aftermarket radio install, How do I take the dash apart?

[RWALLMOW]

I am wondering how I would go about removing the dash in a 1996 riv so I can install an aftermarket headunit. I have installed several stereos before but this one puzzles me how I get it off without damaging anything.

Thank you in advance,
Ryan Wallmow

[RWALLMOW]

ignore my previous post, I have found the instructions on the dash removal, If anyone needs them I can send it in PDF format.

Ryan Wallmow

[hiep19]

can you send me the file please.
thank you,
hiep

[RWALLMOW]

I have the files available on my website at http://www.customarcade.net/car/pdf-files/
If anyone wants to see, I have pics of my car available at http://www.customarcade.net/modules....showpage&pid=1

[Titan4]

I am wanting to put in an aftermarket sound system into my '95 Riv, but according to the schematics it seems that the steering wheel switches, climate control and even airbag circuitry route through the stock radio/cassette head unit. Did you lose any functionality of your steering wheel controls after changing the head unit?

[RWALLMOW]

I did loose all functionality of the buttons on the steering wheel, but after I installed my radio I found a device that you can install to regain the functionality of all the buttons (I was just too lazy to buy it and install it, IT IS A PAIN TO GET THE DASH APART) You will want to look for the "PAC SWI-X" it connects to the factory harness and buttons, and uses infared to talk to your aftermarket radio. I highly suggest you get this and install it at the time you install your deck as you will not want to take the dash apart again. :-)

[Titan4]

Thanks for the info. I have seen the SWI-X before, but was not sure if it would handle the climate control (Temperature Up/Down) portion of the steering wheel buttons, but after re-reading the info on it I guess it will. Do you have any first hand knowledge of it working on a Riv though? Just curious.
It looks like your stock audio system was a little bit different than mine judging from the pictures you have on your website. Your head unit looks different as well as the remotely located CD player. At least I am assuming that is the CD player on the console just above the drink holders. Mine is located there, but it does not look the same. The thing I really despise about the factory CD player is that there is no Fast Forward or Reverse. You can only advance to the next track or go back to the previous track. There is no skimming through the track to get to a particular portion of it. At least that is the way it is on mine.

About a year ago I installed a nice Alpine AM/FM/CD head unit and a nice 4 channel amplifier in a T-Bird of mine. I am going to sell the T-Bird and my hope was to take the new audio stuff out of the T-Bird and put it in the Riv. I took a set of schematics for the '95 Riv of the audio system (obtained from http://alldatapro.com/includes/main.jsp) with me to Circuit City (where the new audio system was installed in T-Bird) and the guy there did not want to try to put the head unit and amp into the Riv. He got spooked when he saw things on the schematic like 1) the Electronic A/C control going through the remote CD player and 2) Passenger climate control assembly feeding into head unit, etc. He also did not think he would be able to successfully integrate a new head unit and amp with existing vehicle harnesses.

Did you leave your old CD player mounted in the console? Did you have to do anything special to make sure you did not screw up any of the A/C controls or anthing?

[RWALLMOW]

My cd-player (single disc) was actually part of the factory deck, the thing near the drink holder is actually just a 4 cd storage area (the factory 6 disc changer WOULD have mounted there). The configuration from the 95 to the 96-99 changes a little in the area of the radio, your factory deck should be a standard 1 & 1/2 DIN opening where mine is a double DIN, the 95 looked exactly the same as the 96-99 except in the radio area of the dash, You are actually lucky, you can go pickup the DIN adaptor from any local store (walmart like $10, I have 2 or 3 of them from other cars, very common adaptor) where mine I had to get mine from a stereo installer (circuit city $29 or somthing, they had to dig through like 3 before they found the right one). Also I believe the 95 also used the standard GM 21pin harness (almost every GM vehicle 89-98 used this harness) and mine required the newer on-star style harness (oddly onstar wasn't an option until 97).

All of my climate controls still work with the exception of the steering wheel controls (I had installed an aftermarket deck in my 92 LeSabre which also had wheel mounted controls, and it also worked minus the wheel controls) The only thing for climate controls routed through the radio is the wheel control, your regular control panel will still function normally, allthough I cant blame them it was a very long and difficult process to install a deck in the riv, i had to cut out the back of the dash against the fire wall because the radio cavity was too shallow, but since yours should have the 1 & 1/2 din you should be able to find an adaptor that will bring the radio forward approx 1" and in your case should eliminate the need to cut the rear of the dash (and the wires behind it :-). With the SWI-X you will not loose ANY control, it emulates the factory radio control passthough and will let you regain all of the wheel controls (audio & climate).

On a side note it would have been nice to still be working at circuit city at the time I got this car, as I would have had them install it for dirt cheap, but alas I have moved on to bigger and better things :-) Also you should be able to find the cd-storage insert for the area above the drink holder online or at a junk yard, many people remove it for other audio equipment (ie. In-dash monitor, EQ, DVD, MP3......).

[RWALLMOW]

I will take some pics of my current setup and post it on my site (either sat or sun), that old outdated factory deck pic needs to go :-D (that was the day I got the car)