Need help fixing cigarette lighter plug-in. Need to remove stereo?

[imq707s]

Yesterday I plugged my cell phone charger into my ciragetter lighter and something poped loose and the lighter ended up getting pushed back up into the dashboard. I think if I can manage to pull the radio out I can get to the lighter and see what broke loose. It's a 97 Xplorer. How do I get the radio out? There are two small slots on each side of the radio, am I supposed to stick something in the slots to remove the radio? This happened to anyone else? THanks

 

[Robert]

It would be easier to just remove the two small screws above the A/C panel and pop the whole panel out, radio and all. Once you've gotten it out far enough to put your hand in, you can disconnect the wire connectors and put your lighter back in.

If you still want to go through the radio though, you can get the radio removal tool at Best Buy, Circuit City etc or you can just use a coat hanger bent to fit. The tool is two metal 'U' shaped wires with a little ball at the end. You put the two wires into the two sets of holes and spread them apart a bit to release the clips. The radio will then slide out as far as the wires will let it.

 

[Opera House]

I too find it easier to remove the two screws

and just pull out the entire plastic console with the radio attached. Just don't force any of the connectors. Once you figure out the locking tabs on the electrical connectors it is a lot nicer to work in the wide open spaces.