removing radio from 2000 protege

[PaulD]

ok, how do I get to the radio/cubby hole to remove it ? I pried off the ring around the radio, heater A/C, vent and disconnected the emergency flasher connector. Seems that all the heater/ AC wiring is keeping it in, I can only pull it out so far. To make matters worse, the genius engineer put the screws holding the htr/ ac stuff on the backside .... and all the mechanical linkages are attatched to the htr/ac assembly. I really don't want to disassemble the whole dash in vain to try and get to it.

[Doug Tatham]

On the left and right sides of the black trim around the stereo are small cover plates that cover the holes used to remove the stereo. The covers pop off with a screwdriver. Get a radio installation tool (couple bucks at walmart or an autoparts store) and remove the radio. The tool is shaped like a metal U and has barbs on each side. You slide it into the hole, push outward on both tools, then pull out the radio.

[PaulD]

thanks .... I already got it out though