DIY: removing the head unit without tears
 

DIY: How to Take out your head unit without tears

Preface: This is really a series of tips and ideas learned from taking the head unit in and out a few dozen times and making some minor screw ups in the process.

Precautions:
-Cover the edges of the dash with painters tape. This prevents you from scratching it with the sharp metal of the back of the headunit.
-Cover other areas you think you might bonk with painters tape as well.
-Drape a cloth over the shift knob and another over the e-brake. You may want to consider draping one over the center console as well.

1) Start by taking the plastic dash pieces off. Use your hands. Don't use any tools on this step.
2) Unbolt the 4 bolts that hold the head unit in the dash. These are 10mm bolts and come out easily using a 10mm socket and an extension. Make sure you a gentle getting these in and out. Both the holes and the bolts themselves are very prone to striping.
3) Carefully pull the headunit out and gently rest it on the shift knob. It doesn't balance there really well so don't leave it without the support of a hand for long.
4) Unplug all of the connections in the rear.
5)?
6) profit

What you are really here for:

Be gentle with those screws
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Properly protect the head unit from bumps and scratches
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One small slip up and the screen gets cracked
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Don't be this guy...be gengle and careful with the bolts that hold the head unit in
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Tape it up!
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Some of the easily preventable damage

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Thanks robot: A couple of extra tips from my experience

stuff tissues or foam or something in the holes below and to the side to catch the bolts if they fall. Leave it there permanently.

After you have the bolts out, hold the h/u up as you pull it out and tuck some of the towel you have over the console area up under the wiring

I believe the stripping of a bolt occurs mainly against the metal edge of the head unit bolt holes so support the h/u and visually align the holes carefully before inserting the bolt, then turn the bolt counterclockwise until you feel the thread match up, and then start turning clockwise gently. If it starts to bind, undo and start over. Keep holding the h/u in the hole alignment position until you have the bolt well in, then do the same with the next bolt etc. Go back and fully tighten.

If the h/u is going to be left hanging out, avoiding the volume control knob, put a thick magazine over the screen face to spread pressure on it from the gear knob or brake, then rest on the draped towel

I made it an instructable http://www.instructables.com/id/Remo...without-tears/

good insight thanks for the tips!