How do I get my dash off to replace my stereo?

How can I get the dash off of my '03 Cavalier, in order to replace my factory stereo? The service repair books have not been released yet, so I haven't got a clue! Any help is greatly appreciated.

i have a 98' and if it is reletively the same open both doors and on the ends of the dash(where your fuse box is on the driver side) these panels pop off with the aid of a screwdriver and remove the central vent on your dash, after this all the srews holding the top of your dash down should be exposed, after that you can see what you have to do to remove the rest of it to get to your stock stereo face plate

I have an 03 as well, and it is not fun to get that thing apart. I tried to watch the installer as he did mine, and here's what i saw. There are screws in the defrost vent that must come out first. There are also screws near the fuse box and the same spot on the passenger side of the car. I believe taht at one point he was in my glove box as well. It took him a long time, and he is a professional. The biggest problem that everyone seems to have is actually getting the head unit back into the dash board. I've been to 3 installers, and all of them have a real hard time getting it in. I know this might not be of much help, but I hope it helps a little.

I have an 03 as well, and it is not fun to get that thing apart. I tried to watch the installer as he did mine, and here's what i saw. There are screws in the defrost vent that must come out first. There are also screws near the fuse box and the same spot on the passenger side of the car. I believe taht at one point he was in my glove box as well. It took him a long time, and he is a professional. The biggest problem that everyone seems to have is actually getting the head unit back into the dash board. I've been to 3 installers, and all of them have a real hard time getting it in. I know this might not be of much help, but I hope it helps a little.


I have done this before. It was on my '99 a few years ago. All i know is that after about 3 hours I was ready to get a chainsaw, much more painless and less frustrating. This isn't meant to be technical, just give a smile. Good luck with it.

i got a similar Q, i got a new guage face for my 01 Z24 and i think i need to do the exact same thing.

Here it is
1. Disconnect negative battery cable.
2. Remove 1 phillips screw from defrost vent trim. Pry trim from rear to release 2 metal clips and remove trim.
3. Remove 2 Torx T-15 screws exposed by removal of vent trim.
4. Open glove box. Remove 3 Torx T-15 screws from lower right edge of dash pad.
5. Remove 2 7mm screws located in the small cavity at the top left corner of the glovebox opening.
6. Remove both end panels from dash by prying out edges toward rear of vehicle.
7. Remove 2 7mm/T-15 screws exposed by removal of end panels (one screw located at each end)
8. Pry up dash pad from the front edge to release 4 retaining clips and remove dash pad.
9. Remove 3 7mm/T-15 Torx screws from top edge of instrument panel trim. Pull instrument panel trim away from dash to release 6 retaining clips. Disonnect electrical connector to right of instrument cluster and remove instrument panel trim.
10. Remove 3 7mm/T-15 Torx screws securing factory radio to dash. Pull out radio, disconnect and remove.
The above steps are alot easier than they sound. Took me maybe 15 min. to get my factory radio out. However almost no head unit will fit without cutting. When you remove the factory radio the plastic behind it will need to be cut out of the way. Thats the hardest part of the whole thing. Good luck. But you won't need it. :)

be very carefull in order to install the stereo you need to disconect the air bags, then reinstall after the stereo is done. the stock stereo has to be kept and there are some plugs for it in the trunk behind the lining on the drivers side. the stock stereo is wired into such functions as air bag deploiment, theft control, and various other things...just another wonderful present fomr GM. airbags kill be safe

I have a 04 and bought my stereo and installed it with instructions from crutchfield. The only thing the radio is wired into (as far as I know) is the door chimes which crutchfield supplied a wire that you have to run to your fuse panel for free. I don't see how they would get away with supplying directions for changing your radio and skip the air bag part. But maybe I'm wrong. However my radio is in and working with no warning lights or air bag light. Nothing. What year are you refering to?

in my 2001 i took out my factory radio june of 2003 and on july 1st 2004 i found out that my airbags worked just fine and now my car is totaled.

It really isnt that hard to remove the dash I have done it about 5 or 6 times in my car.. as you can see i painted it.. but just be carefull not to break any clips. in regards to the torx.. it can all be done with a 7mm... and a phillips for the top defrost vent.

I did a stereo in a '00 Cavalier. I have never heard of the stereo being related to the airbags. Sounds crazy. But when you replace the central vent on the dash, dont over tighten it. In the summer when it gets hot, it will crack. I put a pioneer in it and din't have to do anythign with the airbags and it was a cinch to get the unit in.