Hey everyone :p
This is my first time here and it's been a great couple of hours reading through the topics and checking out all the audio advice.
I've just bought the pioneer pioneer deh5550mp head unit and was hoping to avoid installation costs. I can't work out how to remove the stock H/U from my '98 advance. Any advice? Thx, ADZ

Check out the Tech Tips on this site.... shows how to remove the centre console and get to the Head Unit.

i cant seem to find em. cheers shaun

It used to be there until Blake updated the site.... He should be putting them back on once he uploads the car audio section.......

Sorry they were removed to make way for the new tech articles... they will be off for at least a week.

I'll see if i can mash something together at work tommorow

id appreciate that

Welcome to the forums shaunv8.

Although I realise you want to save on installation costs, please be very careful installing your new deck and please ask if you're not 100% sure. ;)

If you had any idea just how many system I have to fix because people have attempted to install them at home... :(

Yeah I realise this but the MAIN reason I want to get the centre of the dash apart is to fix up the aircon and heater controls etc. I hope someone can help me soon with some info on how to do this. Cheers shaun

See if i can help without pics:

basicly, if u get a flat head screw driver, you can pull out the plastic around the air-con first,

(I think thats the first one, but u mite need 2 remove the plastic around your shifter (also clips out)

Once you pop out the centre plastic around the air-con control, disconnect the hazrd light plug so you can pull it all the way out (you'll see the plug behind the switch)

There are two screws on top of the air-con control unit which you only need to undo about 1/2 way and the control unit should pull out enough to "Un-attach" itself from the dash

Then the metal bracket with the HU in there will have some screws, not hard 2 see they'll be winkin u in the face :)

Undo those, pull it out (TIP: Mark which side is which on the metal brackets, and which way is up, it confused the hell outta me when i was puttin them back in with my new HU)

Then unplug the antenna and harness from the back of the HU, you can then take out the bracket completely and unscrew your old HU. Put the new one straight in its place, so u dont forget which side of the metal goes where like i did (even if you marked it)

Then you have the choice of cutting the wires and using crimp connectors or solder to join all the wires (which i did)
or you can get a snap on connector so you dont have any wire cutting to do, and u wont risk damaging your electrical system (if you know what ur doin, its easy as and u dont need a snap on harness, seeing u dont hav new car warranty anymore u dont need 2 worry bout voiding it)

Test it all out before you put the dash completely back together. Everything is just the reverse of how it came out (i didn't have fun putting it back together cuz i didn't take note of what i was doing when i pulled it apart)

THE END

P.S Apologies if this isn't `100% acurate its been like 2-3 months since i did mine.
Blue

im still having a prob gettin at the 2 screws holding the a/c switches to the back of the fascia cause the switch unit wont come out far enough to get to the screws and the only way I can see is to pull out the top part of the fascia(the one with the a/c vents in it but that will not come out either cause there is a cable attatched to the rotary control on the drivers side of it and I have no idea how to get it out. Thanks for your help I appreciate it. cheers shaun

If i remember righty i could just get a screwdriver in there, so i dunno, try n ermove the HU bracket 1st n see if it give u anymore room
Blue

when are them techincal articles gonna be up??