Car deck install in 88 Firefly (CDN Metro)

[pewter_toast]

I dunno if it's appropriate to post here, but I've looked all over the net and haven't found any good sources on audio installs.

I just recently purchased my first car, an '88 Pontiac Firefly - which is the Canadian make of a Geo Metro of the same year.

I purchased a used car CD changer a little while back, and have attempted to install it. My problem is not with electronics, as I am well aware of how to wire it, (as there is a plethora of online info about wiring - and I have a good electronics background).. ..but my problem *is* just how in the @#$% to *physically* detach the old deck from its mount, and then, presumably, reattach the new deck. I can't find any info online. They are both (the old and new deck) the same size (single DIN, I believe).. ..I just have no idea what is holding it in. There are NO screws on the side (I have removed the ashtray, and can get under the dash enough to see). I have felt around, and even taken pictures with my digital camera in the areas where I can't physically get to, and cannot figure out what the @#% is holding onto it. I'm usually very handy, and am finding this extremely frustrating.. .tho I'm sure there is a simple answer to those who have experience with car decks (of which I have little). Are there little slot keys for this or something? Everyone I've asked has no idea.

I even began to take my dash apart, but hit a bump when I realized I would actually have to remove my steering column, just to get to the back of where the stereo is.. ! I dunno if this phenomenon is reserved strictly for Firefly's.. ..but I suspect it may be. There are no smaller removable plates around the stereo. I don't know what to do. Can anyone toss me a bone, or steer me (he he) in the right direction?

Ty

[pewter_toast]

ok,

does anyone currently reading this know *anything* at all about car deck installation, or have you ever *done* a car deck installation?

if so, please help me out here. *anything* you know. Like I said, I know very little about this.

My existing deck isn't factory, (I don't think), it's an Alpine tape deck, (that's irrepairably jammed, hence my desire to change it out).

Someone here has got to know about deck installs.. ..please quench the fire of my ignorance.

Thanks

Ty

[GoogleThis]

Without being able to actually see the install, telling you what is holding it in is a bit tough.

I will put my best guess out there however.

Assuming there is no backstrap (small thin steel strap), and since you said there were no visible screws or anything, it more than likely is just the sleeve holding the stereo in place.

A typical aftermarket unit will have the head unit itself, as well as a very thin 'sleeve' which it slides into. Part of that sleeve has 2 tabs which hold the head unit in place within the sleeve, as well as a bunch of small tabs which are bent to hold onto the dash surrounding the opening.

Now for the tricky part. I am guessing you don't have the removal tools which would have originally come with the Alpine unit. So in order to remove it, you are going to need access to the sides of the unit. What you will need to do is slide something small (small regular screwdriver or similar) up under the tab, separating the sleeve from the head unit. You will then need to hold the first side out while separating the other side. Once this is done, you should be able to pull the head unit straight out. Then you will be able to see what was holding the sleeve in place, and with the help of some needle-nose pliers, or the small screwdriver again, slowly bend the tabs back in so you can remove the sleeve.

Hopefully this all makes sense and helps.

[pewter_toast]

A thousand thank-you's GoogleThis. You were dead-on about the sleeve style. I hadn't see the clip from the one side I could get under on account of some wires in the way. But I've now got the damned thing out of there!

Once I jammed the clip on the one side I could get to from the back, I used one of those long skinny exacto blades through the (previously mysterious) thin slots in the front, and jiggered it around to release the other clip. Had to shove it pretty much all the way in deep.

I just really appreciate the info/response, I probably would've wrecked something without having some preconception about what was holding it in there.

Now I get to play..

[GoogleThis]

Glad I could help. And even more glad to know I was right.

Good luck with your new setup.