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MG MGF Technical - Stereo removal

Have bust a gut and my wife's nail files trying to remove my Pioneer head-unit (on the advice of Halfords who don't stock the proprietary metal rods for Pioneers). Alas no joy and the wife's no longer talking to me.
Short of taking it to a specialist, any clues on how to remove the blasted thing - I've tried accessing from above through the heater vents but it won't budge.

thanks
Paul

BTW, plenty in the archives on door speaker upgrades but none particularly recent that I can see. Can anyone recommend a quality set of speakers to fit a 96 F. Have heard good things about Pioneer TSA 1710s and Kenwood KFC 1789s.
Paul Bevan

I have a Pioneer head unit and you do need a pair of flat metal bars to remove it.

I have them in the car, i'll pop outside and measure them for you.

Back in a mo...

SF
Scarlet Fever

Paul,

You can try and access from underneath as well... just take the two footwell side panels off and you can just about get your hand up there to push... that's how I got my head unit out...

However, another option is go to another car audio shop (not halfords) and ask them nicely if they could spend two minutes removing it for you - so you don't have to buy the two bits of metal that, if you're like me, you'll use once and then lose them...

Chris.
Chris Tromans

Good advice Chris. My local non-Halfords inca shop removed my JVC for me in 2 mins at no cost.
JohnP

I guess they could also fit a couple of new speakers at the same time... thanks for the advice!
Paul Bevan

And I could give you a long list of household objects that don't work instead of the proper metal bits to get your stereo out!

Of which the most bizarre is probably this... get a normal cd case (thick one, not a thin one)... take the front clear plastic bit off... look at the edge bits on it (the ones that are at right angles to the main plastic cover - about 6mm in width)... can you see them? nope, those definately don't work either when snapped off carefully with a pair of pliers! Look.. I was desperate ok :-) nothing else came to mind at the time...

Chris
Chris Tromans

yet another argument for the vinyl vs cd diehards - had you fashioned a cardboard tool out of a treasured album cover that would have done the trick!
Paul Bevan

OK Paul, here's what my ones look like...

There are 2 tools, one for each side and they are identical.

1mm thick metal, bent into an 'L' shape.

Short leg is a 'handle' and can be any size, in my case the handle is 10mm long x 8mm wide.

Long leg is 104mm long and has a step in width 34mm from the handle.

At the step it narrows from the 8mm width described above to 6mm wide.

Finally, at the far end of the tool is a dimple, it's 6mm from the end and extends another 6mm up the shaft, the overall thickness of the metal at the dimple is 2mm.

The way it works is you insert the long leg into the slot on the stereo until the change in width (104-34 = 70mm insertion), the dimple locates on the catch inside the stereo and then you lever the tool outwards to depress the catch. Do the same on the other side at the same time and you can withdraw the unit.

SF
Scarlet Fever

Thanks Andy - dimple facing inwards when inserting, ie handles pointing outwards?
Paul Bevan

Sorry Paul, only just spotted this.

Yep you are right, the dimple faces away from the handle.

SF
Scarlet Fever

SF, I ready many a post by you, and you're pretty much an expert in the MG world as far as I'm concerned, but isn't keeping the head unit removal tools in the car a bit of a security issue?
Holster

(oops... meant to read "I've read")
Holster

I suppose so, i've not really thought about it until now, but they are in the boot though so any potential theif not only has to get into the car, but also the boot compartment. It's probably easier and quicker for a thief to simply rip out the fascia as a whole to get the head unit than break into the boot on the off chance that the removal tools are in there.

SF

P.S. Thanx for the kind words, just doing my bit, you know? :-)
Scarlet Fever

Holster,

Even if I'd taped the removal tools to my windscreen, the b@s#a%d who tore my head unit from the dash along with half the walnut facia would probably not even have noticed.

I'm with Scarlet. I have made a cubby box out of a battery case which sits on the tray on the left hand side under the bonnet. I keep the stereo removal tools, mini allen key for the license holder and the locking wheel nut jobby in it, as well as other useful bits and bobs which would otherwise go walkies.

Sam
Sam Murray

This thread was discussed between 24/09/2004 and 29/09/2004

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