Lazy Daze Owners' Group

2004 factory Sony CD\Radio replacement

November 01, 2015, 10:28:50 am

Yahoo Message Number: 156770

---

Good day to all!

My in dash radio\CD player is well past its prime, and I'm ready to replace it.  I imagine there are some members that have experience with this process, so I'm hoping for some pointers.  Most important, I'm wondering if it's necessary or even useful to remove the engine cover in order to gain access to the back of the old or new player?  I've followed the instructions for removing the old one, but it doesn't seem to be the least bit interested in coming out, and there's really not much to get a hold of to pull on.  It seems like it may need a push, but I don't want to remove the cover if it isn't helpful.

Any suggestions, recommendations or precautions would be welcome!

Bill

2003 - 23'FL

Re: 2004 factory Sony CD\Radio replacement

Reply #2 – November 01, 2015, 01:11:03 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 156774

---

"...there may be a bunch of the infamous LD caulking gluing the rear of the radio to the mounting bracket"

---- I haven't tried to un-stick the OEM radio/CD player, but I still occasionally find little blobs of caulk in various places, inside and out, even after 12 years! Whether this speaks to my housekeeping or to LD's "trowel it on" caulking practices, I'm not sure, but I suspect the latter! ;-)

Joan

Re: 2004 factory Sony CD\Radio replacement

Reply #4 – November 02, 2015, 05:57:26 am

Yahoo Message Number: 156783

---

Bill,
 I replaced the radio in our '05 a few years ago. I was able to get the old one out without removing the doghouse. It took a little tugging and wiggling, but it did come out. I have posted an article on the project, complete with pictures and a wiring diagram here.

WxToad @ Stony Fork USFS CG near Wytheville, VA www.ultimatecampgrounds.com www.wxtoad.com

Posted by:   roadienh3 Date: Sun Nov 1, 2015 8:28 am ((PST))

Good day to all!

My in dash radio\CD player is well past its prime, and I'm ready to replace it.  I imagine there are some members that have experience with this process, so I'm hoping for some pointers.  Most important, I'm wondering if it's necessary or even useful to remove the engine cover in order to gain access to the back of the old or new player?  I've followed the instructions for removing the old one, but it doesn't seem to be the least bit interested in coming out, and there's really not much to get a hold of to pull on.  It seems like it may need a push, but I don't want to remove the cover if it isn't helpful.

Re: 2004 factory Sony CD\Radio replacement

Reply #6 – November 02, 2015, 10:47:09 am

Yahoo Message Number: 156787

---

Art, Ted, & Chris,

Thanks to you all for your responses to my inquiry. All of them are helpful. I tried again this morning to remove the old unit without success despite my being certain that I have the clips out of the way so removal should be easy. It won't budge!

I'm curious why Art's unit was caulked in, requiring removal of the doghouse, while the other two weren't. It seems like if LD would go to that trouble on any, it would do so on all. I'm reluctant to remove the doghouse only to discover there isn't caulk holding it in place, but of course I may have to anyway.

For now, I think I'll go cut some firewood for a few hours.  Chain saw is working well, so plenty of satisfaction with that on a lovely day here in NW Arkansas.

I'll follow up when I finally finish the project.  Thanks again!

Bill

Re: 2004 factory Sony CD\Radio-Follow Up

Reply #8 – November 16, 2015, 11:49:14 am

Yahoo Message Number: 157003

---

I finally got back to this after a work related trip to Louisiana interrupted my plans, and then some winterizing chores at home.
 I'm happy to report I finally got the old unit out and the new one installed. It was not without difficulties, but it'll be easier next time after having learned a lot. This was mostly because removal of the doghouse, which as others have noted previously, is a PITA.Once it was removed and I got upside down, I could see that the player was held in place by a mechanical connectionbetween the player and a "cage" that surrounded the player. The mechanical connection to the cage was a piece of plastic that was U shaped, with catches, for lack of a better term, that snap onto the cage in a couple of places to hold the deck in place, then were caulked to hold them more firmly in place. No way this thing was coming out of the dash without getting in behind, even without the caulking. Once I had access removal of the old unit and installation of the new went smoothly. There was plenty of room behind the unit and all wiring was long enough to allow splicing the new connector into it out in front of the dash.
 I'm still curious as to why some have this quite secure arrangement and others don't.  Maybe different people perform this same task at the factory and do the install differently, or maybe they have it done by a vendor, which seems a more likely explanation?
 The newly installed (Alpine) unit has an aux input and a USB media port for more ways to listen to music, and, it's much more user friendly than the old Sony as far as navigation, settings and so forth. Sounds great for a good price. Thanks again to all for the observations and suggestions!

Bill

2003 - 23' FL