I'm familiar with Sir Nuke's well-written thread...
http://www.protegeclub.com/forum/sho...hlight=removal
I made the tools with some heavy coathangers.... but I just can't do it captain!

I feel the pressure from clips when I slide the small tools in... but for the life of me I can't pull the unit out, either with my hand in the tape deck well or with the 'large tool'.

Am I supposed to be doing something else with the small tools? sliding them back and forth while I'm trying to pull out with large tool?

Other suggestions? Thanks

 

lets see if I can help....

yes there is something else you are supposed to do with the small clips after pushing them in....

after you pushe them in and you can feel them slide under the clips...push OUTWARD towards the sides of the car while pulling out....

one other member had a real hard time with his unit too....what he ended up doing was to remove the glove box, 10 screws, and then he could see that side of the unit....he also removed the panel that is under the stearing column on the other side and could see that side of the unit....it migh help to be able to see exactly what is going on.....

good luck....hollar back if you need more help.

 

Thanks man. I tried what you just said, but for the life of my I can't get it to work.

I guess I'll go get the tool tomorrow than you can find at Wal-mart? someone said. Then I'll probably just be a jerk and return the tool when I'm done.

 

ok im havin trouble also. i made those tools u posted about nuke. they worked for the top 2 hooks. then the bottom 2 i couldnt get ANYTHING. so i stopped to work another day. this time i came back with 2 sets of DIN removal tools and STILL HAVING TROUBLE! i got the 2 of them in on the right side and i got them loose. i put them in the left side and cant feel anything. . . i slide them in and dont feel any locks or resistance. i used the coat hanger to loosen the top left corner, so i had the top left, top right and bottom right loose. but even with the tools i cant get anything on the bottom left hook. is there something i couldve done that screwed everything up? what should i do to get it out. it's just so frustrating b/c i was so close 3 out of 4 locks things. thanks for your help.

 

o yea btw noone ever posted about the removal of a stock radio from a sedan b/c the holes are a little different so i took a picture to post.

 

I had trouble also. After inserting the two pairs of "removers" I took of the cover to the cassette/MP3 and inserted as many fingers as I could for leverage. I then lifted and pulled the unit out. It was a pain, but it did come out.

 

I really don't know what to tell you other than to keep workin at it.....all four corners hook up the same way.....so if you got the other three....you can get the forth...

as posted above.....there was one member that was having a similar problem as you and he removed his glove box and the trim piece below the stearing wheel and to the side of the headunit and then he could actually see the side of the unit and his problem.....give that a try.....without actually being there.....that is all I can recommend.

 

I had tons of problems too. I ended up taking the plastic off the stock unit and working around the metal framing. Just have to be careful cause that plastic plugs into the framing but if you do it right it just plugs in and out. That helped me. Good luck

 

Sir Nuke has some great instructions there- even at best it can be a trick to get the releases to work, push in on the radio a little first to get as much pressure as possible off the tabs.
In a pinch I have seen "keys" at wal mart before for under 10 dollars. I finally made some out of steel in the shop to use on cars, the Protege is just one of a myraid of cars using DIN keys nowdays. The wal mart ones are soft metal and will eventually break off.
I printed Sir Nukes instructions, and walked them though, and it does work so don't dispair!
Those darned connections are just tricky....

 

i was going to take that out, but i was afraid i was gonna break it off. could you tell me how to get that off? also, does it make it a lot easier?

 

one thing for sure...you have to disconnect the cables from the HVAC (A/C and Heater) controls or you will break something...if you get down beside the console and sorta look up you can see where the cables hook up to the controls....

 

I too just went to put in an Alpine and had a hell of a time without any success. Then I checked here, and even though these are good instructions, I found nothing new to try. But now I think I found the problem. Coat hangers are just too small in diameter to fully release the clips. I tried some hex keys that just fit the holes in the plastic frame (I got a ton of them), and it popped right outk, the POS.

So if your having trouble with coat hangers not working try something with a larger diameter to releaase to din clips. It worked for me. Good luck and rock on.

 

When I did mine I took off the surrounding dash plate that has the AC controls on but I left the controls attached and just had it sitting just dislodged from dash. I then took and small screwdriver around the edges of the stock radio faceplate and "gently" pulled it around the edges. If I remember right the plug for the faceplate was on the right side so it will be little tougher there. Once I got that faceplate off I could see the metal structure and also be able to see the tabs. I used different size screwdrivers as my keys and was able to get the unit unlocked and out. After I got the radio out I simply snaped the faceplate back on. Pugged it in and it worked fine. So I didn't damage the stock radio. I am sure this isn't the best way of doing it and someone will tell me I did it the hard way or the stupid way but it worked and I have no damage to show. Good luck

 

jasonkilpa, how'd you take out that surrounding dash piece, im ready to do that, but i dunno where to start and how exactly to take it off.

 

I took the dash trim plate off and it didn't help me much cuz I couldn't get it out far enough. The AC controls are on short cables and the damn cluster is screwed in from the back side, so it only came out about 3/4" and I didn't want to chance scatching it. If you want to try it that way though, just wrap a rag around a small flat tip screwdriver and pry from the bottom. It snaps right out, just don't force it too far out.

I looked at reusing the din clips, and can now see why the damn thing was so hard to get out. The oblong hole in the middle on each side should be released at the same time the four other holes were. Try using keys at all 6 locations, and pull the center cover off the head unit for a place to grip and pull. Of course once you get it out you'll see why it's such a bitch. Something larger in diameter than a coat hanger was the key for me.

Also there's no reusing those clips, even if you cut them in half. Quality spring steel though.