Need advice regarding how to change car radio

Whappers

Whappers

Whappers

Soldato
Joined
4 Nov 2003
Posts
4,496
Location
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Afternoon all,

This is my first post in the motor section so go easy on me! I am not quite as experienced with cars as I am sure the majority of you are judging by previous threads and posts that I have read over the years...

So, reason for my first post? I don't know how to change the car radio! Yes, pathetic, I know! :D But you've got to learn some time! This is what my radio currently looks like at the minute and as you can see, it's about time it got changed!



This is the view when the face is removed.



Now, I am hoping that those of you in the know about these things will advise me as to which screws need to be un-screwed or what needs to be done exactly. I am looking to sell the radio on that famous internet auction website so understandably I wouldn't like to damage it in any way.

The car is a 1996 Toyota Corolla 1.3 and the new cd player / radio that I've bought as it's replacement is the Sony MEX-BT 5000 pictured below which I got for £243!! :)



I have googled as to how to change a car radio and not found anything particularly relevant in the general sense. So, could some nice forum members help out a fellow in need?

Thanks in advance!

Whappers.
 
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Thanks Jono. I've just signed up to those forums. However, it doesn't look as though I'll be able to post my thread for a little while as the administrators apparently like to review all member registrations before allowing their new members to create threads or posts. :o
 
Getting it out should be easy.. That surround should come off.. leaving little gaps at each side of the radio.. This is where radio keys come in handy!! lol.. as in those gaps will be little catches.. You could try a long thin screw driver or something like that.. but you need to push something down.. release the catches and pull the head unit out of the cage :P (use ya tape deck hole to get a grip on it) You will know when the catches are free as it should just slide out.. then you will need to remove the cage and fit you new cage :)

If you need more help

catch me on

msn

[email protected]
 
ZG002 said:
Getting it out should be easy.. That surround should come off.. leaving little gaps at each side of the radio.. This is where radio keys come in handy!! lol.. as in those gaps will be little catches.. You could try a long thin screw driver or something like that.. but you need to push something down.. release the catches and pull the head unit out of the cage :P (use ya tape deck hole to get a grip on it) You will know when the catches are free as it should just slide out.. then you will need to remove the cage and fit you new cage :)

If you need more help

catch me on

msn

[email protected]
Click to expand...


Thanks a lot! ;)

I'll try what you said tomorrow as that is when the new cd player is coming....

You mentioned taking the surround off. Do you just pull it off or is there a special way of doing it?

Whappers.
 
Normally yeah.. just little clips holding them on.. give it alittle force (very little lol) and it should clip off :)
 
Whappers said:
You mentioned taking the surround off. Do you just pull it off or is there a special way of doing it?
Click to expand...

Should just pull off with your fingers, although the end of removal keys normally fit onto it somewhere so you can use them to pull it off. If you don't have them don't worry about it. :)
 
Be gentle but forceful with the surround. You might need to bend it about a bit to free the clips, but it's always possible to get it off without breaking it. You've got to feel it really. Become one with it lol
 
apparently you remove the screwed in bar above the cassette tray, and panels somewhere else, the thread on toc lost me here :p

apparently involves a lot of pulling and screws so am reluctant to try



i would love a step by step pic guide as i really want to change the hu but fear for breaking the centre console



but basically toyotas and changing electronics dont seem to be the easiest of tasks
 
-----UPDATE-----

Well, I couldn't wait to try and remove the old casette / radio player so I tried it earlier. After much leverage and pulling I decided to remove all the screws of the surround plastic. This proved to be the right course of action as after I got this screwed off I was able to access the clip and haul the unit out. I've unplugged the two cables at the rear of the unit and it's currently resting on my table right now. All I need now is for the new cd player to arrive tomorrow before the regional holiday - 12th of July parade :) Unfortunately that does mean that the post goes AWOL for a good few days and I'd be lucky to get it before next Monday or Tuesday. Anyway, here is hoping that it turns up tomorrow! :D

Whappers.
 
cheers dude, also are there any adapters you're having to get for the power/aerial?


and are you doing anything about the stock speakers?
 
.:MBK:. said:
cheers dude, also are there any adapters you're having to get for the power/aerial?

Are you doing anything about the stock speakers?
Click to expand...

Errmmm... There were two cables which came out at the back of the casette / radio player. One for power and the other for sound (I think). There were lots of different coloured wires on the second one (if that means anything).



Ok, so to remove the unit, you need to:

1. Remove the front panel.
2. Unsrew all the screws I have highlighted red and pink (you'll need to refer to the pic above to figure out what I mean). Pink is the most important screw highlighted as this prevents the unit from coming out. The red ones basically hold the surround on and these all need to be removed.
3. Hold back the clip on the right hand-sdie with a screwdriver that I have highlighted with a yellow rectangle.
4. Pull the unit out by getting a hold of the casette slot.
5. Unplug the two cables at the rear of the unit.

I'm not sure if I have removed the cage at this stage. I'm just waiting to see what turns up with this new Sony cd-player that I've bought before I do anything else to it. Apologies for the lack of pics. I'd need to get hold of the tools again before I can photo it more and that's not easy at the moment so I've provided the best pic possible at this stage.

Anyway, hope this helps. Oh, and I'm not too sure about upgrading the speakers at this stage. That looks to be certainly more difficult than replacing the headunit.

Whappers.
 
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ah ok, yours is HU secific, mines one without a detacable facia so have to disassemble most of the dash.....apparently


sorry for pressing you for pics


as for the speakers, i pulled of the passenger cover (bad idea, 12 yr old plastic clips are brittle) and looks like itd be very fiddly from there suggesting the whole inner door panel may have to come out, im not even gonna try on the rear speakers
 
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.:MBK:. said:
ah ok, yours is HU secific, mines one without a detacable facia so have to disassemble most of the dash.....apparently


sorry for pressing you for pics
Click to expand...

No problem. You're alright. The headunit I just removed was the Sony XR-3208MK2 and definately sounds different to yours. Anyway, at least I have provided a basic guide as to how to remove casette / radio players. All models are specific however. But hopefully the guide above will prove useful to other Toyota Corolla 1332cc 1996 models. With regards to your issue, I suggest asking on the www.toyotaownersclub.com 's forums as Jono suggested.

Whappers.
 
been there and spoken to ace-rolla a bit, but prob stick my problem up in more detail, and mines the 95 sportif se model so just have a very generic radio, theres a pic lingering on this forum somewhere



edit: ah here we go

dsc00209ud9.jpg
 
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.:MBK:. said:
been there and spoken to ace-rolla a bit, but prob stick my problem up in more detail, and mines the 95 sportif se model so just have a very generic radio, theres a pic lingering on this forum somewhere
Click to expand...

My car used to be my grandmother's. She's now driving a 2000 Toyota Corolla (I think) which is quite nice. But she got my car imported from Japan so it's an import. It's also the Sportif model but not sure if it is Sportif SE :confused: It's probably not. The car is quite nippy and extremely fast which I love! :D

edit: that casette looks more dated than mine which I didn't think was possible! :p

edit2: I'm not quite sure how you would go about removing that headunit. I'm sure it's possible obviously! Is it just me does it look as though there is a small indentation to the left hand side of the volume control. It looks as though this might be used to levrage the headunit out :confused:

Whappers.
 
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its 1 year older so anything is possible hehe



as for the difference between the sportif and the sportif se


a) the stickers on the doors (if still present)
b) elec windows and elec sunroof (i think that was the difference anyway, atleast in 1995)
 
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