
Slowly remove the radio from the niche at the same time as the improvised keys.

The strips need to be inserted into the side slots

Advice. When using steel strips to open latches, be sure to wear cloth gloves to avoid cutting your hands on the sharp edges.

The music center is removed along with the strips

Dismantling a standard music center

Often, standard head units (aka radios) are removed using the method described above, since they are attached to 2 or 4 clips. For example, the factory player on a Lada Priora car is held on by two latches, and to unlock them, thin steel strips must be inserted between pairs of radio channel switching buttons “2” - “3” and “5” - “6”.

Advice. Before you start disassembling the factory radio, find out about the method of its fastening, so as not to poke the pieces of hardware at random if you do not find technological openings.

In Priora, stripes must be inserted between the buttons

To remove car radios that are fastened with screws, you need to prepare a simple set of tools:

thin flat screwdriver or knife;
Phillips screwdriver;
set of small sockets (from 6 to 10 mm).

With this mounting option, the factory turntable must be unscrewed using the heads

On different brands of cars, standard players can be mounted in different ways, but the principle is approximately the same: the device is screwed to brackets that are covered from the outside with a plastic lining. As an example, we propose to consider removing the radio on a Korean Hyundai Solaris car, performed in the following order:

Use a flat-head screwdriver or knife to pry up the lower corner of the plastic decorative panel framing the stereo. Pull the edge and grab it with your hand.
Gently pull it towards you and release the first latch, and then move around 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.

Factory car radio Hyundai Solaris

Advice. When dismantling any player, do not rush to disconnect the battery from the on-board network, since the device will power down in 10-15 minutes. It may be blocked and the next time you turn it on, it will require you to enter a security code that you do not have.

What do we need?

Before you get to work, you need to prepare well:

Get a set of keys of different types that can be used to remove factory equipment.
You will also need a set of screwdrivers that are equipped with tips in the shape of stars and hexagons.
An ordinary stationery knife will also come in handy.
You will need a flat object to remove some components. A plastic card copes with this task perfectly.
Well, don’t forget to find tweezers that are suitable for removing cladding in some cases.

If you want to remove the radio yourself, then you need to be aware of some tricks, which we will talk about. Let's start with the fact that in each car the tape recorder has its own configuration, but most often it has four round holes and two rectangular ones.

Don’t forget that different devices need to be removed in different ways, but if you have a full set of keys and screwdrivers at hand, which should come with the equipment, then there’s definitely nothing to be afraid of.

Important! It often happens that you need to somehow improve the equipment in your own car. Accordingly, it is worth understanding some of the subtleties that will help you set up the necessary equipment without the help of specialists, for example.