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