Removing Head Unit from MkIV

nordberg · Post by **nordberg** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 10:21 pm

Hi

Bought my girlfriend a nice Pioneer MP3 head unit for Xmas and now it's time to get it installed....

Having a bit of problem removing the standard Sony (Manufactured for VW) unit

. I've got the two key tools provided with the Pioneer but they are proving useless. Is there a FAQ or a guide for removing this somewhere? I've hada mess about but am not getting anywhere and don't want to risk damaging her dash as I value the family jewels far too much for that to happen......

Thanks for your help.
Matt

david burton · Post by **david burton** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 10:25 pm

seems like the prongs that hold the radio have jammed or bent in place.

Hmm.

When this happened to me, I forced the metal cage to come out eventually with a screwdriver - be careful though!

Otherwise, if you pull back the trim from the passenger side footwell, you can actually look up and see the radio and get to it from behind... this might help you remove it (?!) although it will be tricky.

Speedlaw · Post by **Speedlaw** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 11:25 pm

I may have misread your post, but are you trying to remove the Sony unit with Pioneer keys?

If it's an OE radio, it has specific VW keys, available at any dealership.

If it's a Sony, it should come out with ease using Sony keys.

If none are present, try bits of metal, or a bent paperclip...

HTH!

david burton · Post by **david burton** » Thu Feb 19, 2004 12:11 am

oy yeah! i didn't spot that one!

also - a thick bit of plastic will do - I always used to use the pointy end of a cable tie (large). These also don't bend the prongs in the unit like some bits of tough metal can end up doing

nordberg · Post by **nordberg** » Thu Feb 19, 2004 1:52 pm

Yeh it is the OEM Sony. The problem is I can't get the key down the side of the unit. On the Alpine I had in my Golf, the trim came off the HU and you could easily see where to put the keys. On this one there is no clue at all.

May give the footwell technique a try.

Thanks for your help.
Matt

Nelson · Post by **Nelson** » Thu Feb 19, 2004 2:05 pm

I couldnt get down the sides either so what i did was unscrew the front off, then unclip it from the inside. As I recall there was a clip on the top side near the right hand corner that did something, cant remember what though.

If all else fails, just prise the whole radio out with a screwdriver, the trim around it is quite flexible.

John

jrw · Post by **jrw** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 7:26 pm

they might not be at the sides, some OEM sony like on my old r-reg golf were at the top of the HU and I used one of them metal nail files to get it out and that worked fine.

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » Fri Feb 27, 2004 12:09 am

as far as i go with VW's i generally place the keeys in the little slots under the search buttons not down the side of the radio

just a thought