DIY stereo removal with pix

[h82bslo]

hey guys,
trying to help as much as i can. here is to how you can remove your stereo.
it was suppose to diy ipod adaptor install, but the one we bought from mp3yourcar.com does not work they way they claim it should. so here are the instructions. DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK AND I'M NOT LIABLE FOR DAMAGES THAT YOU CAUSE TO YOUR CAR.

tools needed:
torx-hex and flat head screwdrivers
towel to put between your screwdriver and your car.
10mm socket


1. DISCONNECT YOUR CAR BATTERY using the 10mm socket. remove the tab right in front of the center top vent to remove the vent cover.

2. after removing the vent you are able to remove the torx-hex screw holding the vent switch and door.

3. with the vent switch and door removed you will uncover the two screws holding the top part of your center dash together. you are now able to remove the top partion of the your center dash including the center vents.

4. after the top part is remove there are two screws holding the bottom part of you center dash. remove those and you'll be able to pop the bottom of your center dash out using your flat head screw driver. BE SURE TO USE YOUR TOWEL ON THE HEAD OF YOU FLAT HEAD SCREWDRIVER. so you won't scratch your car.

5. last step is the removal of the four screws holding your stereo together. remove those and BAM you are done. putting the stereo back is just the reverse order.

[GTI2007]

interesting DIY! Thanx h82bslo :thumbsup:

[JJ-R32]

Nice thanks for sharing! I've added it to the list of DIY's - http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=363

[h82bslo]

cool, hope that'll help everyone on the forum.

[loccusst]

Couple of tips to add. It is easier to take off the top part of the stereo surround if you loosen the pops on the bottom part. This release the tabs on the top part that slip behinde the bottom stereo surround part. Also get a plastic pry tool when poping this dash, it is very easy to mark up. Oh yeah....don't forget to remove your cd's too. LOL

[h82bslo]

thanks for adding the tip. i didn't write that in, but i had to do that too just to have the bottom loose enough to release the top.

[Michail]

Nice one :)

[Hoppy6698]

Me thinks that is almost big enough for the double size aftermarket Nav systems? Can anyone confirm this? Crutchfield only states that the single din sized units will fit.

[loccusst]

You can install a double din unit in there. I have a single din center channel speaker and my kenwood indash unit in my car.

[Hoppy6698]

Anyone have the width/height/depth measurements of the cavity left open?

[nomad]

hey man, thank you for that DIY, definately very informative and helpful!

[mikeyc]

Does anyone have a picture or diagram of the reverse side of a Stock RCD 300 unit?

[davidu]

okay, so now... does anyone know how to do this? http://www.tunertricks.com/blog/index.php?p=40

haha. :)

[Mary and Phil]

hey guys,
trying to help as much as i can. here is to how you can remove your stereo.
it was suppose to diy ipod adaptor install, but the one we bought from mp3yourcar.com does not work they way they claim it should. so here are the instructions. DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK AND I'M NOT LIABLE FOR DAMAGES THAT YOU CAUSE TO YOUR CAR.

tools needed:
torx-hex and flat head screwdrivers
towel to put between your screwdriver and your car.
10mm socket


1. DISCONNECT YOUR CAR BATTERY using the 10mm socket. remove the tab right in front of the center top vent to remove the vent cover.

2. after removing the vent you are able to remove the torx-hex screw holding the vent switch and door.

3. with the vent switch and door removed you will uncover the two screws holding the top part of your center dash together. you are now able to remove the top partion of the your center dash including the center vents.

4. after the top part is remove there are two screws holding the bottom part of you center dash. remove those and you'll be able to pop the bottom of your center dash out using your flat head screw driver. BE SURE TO USE YOUR TOWEL ON THE HEAD OF YOU FLAT HEAD SCREWDRIVER. so you won't scratch your car.

5. last step is the removal of the four screws holding your stereo together. remove those and BAM you are done. putting the stereo back is just the reverse order.

Yer GTI doesn't have the metal trim around the radio huh? How come?

[Kricket]

sorry to resurrect this thread from the dead - but how do you remove that little "sun sensor" on the top portion of the top-most vent?

i played around with it a little today but didnt get how to pop it out...

[Mary and Phil]

sorry to resurrect this thread from the dead - but how do you remove that little "sun sensor" on the top portion of the top-most vent?

i played around with it a little today but didnt get how to pop it out...

what IS that sensor for? and why remove it?
is it that little bump on the dash?

[Kricket]

i dont want to remove it permanently - but you need to take that out in order to get to the vent - which has to come out in order to install a new stereo...

[Mary and Phil]

i dont want to remove it permanently - but you need to take that out in order to get to the vent - which has to come out in order to install a new stereo...

okie. :clap: why a new radio? is the new one more powerful? o_O

and i still need to know what that sensor is for. ^^;

[Tater Salad]

From what I've heard, that little black box is the sunlight sensor (somebody will probably have to confirm it).
As far as getting it out, i just pulled on it with some pliers and it popped right out.

[Mary and Phil]

From what I've heard, that little black box is the sunlight sensor (somebody will probably have to confirm it).
As far as getting it out, i just pulled on it with some pliers and it popped right out.

ok. but what's the sunlight sensor for? :confused:

[Mary and Phil]

From what I've heard, that little black box is the sunlight sensor (somebody will probably have to confirm it).
As far as getting it out, i just pulled on it with some pliers and it popped right out.

...

[Tater Salad]

Its for the automatic headlights. whenever the sensor doesn't detect any sunlight, the VW switches to nightime and turns the lights on without you having to turn the switch over.

[Mary and Phil]

Its for the automatic headlights. whenever the sensor doesn't detect any sunlight, the VW switches to nightime and turns the lights on without you having to turn the switch over.

i didn;t know it had auto lights! must be in a package huh? i have a package 0 car. i suppose i need a switch it on.

[Tater Salad]

Yeah, the one I had on my car had 3 switches, you could only choose between OFF (daytime running lights on) Automatic (which is the middle position) or ON.

[Mary and Phil]

Yeah, the one I had on my car had 3 switches, you could only choose between OFF (daytime running lights on) Automatic (which is the middle position) or ON.

maybe it's only on jettas.

[tito12384]

Just another quick note, don't forget to reconnect the airbag light if you disconnect it (I know this is in other threads, but I figured it would go well here). Reconnect the light before reconnecting the battery. Failure to do so will cause your airbag system light to go on, which then has to be turned off by the dealer (it cost me $60 for this).

[Lima]

This is how I did it on my RHD GTI with RCD500 headunit.

:thumbsup:

I followed a couple of other DIYs found on the net, but figured seeing an Aussie version of this might be of use to some people as well. For a bit of background it might pay to read the other DIYs if you find any gaps of information in my write up:
4string on VWvortex (http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2480895)
KuniD on uk-mkivs.net (http://uk-mkivs.net/forums/918284/ShowThread.aspx)




Tools required
You'll need some sort of plastic card or prong to pry open some of the bits and pieces. I used an old credit card. You will also need a Torx20 screw and ratchet attachment.


Step 1
Start by removing the panel around the top mounted dash vent dial (already removed in this pic). I just pried it up with an old credit card and managed to carefully remove the clip. Then, as you can see, started to gently force the vent cover with a small screwdriver. Once you have all the clips unhooked and the cover is free, remove the A/C sensor wire.
http://27772.smugmug.com/photos/175588339-M.jpg
http://27772.smugmug.com/photos/175588926-M.jpg


Step 2
There is a torx screw at the top of the next panel for removing (indicated by white circle). Haha, be careful not to drop the screw into the dash below! Damn, I missed a photo of removing this piece. Once you've got a clip or two released you can pull this one out with a reasonable amount of force. But if you bust any clips, it's not my fault okay! The second image was taken after the panel was removed and you then need to unscrew the two torx screws in frame to prepare for the next piece to be removed.
http://27772.smugmug.com/photos/175637730-M-0.jpg
http://27772.smugmug.com/photos/175589635-M.jpg


Step 3
Once the two torx screws are removed, start by working on the clips at the back (closest to windscreen) then moving towards you. After the three clips at the back are freed, gently pull this piece upwards. I found the toughest clips were the ones right at the bottom, closest to the top of the headunit.
http://27772.smugmug.com/photos/175589877-M.jpg
http://27772.smugmug.com/photos/175590372-M.jpg

Step 4
Time to disconnect the hazard light switch. If you've read the other DIYs in the first post you'll notice some include a warning about an air bag sensor wire on this panel. As you can see Australian spec cars do not have this wire and removing the hazard light switch is your only concern. It can be a bit tricky with one person, but if I can do it anyone can. You need to push open the little blue sliding clip (seen through triangle on pic below) before the hazard switch can be freed.
http://27772.smugmug.com/photos/175590835-M.jpg


Step 5
Removing the panel surrounding the headunit and HVAC controls. Remove the torx screws at the top of this panel (as shown below). Then carefully force open the clips down the side and between the HU and HVAC dials. This panel is the one that feels the flimsiest and therefore the one most likely to be prone to breaking, so do be careful.
http://27772.smugmug.com/photos/175591138-M.jpg
http://27772.smugmug.com/photos/175592563-M.jpg
http://27772.smugmug.com/photos/175592852-M.jpg
http://27772.smugmug.com/photos/175593255-M.jpg


Step 6
Almost done! Now, remove the four screws around the HU. Once that's done you can carefully remove the HU.
http://27772.smugmug.com/photos/175593513-M.jpg
http://27772.smugmug.com/photos/175594572-M.jpg

Included on the unit is a schematic of the wiring chassis that plugs into the back of the headunit, shown in pictures with a couple of crappy mobile phone pics.
http://27772.smugmug.com/photos/175635416-M.jpg
http://27772.smugmug.com/photos/175635328-M.jpg


Finished. :)

Putting it all back together is a damn sight easier than being so careful not to bust any of the plastic clips during removal. I'm a real gumby at this sort of stuff and it probably took me 45 minutes to remove the headunit. If you're halfway competent you could probably do it in 15 minutes. Haha! Putting it all back together takes under 10 minutes and is pretty simple. Just reverse your steps and you are now free to line up the panels carefully then just bash them back into place.

Note: All the torx screws removed are identical, so there is no need to remember which screw came from which hole.

:burnrubber:

[TEABAG]

Awesome job dude!

[AndorGLI]

nice

[srbsta]

hey has someone got a pic of the RCD500 rear end i want to see what connections it has

[tranceporter]

cool

[xminusx]

subscribed.

[Luccia]

Very nice guide, came invaluable for installing an xcarlink i pod adapter in my mkv golf S.

One thing to add, non-gti's dont have the top vent .. instead they have an odment tray. To remove this you need to take the rubber mat out of the top, unscrew the two screws that are revealed then get a thing metal implement (i use teaspoon handles) and push them down the windscreen side of the tray at either side to release two spring clips, the odment tray should then come free.

After that you can follow this guide exactly.

[Adv4nc3r_Mk5]

One thing to add, non-gti's dont have the top vent .. instead they have an odment tray.

then why is my car with that top vent? :cool:

[treloskostas]

Hi all,

I would like to thank everyone for the coolest DIY guide on the web about removing the stereo unit but I would like to make a question on a very silly thing. Do I have to remove the power supply from the battery before doing anything? If YES is there a possibility something goes wrong after putting all together and connecting back the power supply from the battery????

Please help me on that silly question. How safe is to work with the battery on and will it harm anything if I don't disconnect it before working?

Thank you very much again for everything!!!!

[JetTurbo]

Hi all,

I would like to thank everyone for the coolest DIY guide on the web about removing the stereo unit but I would like to make a question on a very silly thing. Do I have to remove the power supply from the battery before doing anything? If YES is there a possibility something goes wrong after putting all together and connecting back the power supply from the battery????

Please help me on that silly question. How safe is to work with the battery on and will it harm anything if I don't disconnect it before working?

Thank you very much again for everything!!!!

You SHOULD disconnect ground terminal from the battery. If you do not, when you disconnect safety related pieces like the dash airbag indicator, you will generate fault codes in the system which will trigger dash warning lights. At the very least, you will need a VAG-COM to clear those errors. By removing power and hooking everything back up before you restore power, you can avoid this.

After reconnecting the battery it is normal for a few things to appear to have gone wrong, but they are corrected without tools. A power steering fault may appear, but simply start the engine and drive a few feet, stop and turn the wheel from lock to lock, and usually it will be fine by then - clears the error light and leaves no code behind. The windows will lose auto up and down, but simply manually holding the button and cycling each window so it can re-learn its limits will cure that. The main engine computer stores the radio code in non-volatile memory, so when you restore power and turn on the audio system, it will very quickly enter the radio security code request for you :cool:

[treloskostas]

Thank you very much but I don't really understand when you say to disconnect the ground terminal. Do you have any photo to help me? I thought that the battery only has (+) and (-) poles and by just removing the two cord from these poles should do the thing. Is there anything else to unplug? Your answer though was very helpful. If you could please explain a bit about the ground terminal...?

Thank you

[JetTurbo]

Thank you very much but I don't really understand when you say to disconnect the ground terminal. Do you have any photo to help me? I thought that the battery only has (+) and (-) poles and by just removing the two cord from these poles should do the thing. Is there anything else to unplug? Your answer though was very helpful. If you could please explain a bit about the ground terminal...?

Thank you

Ground terminal is an American term for the — connection on the battery. No need to disconnect them both, just the negative terminal will do.

[jurfff]

nice diy very helpful

[treloskostas]

Ground terminal is an American term for the — connection on the battery. No need to disconnect them both, just the negative terminal will do.

Thank you very much. That was very helpful.

[letterman52]

This totally saved my butt. Thanks.

[nintendodude]

You can install a double din unit in there. I have a single din center channel speaker and my kenwood indash unit in my car.

pic?

[thunderous1]

question: why did you have to disconnect the battery? im sure it can be done without disconnecting the battery

[thunderous1]

sorry ignore that i just read the answer. thanks

[TRIX ARE 4 KIDS]

hey guys,
trying to help as much as i can. here is to how you can remove your stereo.
it was suppose to diy ipod adaptor install, but the one we bought from mp3yourcar.com does not work they way they claim it should. so here are the instructions. DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK AND I'M NOT LIABLE FOR DAMAGES THAT YOU CAUSE TO YOUR CAR.

tools needed:
torx-hex and flat head screwdrivers
towel to put between your screwdriver and your car.
10mm socket


1. DISCONNECT YOUR CAR BATTERY using the 10mm socket. remove the tab right in front of the center top vent to remove the vent cover.

2. after removing the vent you are able to remove the torx-hex screw holding the vent switch and door.

3. with the vent switch and door removed you will uncover the two screws holding the top part of your center dash together. you are now able to remove the top partion of the your center dash including the center vents.

4. after the top part is remove there are two screws holding the bottom part of you center dash. remove those and you'll be able to pop the bottom of your center dash out using your flat head screw driver. BE SURE TO USE YOUR TOWEL ON THE HEAD OF YOU FLAT HEAD SCREWDRIVER. so you won't scratch your car.

5. last step is the removal of the four screws holding your stereo together. remove those and BAM you are done. putting the stereo back is just the reverse order.
Man really good diy . now tell me me will u sale me ur stereo?

[springbok]

Hi
Damaged the upper air vent trim on my Golf GTI MK V. Managed to buy a new one but am having difficulty removing the hazard light button and airbag warning light from the old unit.
Do they just unclip (with a bit of force) of are special tools required?
Thanks for any help.

[towbar]

-another question to any of you who've fitted single din or indeed double din aftermarket hu's -

how do they fasten in ?

-the original i can see is held in by 4 screws - what do you do with the new hu's?

i'm planning a single din install with ipod connections etc.

excellent guide by the way!

[NahbutsGTI]

ok. but what's the sunlight sensor for? :confused:

turns your lights on and off, duh

[JetTurbo]

ok. but what's the sunlight sensor for? :confused:

Its for the automatic headlights. whenever the sensor doesn't detect any sunlight, the VW switches to nightime and turns the lights on without you having to turn the switch over.

i didn;t know it had auto lights! must be in a package huh? i have a package 0 car. i suppose i need a switch it on.

turns your lights on and off, duh
:bonk:
The sensor in the upper dash does NOT provide automatic headlights.
It has to be part of the climate control system, probably a sun load sensor
so it can compensate when the sun heats the upper cabin.

Adding automatic headlights is quite involved, to do it correctly requries a new windshield, rain / light sensor, various trim bits
and new interior mirror (auto dimming).

This is what the sensor for automatic headlights looks like ...
http://dataton.net/vw/mod_prep/RainLight_Sensor-installed.jpg (http://dataton.net/vw/mod_prep/Rain_light_dimMirror-trim_wiring.jpg)

This is the mirror that covers it ...
http://dataton.net/vw/windshield/auto_dim-mounted.jpg (http://dataton.net/vw/mod_prep/NewMirror.jpg)

[Colehard]

Just a note of warning for Step 5. I tried to release the clips with my plastic tool but this piece is just attached metal clips that push on and pull off (at least on my 2007 US GTi they are.) The clips are attached to the back of the trim by small melted plastic posts and so are VERY easily broken off the trim (I lost two in this maneuver but should be able to glue them back on.)

So, don't try to release these tabs, just pull this trim away carefully.

I may try to post some pics.