Radio Facia in 1987 XT Turbo

[howpow]

Hi Folks. The radio in my 87 XT Turbo (Vortex) has died. The facia panel looks like it needs to be removed forward from the radio. Has anyone removed this little panel and if so could you please tell me how. I have levered it lightly from the open end but don'd want to risk breaking it. :-\

Thanks in advance.

[idosubaru]

these things break INSANELY easy. my guess is you're going to break it unless you're very careful...and a bit of luck is good too.

 

having owned like 2 dozen of these things, the trim piece you're talking about is hard to find in good condition.

 

we have the 1988 Subaru factory service manual for free down load at subaruxt.com, download that and look at the section for removal, probably has the pictures you need.

 

remove the small black cover piece on the trip/clock meter. under that is a screw to remove which allows that top clock to pop out. underneath of that are two screws holding the stereo in place.

 

the trim has two screws all the way at the bottom, under the stereo as well holding it to the dash.

 

even though i've done this a thousand times my memory is lacking at the moment, but i'm thinking you can get the stereo out without removing the trim? remove those two screws mentioned earlier and it pulls through i thought...but maybe i'm forgettting something.

 

the trim itself has metal clips which snap into place all around the dash. problem is the plastic is brittle with age and often breaks before the metal clips do.

 

if it does break - keep all the platic bits you can as you can epoxy it back together if it's just the holders for the tabs, they're hidden and unseen anyway.

[howpow]

Hi grossgary. Thanks very much for the info and the link. I'll check it out at the weekend, but looking at it it makes sense.

Thanks again.

[howpow]

Hi Folks. I need some more help. My XT Turbo came with the radio on the bottom section and a casette deck attached on top. I have followed grossgary's info and am able to pull the assembly out about 4 inches but no futher. Do I have to remove the trim and if so what is the best way of tackling it as I understand they can be very brittle. Do I need to remove the centre console and if I do will this help give me access. It feels as if it is coming up against a stop of some kind.

Any help will be much appreciated.

[idosubaru]

i might not be envisioning this right, can you post a picture? if the radio assembly is sliding out 4" that should mean it's all unbolted and should slide all the way out. on XT/XT6 stereos like you're talking about once it starts to come out, it's just one big rectangular box beyond the front fasica part of the stereo so there's nothing in the back that should hold it up.

 

except for plugs, wires, antenna, etc. those will need to be unplugged. but normally the radio comes out far enough to reach back and get those.

 

so you removed the clock/trip meter right? then removed those two vertical screws holding the stereo in place?

 

can't think of what else would be holding it up, but definitely doing good to avoid messing too much with the stereo surround trim piece, they're very difficult to get off and hard to find replacements.

[skishop69]

It's the wiring. I've ran into this same thing twice. If it's coming out that far, and you can move it around like it's not hung up on anything, that's it. As unnerving as it is, you have to pull harder with even force and the wires will eventually 'unravel' from the knot they're in. The harness gets wadded up in the brackets behind the radio and then that nifty 20+y/o foam they put over it to 'protect' it glues itself together. Don't yank on it, just more and even pressure pulling straight out.

[idosubaru]

right on, the clock/trip computer also has really long/thick cables that run down behind there as well. actually unplugging those should help free it up as well. they can be equally hard to get to for the same reasons. there's quite a few large wiring harnesses back there like you see on the back of the trip computer.

[howpow]

Thanks for the replies. I have removed the clock panel and undone the 2 vertical screws as explained by grossgary. The radio appears to be coming up against a hard stop but I will recheck. I am away interstate this weekend so I'll have to try during next week. I'll let you know how I go. I'll try to incllude a photo as well.

[howpow]

Hello again folks. Well as suggested I just kept pulling on the radio and eventually out it came. I was able to remove the main loom plug but I still have two dark grey or black thick wires going into the bottom let hand corner of the radio and they don't appear to have a plug that I can undo. Being in Australia the car is right hand drive but i suspect the radio layout is the same. Any help re these two wires will be much appreciated.

 

Thanks, Howard

[NorthWet]

My guess is that those are the antenna wires. On other L-series, the wires run into connectors under the carpeting on the center tunnel. I am not sure on the XT, as I have not yet been brave enough to try removing my XT's radio.

[howpow]

Hi NorthWet, yes they are the antenna wires. I was able to reach in around the radio and remove them with a smooth pull. Mind you the corresponsing male and female sockets are almost inaccesible, so I'm not sure how I am going to plug them in again when the radio goes back in. Anyhow I'll worry about that another day, at least the radio/casette is now out.

[idosubaru]

they don't leave much clearance but i've always been able to just barely squeeze my hand in there, plug the antenna wires in right before shoving it back in the rest of the way.

 

you could always pick up some antenna wire extensions at a hardware or electronics store or online, etc. they are rather generic so you can get that stuff anywhere if you want more room.

[howpow]

Hi grossgary. Thanks for your help in this thread. I had thought of getting a couple of extension antenna leads made up unless I can get some fairly short ones. I'll check the shops.

Thanks again to all who contributed.

[howpow]

Good news. Radio is back in and working perfectly. I managed to plug the two aerials in without extensions. Anyhow thanks to all who helped.

Howard

[Myxalplyx]

Congrats! A lot of us had to go through the radio removal hassle. Gary has come through as always. Now you are considered an 'expert' at the radio removal from XTs.

[howpow]

Interesting isn't it. I am now an 'expert' at doing something I will probably never have to do again. Ah well, such is life.