Need help removing stereo please.

[guywitha968]

Help! My 1994, 968 CD-2 stopped playing CDs a long time back. I have finally decided to swap it out. But I can't for the life of me figure out how to remove the theft deterrent brackets (shown in the image below as 1A and 1B). I realize this image is of a Cassette unit, but after a month of searching (other places plus this forum) this is the best picture I have been able to locate. If I can get these off, I have the standard tools to remove the head unit from the DIN bracket. But until I get these things off, I can't continue since they block access to the holes for the standard removal tool. I hope that someone can help here cause if not I am going to have to pullout of the center console to try and figure out how to get these TD brackets out of there!

Thanks for you help.
gm

[carsonmx114]

968,
I worked as a stereo installer from 89'-2000' and from the pic I'd say that trim ring would just snap off, then the little covers should snap off as well. I'm also pretty sure you'll have to have the stereo out to remove the console so plan B may not be an option either. Some units I remember had very small phillips screws in them but from the look of it in the pic I think some gently prying should pop the ring off. My 944 has a pocket under the stereo, if the 968 does maybe you could push in the locks from underneath through the pocket opening if all else fails.

[guywitha968]

Thanks for the input. The trim ring does snap off easily once you pop out the storage/clock unit. But once that is off, I still cannot see how to remove the 1A and 1B brackets, so if anyone else is more familiar this these specifically and can shed more light on the removal, please post!

Thanks,
gm

[white944cup]

What kind of stereo? If it's a Blaupunkt, you will need to make a couple of clips out of coat-hanger wire and insert them on each side of the housing to push back the retainer clips. If you Google "tool for removing Blaupunkt stereo" you should be able to find some pictures of what is required. I made some to remove mine, but I can't find them right now, or I would post a pic for you.

[guywitha968]

The stereo is Porsche labeled CD-2, which I have read is probably made, or was made, by Alpine. The problem is not removing the head unit (that's what the U-shaped brackets are for), but removing two small brackets that block access to the DIN removal holes. These are identified as 1A and 1B in the pic I posted, and I believe are some kind of theft deterrent bracket, one that is working too well I'm afraid. These two small brackets are what I am trying to figure out how to remove. I'll take a picture of the actual unit and post it to help identify the problem.

Thanks,
gm

[carsonmx114]

if your unit is a alpine it's probably not stock is it? It's probably in a din cage, if so the cage is just held in by tabs folded over the edge of the din opening. Just take out the pocket below the stereo and reach in and force the thing out. Seems like I remember some of the early alpines having set screws that locked the unit in before the four hole setups came out. I may be thinking of stock BMW radios though.

[bell]

in your pic 1a and 1b are option trim edges, so you either have those or 1c......
remove them..underneath are the small holes for access to the tabs, stick a cut and bent coat hanger into the 2 small holes on each side to unclip the retaining tabs......then pull out.....
you can also hit auto zone/advanced/pep boys and get the "ford radio removal tool" but it'll be $10 or so.......

[944sracer]

You buy these and there will be 2 holes on either side of your radio. you put 1 in each side push them to the outside and pull.....

Metra - Dash Kit Removal Tool for Most Lincoln, Mercury and Ford Vehicles - Chrome - IBR-FDRT

Or....You drive buy Best Buy or equivalent with an Install bay and have them pop it for you. I did install as well and we removed things all the time for people...as long as they were nice about it

[bell]

and a 5$ tip never hurts......

[Contadino]

The coat hanger pullers didn't work for me. I ended up taking part of the dash apart so I could push the radio out from behind. It was in there so tight no coat hanger tool would ever have gotten it out.

[guywitha968]

Thanks for the inputs so far. I am afraid that Contadino's response may end up being the one that applies in the end, mine doesn't budge. I hope to get back to the job this weekend, too many long hour at work this week to tackle this project.

[guywitha968]

Thought I'd give one more input just in case the picture stirs anyone's memory and to clarify that I can't even access the removal holes because of what I thought were anti-theft brackets (1A 1B) in the original picture. Although what bell noted may really be the case that 1A and 1B are really just trim pieces. If that's the case, I guess I don't have them, but there is still "something" blocking the DIN tool removal holes, so if this picture brings anything to mine, please let me know the secret to getting access to the holes. I have not yet made it to a shop to show an expert, that's on the to do list. I tried to budge it by reaching in under it and pulling, it is solid. No sign of any movement. Next stop unless someone else can help, is possibly a trip to the shed for a crowbar.

Thanks for the inputs.

[944sracer]

The horizontal pins that are on either side of the radio. Use a pick tool to slide them in the middle. Then if it's a cassette player stick your fingers in the cassette hole and pull. If it's a cd player use a right angle pick tool to pry it out by using it to pull on the sides, top, and bottom.

[bell]

yep.....looks like someone used alpine install hardware on your cd2....944sracer nailed it.......
pics always help

[guywitha968]

Awesome, I got the thing out about an inch! I'm sure I can pull it out the rest of the way now but want to try and get a peak behind it first if I can find a small enough mirror, to see what all is connected and get them disconnected. The tip about the 90 degree pick tool was the piece that I had not thought about. It was a little hard to get it to budge at first, but after a couple minutes of careful prying, it broke loose!

Hopefully things are moving full speed ahead now. Thanks for the help all! I may be back if I run into any more problems, otherwise, I'll just post a pic of the finished project!

[guywitha968]

OK, it's out! So now I have the next problem. I didn't know until I pulled it, that this is a pre-amp only. There is a sticker on the top showing only the primary connections. There is nothing there to indicate the pre-amp out pins. Any idea where in the heck I can get this?

I saw a post on the CD-2 where someone had a PDF of the manual, but that post was in 2003. I replied to it asking if I could get a copy, but there wasn't any reply. That thread may be too old.

Anyone know the pin-out?

Thanks.

[guywitha968]

Forgot to include the picture...

[944sracer]

Was there an equalizer underneath that deck? It looks like a simple comm cable that sends pre-amp signal to an amp. I have seen some older radio systems have an equalizer tied in with the main deck. More pics Please

maybe 1 of the top of the deck (showing the wiring diagram) and 1 of the dash cavity (close and far)

[guywitha968]

This one didn't have the EQ unit. Instead there was just a small storage pocket, and an analog clock (which has issues as well, but not on the to do list yet) under the CD-2. The cars that had the EQ probably had the speakers wires in that area also. But in my case, there is just the circular DIN going off into the black hole, I assume to an amp somewhere. It may be that the amp IO is not going to be compatible with my new head unit anyway, but I need to find the amp, so I can find the speaker connections. Anyone know where the amp is in the "no-EQ" configuration? I can follow the cable to find it, but it might be nice to know where it is ahead of that if someone already knows.

Thanks, gm

[P944GUY]

that may be the input for the external cd player option...on the 968 PET parts page it lists a cable for the cd player and looks like the same plug