Where to place wires for stereo install?

[beetleperson]

Hey so I'm installing a stereo in my girlfriend's bug, and I got it all wired up (left the K-wire disconnected) and it works, HOWEVER, there is not enough room to slide the deck all the way into the dash! The wires are simply too big to fit both the wires and the deck into the dashboard. Is there any kind of trick for this? Perhaps take off the kickpanel and just put the ends of the wires through into the stereo bay?

Also, I don't exactly know how to take off the kickpanel if this is the case. I don't want to break anything, are there any hidden screws/clips or methods for removal I need to be aware of?

Thanks!

[Toad]

i found it alot easier to take tht center console part out and install the radio in it first. therefore you can fish the wiring behind the heater controls. it is do-able without taking the dash apart, but i have big hands.

to take the radio/center vent section off, is actually pretty straightforward.

first, you need a T20 screwdriver. save it, you need it to take off almost everything in the interior. that center peice is held in with 2 screws on the top, under the center peice closest to the windsheild, which just slides off. 2 screws behind the radio (you can't put these back in after you install the radio first, and i dont reccomend to anyway). The bottom is a little tricky.

The lower panel with the defrost, hazards, traction control (if equipped), and heated seat (if equipped) controls neesds to come off first. It's held on with 2 screws on the bottom rear and 2 on front under the side blank panels/heated switch covers (be careful when prying these if if you have heated swiches, you might damage the switch and they are expensive). Then tha tlittle panel will swing down and come off, then unplug everything. Label the plugs if you dont have a good memory and the defrost and heated switch plugs use the same plug pin-out (i know by experience and blown fuses). Then the big center peice is held on with 4 more screws under there.

Then the dash peice will slight right out, it will pop off the bud vase trim when you pull it off, it sorta does go out and up a little.

Instalation is the same as removal. make sure that the wiring is snice and bunched up behind the heater controls, but also make sure you dont do any damage to the heater controls. And you might have to push the peice in while screwing the peice down on top and bottom since you wont have the screws behind hte radio trim that help keep it flush around the heater controls.

[JEGSSR]

That sucker won't just slide out on an 04. I'm having a heck of a time trying to disconnect the emergency flasher switch and the passenger airbag light that bare located in the top of it!.

Originally Posted by Toad

i found it alot easier to take tht center console part out and install the radio in it first. therefore you can fish the wiring behind the heater controls. it is do-able without taking the dash apart, but i have big hands.

to take the radio/center vent section off, is actually pretty straightforward.

first, you need a T20 screwdriver. save it, you need it to take off almost everything in the interior. that center peice is held in with 2 screws on the top, under the center peice closest to the windsheild, which just slides off. 2 screws behind the radio (you can't put these back in after you install the radio first, and i dont reccomend to anyway). The bottom is a little tricky.

The lower panel with the defrost, hazards, traction control (if equipped), and heated seat (if equipped) controls neesds to come off first. It's held on with 2 screws on the bottom rear and 2 on front under the side blank panels/heated switch covers (be careful when prying these if if you have heated swiches, you might damage the switch and they are expensive). Then tha tlittle panel will swing down and come off, then unplug everything. Label the plugs if you dont have a good memory and the defrost and heated switch plugs use the same plug pin-out (i know by experience and blown fuses). Then the big center peice is held on with 4 more screws under there.

Then the dash peice will slight right out, it will pop off the bud vase trim when you pull it off, it sorta does go out and up a little.

Instalation is the same as removal. make sure that the wiring is snice and bunched up behind the heater controls, but also make sure you dont do any damage to the heater controls. And you might have to push the peice in while screwing the peice down on top and bottom since you wont have the screws behind hte radio trim that help keep it flush around the heater controls.

[Toad]

Originally Posted by JEGSSR

That sucker won't just slide out on an 04. I'm having a heck of a time trying to disconnect the emergency flasher switch and the passenger airbag light that bare located in the top of it!.

I wish I could give you a tip on that, but I've never taken one of those off yet.

[JEGSSR]

Originally Posted by Toad

I wish I could give you a tip on that, but I've never taken one of those off yet.

That's OK, I got it in by cutting away the plastic underneath the left side of the radio and stuffing the wiring and connectors in there. Even at that, it was like stuffing a grandfather clock works into a pocket watch case! NEVER have I squeezed a radio into a smaller space!

[Toad]

I don't remember having that much trouble, and I had 3 pairs of RCA leads.

[JEGSSR]

Originally Posted by Toad

I don't remember having that much trouble, and I had 3 pairs of RCA leads.

The Pioneer 7000 is EXACTLY the length of the opening in a 2004 NBC. So if ANY wires are behind the unit, you're screwed. Sticking out of the back of the unit is the wire cluster, the USB wired plug, the microphone plug, the XM adaptor plug, and the antenna adaptor. There was no place for them to go until I created a place. Now I need a cold day to see if I screwed up my heater controls. I do NOT want to go back in there!

[Toad]

theres 'cold days' in florida????????? i doubt it