Panasonic double din removal..........it's welded it!!

[bongodonkey]

Well not quite, but it seems that way.

Spent about 15 mins trying to bend my neck into various angles to try and figure out how the stereo is locked into place. Its a Japanese Domestic Panasonic double din, which I want to replace with a European similar sized one.

However, myself (no expert) and the young lady at Halfords (has more knowledge than me!) couldn't get it to shift.

The last thing I want is to wade in there and start damaging the central console and or myself trying to remove the blimming thing.

So, has anyone come across these double din sets and easily removed them in the past?

A wee drop of semtex would help, but tescos' don't stock it (just a matter of time though).

I'm on nights at the moment and haven't got the facility to upload any images. I intend to try removing it tomorrow. Failing that, it will be the yellow pages to find an audio specialist to remove it.-

Please help, as the money I save not forking out for the stereos removal can be lavished on t'bongo - she's worth it!

[dave_aber]

It's quite possibly bolted in from behind. The Japanese tend to fit them into a cage with screws in from the sides and then screw the cage in.

My top tip - open the glovebox, and once it's fully open, pull it open some more. The lug which stops it opening too far pops over the edge of the opening. Once it's a bit more open, pull it straight back towards the seat to remove it completely.

With the glovebox out, you can get your head and a torch in to see the side of the stereo, which should give you a clue as to where they have welded it in.....

HTH

Dave

[bongodonkey]

Tried that and am none the wiser

However, armed with intent and a phillips screwdriver I'll give it a go - but will hold off causing damage. At that point I'll have to bite the bullet and pay

Cheers now

[Bongo??]

I fitted a new stereo recently,well about 6 months ago,but from memory i remember there being a fixing bar more or less central to the stereo,with a hole for fixing stereos to.
I reckon thats why it won`t come out.
The fixing looked to be properly fixed to the vehicle which indicates to me it was factory fit and perhaps across all models.
If you can manage to lay on your back in the passenger side footwell,looking up with a torch you can see the area you need to be in,i had to get up there to ease all the pre-wired connectors through as they were snagging on the earlier mentioned fixing bar.
Being an older vehicle under the dash is a lot easier to access,but it is still a bit of a contortionist`s task.
Anyhow,hope this gives you a few pointers........

[bongodonkey]

looks like the bendy joints are going to come in useful. I have had a very quick look and I think youre on the money there. Bah humbug these well built, solid vehicles

[Dodgey]

The beam with the fixing hole in it is most definitely part of the car. I hammered mine with a bolster to push it back a little to allow my new unit to fit in snug, and it took a LOT of bashing to squash it a couple of mm It's almost like it is structural.

[bongodonkey]

Yes, that bar is part of the vehicles structure to stiffen up the front end, so cutting it out is a massive no no.

Finished night shift and zoning out in front of the telly......must move and start tinkering.....

Will post later on with piccies for future reference.

[bongodonkey]

Well after 2 hours the score is, Stereo 1 Oz Nil.....

After spending all that time I came to the conclusion that the stereo doesn't need to be removed gently. As long as the dash isn't damaged......

Having gotten right into the footwell I noticed that the left and right bottom of the stereo has a small right angled bracket screwed onto a bar behind the lip of the din area. The only way to get to them is to remove the face of the stereo ( break the blimming thing ), and saw the plates out.

Sounds brutal, but it's not as if the stereo is useful for Europe! Just means that I will have no radio for a couple of days as I will have to measure once it's extracted (and broken)...,,,

However I will post the depth onto this so that people searching in the future can get it.

On the bright side, car stereo theft won't happen, you need Semtex!

[mantaJim]

I had the standard fit rebadged clarion that most @navi badged bongos come with. I eventually discoved Mine had small angled brackets similar to the rack ears you get on 19 inch rack audio gear which secured behind the front surround. If memory serves I had to remove the heater control unit to get access to that side - I think I may have used a small ratchet with screw attachment and brute force - took some doing but eventually came out.