Question on removing a Pioneer Deck

[Curt]

Greetings,
I was curious if anyone knew of a way to remove an aftermarket "Pioneer" deck without the use of the DIN tool/key required to correctly remove it. I have a 1994 XLT that I want to swap stereos in, but don' have this DIN tool/key to properly remove it. Has anyone ever accomplised this without destroying the dash or deck?
Curt

 

[celly]

Greetings,
I was curious if anyone knew of a way to remove an aftermarket "Pioneer" deck without the use of the DIN tool/key required to correctly remove it. I have a 1994 XLT that I want to swap stereos in, but don' have this DIN tool/key to properly remove it. Has anyone ever accomplised this without destroying the dash or deck?
Curt

I thought the DIN tool was just to remove OEM decks. Chances are if you've got an aftermarket deck, then you've got a mounting kit installed in the spot where the OEM deck was. Try removing the radio bezel (two screws just about the heater controls). Then see how the deck is installed in the mounting kit and it should be pretty simple to remove the deck from there. Mine is (Pioneer HU as well).

p.s. I have a 2000 Explorer (i.e. 2nd generation). These tips might not work with your Ex (1st generation). I still think the DIN tool is just to remove OEM decks.

 

[CodePoet]

Butter knife works...that's what I use to take my kenwood out. On mine I just take the bezel off and the faceplate...and push the knife in there, grab the deck be whatever means you can, shimmy the knife around the mounting tabs on mine are in the middle on each side a little ways back until you release one. Then do the other...

That's what I do

cp

 

[Crankcase]

Without the proper tool, you will need two metal strips about 1/4" wide....insert them in both side slots.

 

[nnorton44]

Or you could just jam a screwdriver in there like I did.

 

[Curt]

I Figured it out!!! YEAHHHHH!!

Yes.... I used the two thin metal strips idea. It worked fine. My wife had just purchased a new stereo several weeks ago, and I had completly forgot to check the box that the stereo came in. I called Best Buy to see if they sold these strips but they don't. The guy informed me that new stereos should have them in the box that the stereo comes in. BLINK, BLINK, BLINK!!! The light went on. I check the box and there they were. It came right out of the dash.

Thanks for all the replies.
Curt

 

[Gimp]

Now that you've found them...

So that you will be able to find them in the future and because they are so small, you can keep them in the console or in the glove compartment.

I keep my removal tools in the little pocket where the changeholder is - in plain sight - so that if a thief breaks in to steal my HU, they/he can do it without butchering the dash or the wiring. (It's got the adapter harness that allows plugging into the factory wiring.) I'd rather buy a new HU than have to try to find a dash for a first-gen that's in excellent shape.

Glad to hear you got it taken care of. You can't leave your wife without tunes.

 

[Crankcase]

Thats how I did it Gimp...I just never bolted it in.....and sure enough, my sister had borrowed My x and took it to a bad part of town, and they just took it and unplugged it...no damage.....

 

[Curt]

Hu???

Dumb question?? What does HU stand for?

 

[Gimp]

HU = Head Unit.