2001 Excursion - Diesel Turbo

Remove the stereo.

Sounds simple - not so!!

I have tried and tried the DIN tool to no avail. They do not seem to be making contact with the locking springs correctly.

Is there any alternate way to remove the stereo other than a complete dashboard removal?

 

I don't think so bc there r 2 screws above the radio that must be removed to remove dash trim. Only thing I know to tell u is try to angle them from the inside out and push hard. Then pull outward and see if that works.

 

I have tried every angle I could possibly try. Does anyone know how deep the DIN tool should be inserted? Sometimes, when I wiggle it just right it sinks to near the horseshoe of the tool. Other times it just goes in an inch or two past the face plate.

For my next trick, I may get a saw-zaw . . .

 

Don't push them in ALL the way. Try pushing the face of the radio back (like your pushing it into the dash) Then try the removal tool again. Push in til you feel a little click or resitance. Hope that helps.

 

Once you have them in, each tool has to be pushed to the outside of the front of the radio and pulled out at the same time. The right tool will go towards the right, the left towards the left - it's a bit of a hinging action. It can be a little tricky the first time - but after that you will notice the click that High Intentions is talking about.

 

Here is a view with the tool inserted all the way.

 

Here is a head on view showing the angle.

 

You may have to flex them a little to get them to click in place. I had to do with with mine, just ended up needing to bent them outwards a bit to get them to click.

 

WOW! Super photos, THANKS.

That gives me an idea of how far the tool should be inserted.

I will follow your suggestions and report later today.

(but I'm still thinking saw-zaw)

Thanks again.

 

If you're going the saw-zaw route, make sure you disconnect the negative terminal on your battery. You don't want to fry something else electrical.

 

Now I'm frustrated. I have taken all the suggestions offered with no results. I can actually "feel" the springs and a couple of them do move after I bent the lower end of the DIN shaft. However, I suspect that a previous attempt to remove the stereo has damaged the spring keepers, not allowing the DIN tool to seat properly.

All kidding aside (I really won't use a saw-zaw), I am considering using a long drive tool to break the hinge at it's lower points to allow the spring to fall out.

Unless of course, there are any other suggestions.

And again, thanks for all the ideas.

IMA

 

have you tried sliding the pins in and, for lack of a better word, just "shaking" the radio using the pins? Sometimes you have to give it a little shake to get things out. squeeze the pins in towards each other and just kinda give it a twist/shake. Be careful not to break the plastic.

 

Trust me, I have shook, rattled, rolled, pried and prayed. It ain't coming out by any conventional means . . . . .

I am now pricing replacement stereos because what appears to be my only alternative will destroy the face when I use the B.F.H. and chisel.

 

Reps for the picture help.

The one in my daughters Escape needed replacing so I purchased a used one from an F250 to put in her SUV. I had problems getting her radio out, just like you, and ended up using Gorilla tactics to get it out. Naturally that completely damaged the radio, but since the radio wasn't working properly and was being replaced, it didn't matter.

Stewart

 

If you can look up from under the dash you may be able to get a screw driver in behind to push the springs in. Or remove the heater controlls and reach up from there. Or drill one hole on each side out enough so you can get the angle you need to hit the big flat on the spring to get it started then wiggle it out the rest of the way. Hope one of these works did a tempo intsall once where the tools didn't work and the guy would not let me break the factory cas player took like e hours of pulling the stuff out I could get at to have enough room to get the springs from the back.