Trouble removing radio

[SHOFire]

I can't seem to get the stupid stock radio out of my 91! I've tried to remove the plasic around it, and used coat hanger wire to put in the holes to release the clip thingys that hold it in. It still won't come out! Any suggestions?

 

[djdanRT]

Did you try puting a coat hanger in all four holes at the same time? If I remember right the ford radio removal tool has four prongs on it that go into and release the clips then you pull real hard to remove it. If your doing it one at a time maybe the clips are setting back in place when you move on to the next one. Good luck. I'll be changing my radio here soon to, so i'll be going through the same thing. Let me know how you make out.

 

[30footSHO]

Go and spend the $5 for a DIN radio removal kit. Or, bend the coat hanger wire into a U shape and do both sides at the same time. The idea is that the clips must all release for the radio to come out. They are springy, and you need to have the U-shaped tools to pull the radio out. Hang in there, you'll get it. Just push in the wire (or tools) until it clicks, then pull the wire outward ( <--deck--> ) and you should get it out.

 

[30footSHO]

You don't have to pull very hard at all if you do it right.

 

[Erich]

When I removed the radio from my 92 SLO, which is the same used in the SHO for most purposes, I used 4 finishing nails and careful coordination. I found that a coat hanger was just too flexible for what I was doing and I didn't want to go nuts trying to get the stupid thing all straight.

You may also want to consider getting the adapter for plugging into the Ford wiring harness. makes it a MILLION times easier than what I did which was cutting everything. Good luck on your project!

 

[30footSHO]

When I removed the radio from my 92 SLO, which is the same used in the SHO for most purposes, I used 4 finishing nails and careful coordination. I found that a coat hanger was just too flexible for what I was doing and I didn't want to go nuts trying to get the stupid thing all straight.

You may also want to consider getting the adapter for plugging into the Ford wiring harness. makes it a MILLION times easier than what I did which was cutting everything. Good luck on your project!

All the more reason to just shell out a couple bucks at the auto parts store for a DIN radio removal tool. If you own lots of Fords (especially SHOs) it will come in handy more often than not. You could also just drive down to your local installation center and ask to borrow the tools, then pull the radio out on the spot.

 

[oh_SHO]

I paid like $10 some years ago and its been a life saver. So much easier then trying to find nails that work. I also highly recommend the wire harness adapter so if you sell the car it is easier to replace the stock unit.

 

[DDakRT]

I used 4 small screwdrivers.

 

[stevemainian]

Ive heard some of you talk about bypassing the amps. Do you need to buy a kit to do this or is there just another set of adapters behind the radio.

 

[SHOFire]

I've tried everything you guys said and that stupid thing is still stuck in there. And yes, I put the wire in all four holes. I haven't been able to try again until today, so I'll take another go at it and tell you guys how it works out.

 

[oh_SHO]

If you really can't get it out take the car to a car stereo place. I did that once before I bought the tool and it took the guy about 10 seconds to pull it out.

In response to the by-pass question, yes there is a wiring harness adapter. Go buy the PREMIUM Ford stereo adapter with the amp bypass kit. It is just a jumper that plugs into the input harness and the output harness for the amp in the trunk.

 

[SHOFire]

It's Out!

All it needed was a little prying from mr. screwdriver. Now I have to decite what to put in it's place. Either an aftermarket cd player, or a 2nd gen ford am/fm cassette with slave CD player. 1 question, when I unplugged the old stereo, it had the speaker harness, radio antenna plug, and some kind of plug that I think is for the amp. Am I right? If I don't plug that in, than will I not need the amp bypass? Or is it wired in so that just cuts out the speakers? Thanks for the help!

 

[Blank-Disk]

Go to Best Buy, pick out a new Deck, and have them do the work. I had the Gen 2 AM FM CD Slave setup, sucked very hard. I replaced it within days. Best Buy's stereo guys did a great job, very clean and professional looking. It took them a half hour, and parts (CD holder for bottom hole and whatever harnesses they used) and labor came out to just under $100, and it's been great ever since. I'm a big 'do it myself' kidna guy, but I just didn't feel like it. I still consider it money very well spent.

 

[qiksho]

All it needed was a little prying from mr. screwdriver. Now I have to decite what to put in it's place. Either an aftermarket cd player, or a 2nd gen ford am/fm cassette with slave CD player. 1 question, when I unplugged the old stereo, it had the speaker harness, radio antenna plug, and some kind of plug that I think is for the amp. Am I right? If I don't plug that in, than will I not need the amp bypass? Or is it wired in so that just cuts out the speakers? Thanks for the help!

All of the Fords I have owned including all my SHO's have had 1 big connector with all the light diming, power, ignition, etc on it. 1 big connector with all speakers, or a square looking plug that is speakers(if I remember correctly) and the antennae.

If you buy the right wiring adapter kit it will tell you where splice it in with your new deck wiring. You will also need the wiring kit that bypasses the factory amp. This connects in the trunk, directly to the amp and a wire harness that currently connects to the amp. You disconnect that wire and plug it in to the wire harness you unplugged and the amp where that wire harness was originally connected.

This procedure is not hard and usually takes me less than 20 minutes to hook up the deck and everything else.

I have always used the coat hanger, I have taken out probably 12 Ford decks now using just the coat hanger. They are my "cheap" tools

 

[audioman]

I just went to my local car electronics store and did it for free. Well i just i am a big spender there. lol UM if all else fails try a hammer if anything it will make you feel better and you can have my stock deck if it breaks. lol.

 

[SmyleySho]

I just went to my local car electronics store and did it for free. Well i just i am a big spender there. lol UM if all else fails try a hammer if anything it will make you feel better and you can have my stock deck if it breaks. lol.

Been there