Help removing Double Din radio

Tried to remove the Monsoon from the 03 Gold last night to hook up a Blitzsafe adapter for the XM setup.

I have the proper keys. Found a post on the Vortex telling exactly how to do it. Inserted the keys properly.

Darn thing won't budge. Before I take it to a stereo shop or the dealer to pull the stereo ($$$), does anyone have any suggestions?

TIA. Bruce

If you wanted to increace the PITA factor, you could take the console then the glove box out to see what's going on back there

STUPID QUESTION: You've tried the keys both ways? AIRC The DD keys are different on the top and bottom.

-J

Had to partially pull the glovebox to attach the Pro-Fit mount for the XM. Not too bad.

I can pull the center console, but I really don't want to.

The post on the Vortex said the long side of the keys go toward the outside of the radio. No instructions in the Bentley manual for the DD radio.

My sympathies !!! I also could not budge the radio (non-monsoon) from my 2003... BTW I also had a collision last year and the lousy body shop (at a "reputable" local dealership) had to replace the dashboard... I suspect they screwed up something inside there...

Yuri.

i removed mine to install Ipod (see pics under same name in Photos). i went to the dealer to use their keys and it was free, (i asked to do it, and the guy was helpful). found that it is easier with 2 people, or if you are lucky enough to have 4 hands... and you have to kinda push out on the key as you pull (if i remember correctly, was in Sept.04)

Just pull them out and reinsert them, all four, again...one at a time. You will feel each one lock in place. If it doesn't lock in place, you have probably put the radio removal key in incorrectly.) After each one is locked in place, put your hand into the tape section of the radio and PULL hard on the radio. It will come right out. (Be prepared for it to move quickly once it is released and it is also quite heavy.)

I posted photos of this proceedure in the photo section of this site under my screen name, eyetdiman

>>You will feel each one lock in place. If it doesn't lock in place, you have probably put the radio removal key in incorrectly.)<<

Unless someone screwed up the radio tabs, as I suspect was done on my car... I can't have put in the tools incorrectly that many times!! (Herm tried, as well... no locking!!! But I do get a weird scraping noise from a couple of the tabs...)

Yuri. (hoping that his problems are at the antenna end...)

Hmmmmm cut up cd's worked wonders on mine and they don't even seem as difficult as the above mentioned troubles with the correct tools.

But I do get a weird scraping noise from a couple of the tabs...)

Click to expand...

That scraping sound tells me that the tool misses the lock.
I've had that problem at the top left corner. Bet ya the tool doesn't lock in the slots where it scrapes?
Those are the ones you have to play with by bending the tool up or down before inserting it.

New set of keys here from IMPEX. Will try again when I can get my hands on the car for an hour or two to complete the XM install.

Stay tuned.....

Thanks for your post... yes, that's possible...

Fortunately (?), my problem turned out to be a bad antenna base (amp)... (yes, me too...) just replaced, and radio's happy again...

So I can rest a while before trying to play with taking out the radio... perhaps we'll meet at a GT one of these days, and _you_ can try to take out my radio...

Yuri.

YMZ, come to TDIFest in September. Shouldn't be a terrible trip for you.

I'd LOVE to go to TDI-Fest... Problem is that I don't even know my schedule for next week, let alone next month... As for September...

All the best,

Yuri.