Hello all,

I spent weeks trying to find information on removing the stereo until I had a brainwave on how I might be able to do it without the correct keys. It turned out to be quite a simple solution.

Is anyone familiar with the backing plates for PCI/AGP slots on the backs of computers? Well, I work in IT and had a box full of flat ones - the perfect thickness to slot down the sides of the stereo.

The thing is, the stereo actually has two tabs on either side, about an inch in from the front, so I needed to use two backing plates on each side of the stereo in order to depress all four of the tabs and then the stereo slid out like a charm.

I'll try and do some sort of ASCII art thing here to show what the tabs look like:



Long story short, all you need is two very thin, flat metal plates which you can insert down the sides of the stereo to flatten both tabs, but the plates need to be almost the height of the stereo in order to do both tabs.

This post has been edited by davidpartay: Jun 19 2008, 06:08 PM

Thanks for the info. I tried this with my Getz but the metal bits kept bending. So I grabbed a couple of thirty centimetre aluminium rulers and forced one down each side. It released the clips like a charm.

Hope this helps others.

the keys required at the same as ones for clarion head units (older types) most stereo install places will have them, else buy them on ebay. nice installation shops will just lend them to you for 5 min to release ur head unit, thats what i did.

I went around to a few shops and even the bigger retailer didn't have anything but the newer style of keys.

It was very frustrating, I was more than happy to buy them if I could find them to begin with! :)

hmm, in that case you may have to pull the fascia off and unscrew the headunit and case together. It requires undoing the ends of the vent controls in the drivers footwell, and a lot of painful tweaking to get it off its mounting clips, once off you'll need to unclip the connectors to all the buttons to fully remove the fasica. four selftapping screws hold the unit in the dash and when you take them out the whole lot will fall out and you'll be on your way. i think there are detailed instructions on the hyper forum, it relates to an accent but its all the same.

ok here's the link http://www.hyperaustralia.com/forums/viewt...php?f=11&t=2820 its basically the same for getz, except there are no screws at the bottom holding it down, just clips. there is a little cutout at the bottom of the fascia to help get your levering device under the plastic.

This post has been edited by AlexS: Jun 28 2008, 01:41 AM

I already got the stereo out successfully with the metal plates I used. That's why I posted this thread ;)

But I had some spare time today to remove the fascia (before I saw your reply here just now), and I actually figured out rather than trying to undo all the AC controls, I got the fascia loose (using the gap below the stereo cutout for leverage), unclipped it at all 6 points, and then unscrewed all four screws holding the stereo chassis in place. I was then able to lift out the chassis by disconnecting the two cables at the top of the fascia (for the hazard light button, and I'm assuming a backlight connector).

I also found out how to adjust the vent open/close slider, I've been sure my vents haven't been closing for a while, and I found where the cable runs behind the glove box, pulled that out, and adjusted it. No more dirty unserviced diesel vehicle fumes on the freeway!

I've taken photos of everything which I'll probably upload at some point.

This is much easier than my old VN Commodore! Although I did manage to lose two of the little plastic clips behind the dash, but I'll sort that out eventually.