I'm doing a SLOW BURN
 

Arrgghhh... I'm so pissed at myself I can't see straight.

I decided to paint the silver parts of my head unit red to match the exterior. After reading every DIY I could find on removing the head unit, I decided to tackle it this afternoon. Every DIY I could find basically said "remove the lower trim piece below the vent controls; drop the glove box out; remove the three vent control cables from their posts... and then grab hold of radio and pull as hard as you can". I had no problems up until that last step.

What every single DIY I could find FAILED to point out was the two 10mm screws waaaay up in there that have to be removed. (and that you probably won't be able to get them out with a screwdriver) After exerting as much force as I could on the HU, it still hadn't budged and I went after it with prying devices. Yay! It's starting to move! Let's put this screwdriver here while we rotate the scraper around the rim of the mount. Now pry some more.

Yup. Screwed up the plastic around the HU. I guess I need to take the camera out there and do a DIY so other folks can learn from my screwup. I couldn't find one here on FF... (of course, it would help if you could include three letter words in the danged search).

That sucks. I know it's too late now - but look for the Honda supplied .pdf on installing the ipod musiclink thingy. It's hosted somewhere on the bernardiparts website, if I recall correctly. Has step by step pictures and instructions for removal of the stock faceplate and head unit.

COMPLETELY agree. There's a lot of good info on this site (as well as others) that's very difficult to find because of that limitation.

Found a link for those instructions: http://www.bernardiparts.com/Images/..._musiclink.pdf

Oh, and if you want a replacement stock faceplate & stereo, let me know - I won't be needing mine.

dont be hatin
my diy has that step :D

Ja, but one wouldn't think to look there first, right? ;)

Daemione, you've got PM!

welllllll..... i would :D
now get back in there and change the bulbs!
also how many clips did you lose?
i dont think i have ever taken my dash apart (in any honda ive had)
and never been able to keep all the clips, they just get lost, the dash eats em

I'm thinking of relocating a few bulbs. Perhaps put the blue one from my fog light switch (base model) into the A/C switch, etc.

Actually. I just quit once I realized what was going on and that I'd f*&$ed up the radio surround. I was pressed for time as the middle son's school had its awards ceremony and I needed to get cleaned up beforehand. I was just going to pull the radio yesterday anyway and paint it another day.

I wonder if that 'panel removal tool' would help with the clips?

check that thread for inspiration, personally i love the white leds behind, ive had almost all the colors of the rainbow and found that the cleanest and nicest.
next choice was blue...
if you follow the steps i made its pretty simple. (but ask if u have any Qs)