'97 Legacy Dash Removal

[Takami826]

Having trouble with my Circuit City installed Kenwood and after checking the wiring, someone far more in the know of car electronics than I is convinced it's the radio and perhaps a fuse inside the radio. However, things don't slide and snap in and out of place as easily as other cars.

 

My question is, how do we remove only what we need to in the dash region to pull out the stereo and to check it out. The radio, I'm sure, is far beyond warranty (it's about 4yrs old now) and the nearest Circuit City to me closed up, so tying up my car for a few days at a Circuit City in a land far far away isn't really an option -esp if we can figure it out and fix or replace it ourselves. (a few beers are FAR cheaper)

 

I did a forum search but couldn't find anything specific for the '97.

thanks in advance for any help

 

~Jacqui

[gbhrps]

Takami826,

 

Its been a few years, but my old 97 OBW LTD didn't have the woodgrain beezle around the radio and HVAC. The 98's did, and I purchased a set and replaced it myself. As I recall, I pulled the ashtray out, and the rectangular box that you could store sunglasses in. At that point getting down low, and using a shortie phillips screwdriver, you can remove the two screws that are at the bottom of the beezle when you look up. From there you pry out carefully the rest of the beezle by using a flat bladed screwdriver that has been taped to prevent it from scratching the plastic. Take your time and it will come out without any damage. You'll then see the 4 screws that should be removed to take out the radio. Put your gearshift into Low (to give you some room) and pull the radio forward until you can unplug the antenna and unclip the wiring harness. Good luck!

[Sydfloyd44]

How funny is this??? Sorry, not you, just the fact that I went thru this 2 weeks ago. CC installed a Kenwood KDC-7011 with the "flip" MASK faceplate about 4 years ago. Starting going crazy and eventually shut off. Just replaced it at CC with a new Panasonic CQ-C7301U and integrated my XM with the XM Direct package for it. If your Kenwood has the MASK (flips completely over when turned off), that is probably your problem.

 

As far as the dash.. I had to do some "re-work" after their install of the new equipment. (oh well!) I have a 95 Legacy L sedan which should be the same set up as yours.

First, remove the cup holder. Remove the 2 screws holding the cup holder casing. These 2 screws will also release the bezel that goes around the stereo down the bottom of the ashtray. Remove Ashtray. There are 2 screws that are sort of hidden and hard to get to. Feel inside the opening near the front at the top. There are 2 screws going upward near the front. Here is a picture of the tool that I used to get to them. http://www.equalizer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=BAS550&Category_Code=&Store_Code=2004

There is also a screw straight back in the ashtray opening that might need to be loosened, not removed. (might need flashlight to see) The casing for the ashtray will pull out after you slightly lift the rear of it off of the rear screw. Remove the wire for the ashtray light. The large bezel around the stereo will pull out at the top near the cup holder first and it then needs to be carefully pulled upward to release tabs that tuck behind where the center shifter console meets the bezel being removed. Just unplug the lighter and you will see the 4 screws holding the stereo and cubby hole in place. (watch, there might be 2 screws on the left and right of the stereo as well which are about 7 or 8 inches in. If everything doesn't pull out after removing the 4 screws that are on the face, check for those screws.)

That is the best that I can remember. Hopefully I got it mostly correct! It is VERY straight forward, just watch what you are doing and you will be OK.

One last thing. When putting back together, DO NOT over tighten screws, especially the 2 that hold the cup holder/bezel in the place. The plastic breaks easy which is one of the things I had to fix.

[Takami826]

Thank you very much, both of you, for your help!

 

I'm on a mission to find a haynes repair manual so that I can start DIY'g stuff now that my baby is having these minor issues. (I was plagued with stallouts and sputtering for 2 yrs in sloppy wet conditions and after 3 places telling me they couldn't find anything wrong, I searched here and found it was the spark plug wires and learned how to switch them! Silly, but I was proud of myself for that one!) I had foolish friends trying to tell me to just unload it -they don't understand longevity potential of Subarus! It's just a baby with 120K mi!!

 

Maybe this will help me get my bloody cup holder to work. Sadly, my lighter crapped out yesterday to add insult to very quiet injury, and just literally poured wires and pieces parts out of the dash. That was messed up, but since I can get in there and fiddle with the radio, I can get in there to put the lighter pieces back together. HA! I'm traumatized, it's the first time my car is showing age!

 

As for the Kenwood, I can't recall the model # right now, but it's one with a removeable face plate, single CD, am/fm with ability for Sirius radio. If it is indeed the radio *I HOPE* (coworker is convinced the radio is the problem and not the speakers) then at least now I'll be able to do it myself.

 

thanks again!! I'm going to do this tonite after work if the rain holds off.

 

J