How to get to the stereo screws on top? So hard!

by **RDKamikaze** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 6:47 pm

I'm having huge problems with removing my stereo from my Solara. I have been trying and trying to remove the top navigation panel (temp., gas milage, etc.) and it just won't budge! I have tried screw drivers with duct tape and even the Toyota panel removal tool (nylon stick thing), but the panel just will NOT pop out!

How do I get this bugger out? I've tried everything I can, but it just will not move! It's starting to make me very upset, so any advice would be great.

by **MCOjerry** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 6:58 pm

I don't know, but you'd better calm down before you break the thing! Take a deep breath and wait for someone to answer.

Would look AWFUL if you scratched it up or broke it.

My HU has a couple of scratches from the Sirius install...I see them ALL the time, even though they are TINY.

by **[SMAN]** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 7:29 pm

I know this may sound stupid, but have you checked over the tutorials.
http://solaraguy.org/viewtopic.php?t=29862
There are step by step instructions on how to remove the radio, with pictures.

by **theprodigy79** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 11:23 pm

DUDE!!! PWNED BY A NEWB!!!! :lol:

JK bro, but I certainly give props to SMAN for digging that up! Good job! :-D

by **RDKamikaze** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 12:30 am

I've seen and read that tut a thousand times, but I just don't get it. Where is the register? Does he mean the screen? I've seen pics from someone's website on where to stick the screwdriver, but it's still not working. I actually did read the tutorial this time

.

It must be superglued or something :roll:

. Should I try prying it forward from the very back of the console?

by **[SMAN]** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 8:41 am

Ok, well how about this one. Metra does an install guide with all their kits, so here is the one for the solara.
http://www.metraonline.com/downloads/pd ... 9-8212.pdf

by **RDKamikaze** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 2:34 pm

Oh, I have to remove the turbo button first? That might help me a little bit, lol!

How do I remove the warniing lights button? Do I just get behind it with a flathead and pull out? I'll do some playing with it today and see what happens.

by **theprodigy79** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 6:49 pm

Lol "turbo button"...

by **RDKamikaze** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 11:38 pm

Ok, so after some playing around I decided that the turbo button cannot be removed. I may be wrong, but it's just a button that goes inside the panel and will just be slid over when the panel is removed. However, I still can't find a way to remove the fraking panel, so if I could remove that button it would give me a LOT of leverage and help! So if you know how to remove the button (because I've tried pulling until I think I'll break it), then any help would be great

.

Is it really hard for anyone else to remove this darn panel? I must be doing something wrong! :evil:

And if you know where the wires are that I'm looking for on the aux adapter harness (which probably aren't on it), then that would be great, too! This way, I wouldn't have to get back to that main harness. And which one is it, anyways? What does this harness I'm looking for look like?

by **[SMAN]** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 8:00 am

ok, from reading things. What you need to do is take a flat screwdriver (wrapped in tape or something so you don't scratch your finish) and gently pry up along the edges of your hazards switch. once that is loose, seperate the switch from the surroud and disconenct it. then you can just pull the whole trim pannel out by pulling from the hole left by the switch. That should get you started.the switch is just held into place by a snap style clips, so it just takes a bit of prying, but shouldn't take as much as you described.

by **RDKamikaze** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 9:34 am

Alright, I'll give it a shot and let you know how it goes. Hopefully I don't break something, lol!

and I really appreciate the help that you're giving me so far. I'm only familiar with mechanics, not elecrical. Thank you!

EDIT: Alright, I got the switch out just fine! Now my only problem is getting the console removed. I'm pulling from the cavity for the button as hard as I can and even wiggling around, but the thing will not budge! What do I do for this?

by **RDKamikaze** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:23 am

Yay, I got it! Now my fingers are all in huge pain and I even cut one from te plastic, but at least it's off. Man, doing this at 97* sure makes it a LOT harder! Good thing it wasn't near the high for today when I attempted.

Does anyone have any tips to make it easier for next time I remove this panel? Or will it always be REALLY hard to remove?

And which wire harness am I going to be tampering with? I have the single CD player, if that makes a difference.

by **[SMAN]** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:23 am

It's just held in with snap clips. So it should just pop out. Pull from the middle, while gently prying along the sides. That PDF shows you exactly where the clips are located.

by **theprodigy79** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:50 am

SMAN, you rock! Thank you very much for taking the time and patience to dig up those references and explain the process... Much respect for that.

I look forward to seeing you help out more in the future (makes my job a lot easier ;-)

).

-James

by **Duyquach** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 2:06 pm

Next time if you want it so much easier, use whatever you want that has a flat head and just feel around for the clip which is pretty much right under the air conditioning ducts. After you hear some sort of click you'll know it's there, just push the tool outwards so pressure is going inwards to the console. After that pull from the top center (with some major force) and it should pop out, then do it to the other side and you're done.

How to get to the stereo screws on top? So hard!

How to get to the stereo screws on top? So hard!

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