radio questions

I have a 2002 taurus SES. I am wondering how to remove the stock radio/ac unit. My radio is on top with the 3 AC/heat controls on bottom. I am looking into gettin a pioneer head unit so I need to remove the stock radio and face plate. I have heard you have to pop off the AC/heat knobs but i am scared to try that because i dont want to break them. Also, since the new head unit will not be as rediculously huge as the stock one i will be getting a face plate to fit the opening. I know they exist and the local car audio store will probably have one but does anyone know of where to find what im talking about? Back to getting out the radio...there are 4 holes...they look like they should have screws in them but i cant see anything in them. any help is appreciated, and also, what do you guys think of putting in a K&N filter in instead of the stock air filter? is it worth it or not? thanks alot guys
lrall

the AC/heat knobs pull straight off, there's really no way to break them unless you're really rough or run them over or something. those 4 holes you're talking about are how you get the unit out, you have to stick a paperclip into all 4 holes (there's actually a tool made for this, but a paperclip works) at the same time and the unit will pop out. www.crutchfield.com sells the adapter plates.

the best thing about buying a K&N is that it lasts forever, don't expect a noticable power increase though.

i was wondering about MPG actually, would it help any? thanks for the help, although i cant find the faceplates in crutchfield, am i looking in the wrong place??

it wouldn't really make a difference in MPG either.

Here's the part, since you couldn't find it

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-n1M8JtAd55U/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=751&I=142FD1380B

does anyone know where/how to get to the amplifier? back of the car? where at?

noone knows about the amp?

the amp is under the trunk lining on the drivers sidei

how do i get to the amp? the lining yes i know where it is and all but there are little black "buttons'' that hold it up, do i just have to pull to get these off or is there a trick? and will it damage anything if i pull them off?

Don't recall exactly how the plastic rivets in the 2002 are. They may have plastic screws in the center, or they may have square push pins in the center. I think they are probably the square pins. You need to pop the pins up or out using a small flat blade screwdriver. Once the pin is out, you should be able to pry the rivet body out or pull on the lining in that area and the rivet body should come out.

What are you trying to do with the amp? The amp is part of the Radio Control Unit (RCU) and consists of more than just the amplifier. If you remove the RCU, you will remove the amp, the tuner, CD changer control, etc. Your unit in the dash will no longer be functional.

-Rod