Replacing The Radio February 09, 2017, 03:43:30 pm 2007 model with a Sony radioLazy Daze used caulk to prevent the unit from moving around. To get the radio out Vince says you need to remove the plastic cover so you can move the unit back and forth to break the caulk. The deal is he says the plastic cover usually breaks.I am about to return the fine new radio I bought. But before I do I wondered if anyone has gone through this and had any great ideas.
Re: Replacing The Radio Reply #1 – February 09, 2017, 07:14:00 pm Quote from: Don Malpas - February 09, 2017, 03:43:30 pm2007 model with a Sony radioLazy Daze used caulk to prevent the unit from moving around. To get the radio out Vince says you need to remove the plastic cover so you can move the unit back and forth to break the caulk. The deal is he says the plastic cover usually breaks.I am about to return the fine new radio I bought. But before I do I wondered if anyone has gone through this and had any great ideas.Don, my son and I installed a new radio about 5 yrs ago. Yes, there was caulk but we were able to chip away at it and did not destroy anything. I followed instructions that Ted posted on his blog. Cab Radio Replacement I also installed a Kenwood. Be sure to remove the under hood radio fuse before you do anything.Chris
Re: Replacing The Radio Reply #2 – February 09, 2017, 07:56:10 pm I recently switched the radio out in our 2005 LD. A car stereo shop did the installation. I watched them and don't recall that it was a problem removing the old one. I replaced it with a double din Sony unit Amazon.com: Sony WX900BT CD Receiver with Bluetooth (Black): Car ElectronicsThis is the same unit the factory is currently installing. It took a little grinding with a Dremel to fit, but not much. Happy with the functionality and Bluetooth. 2 Likes As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Replacing The Radio Reply #3 – February 09, 2017, 10:26:45 pm Don,I replaced the radio\CD in my '03 just over a year ago. Though I didn't know it when I began, there was no way the unit would come out without removing the dog house to access the back of the unit. My unit was, as you've been told, caulked in place to secure it and keep it from rattling. In addition to that, mine was secured mechanically to a cage or frame that surrounded the player accessible only from the back. That mechanical connection had to be removed in order to get the old unit out. Some folks on the forum have said that they had no trouble getting theirs out from the front. I suspect that more than one person\vendor was doing installations at the factory, some used only caulk, some clamped the unit and caulked. To avoid damage, I'd recommend removal of the dog house. As I'm sure you know, it's a PITA. In my case, once it was out of the way and I could get to the back of the unit, the removal and replacement went off without any further problems. Hoping I never have to do it again, but well worth the trouble. Bill
Re: Replacing The Radio Reply #4 – February 10, 2017, 01:36:05 am Quote from: krmugn - February 09, 2017, 10:26:45 pmTo avoid damage, I'd recommend removal of the dog house. As I'm sure you know, it's a PITA. In my case, once it was out of the way and I could get to the back of the unit, the removal and replacement went off without any further problems. Hoping I never have to do it again, but well worth the trouble. Pulling the doghouse is the only way to get to the rear of the radio and the blob of polyurethane. Our 2003 LD also had a bracket, on the rear of the radio, securing it. LD didn't want the radio to ever move or be removed.Larry
Re: Replacing The Radio Reply #5 – February 10, 2017, 04:16:31 pm Thanks all. I think I am going to have a pro do it. My back hurts just thinking about getting up-side-down under the dash.Also, even tho I bought one of those super swell $35 crimpers, my crimps remain doubtful and I sure would not want one to come undone after I put it back together.
Re: Replacing The Radio Reply #6 – February 10, 2017, 07:38:28 pm Don, when I replaced our '05's radio with a Kenwood KDC-MP345U, I had no problem getting the radio out, other than having to fabricate my own tools for removing the OEM Sony. Mine didn't seem to have the usual amount of cursed caulking that others have described. I was able to do all the work sitting in either of the cab seats and had no need to pull the doghouse. I documented the process here: Cab Radio Replacement.Note that LD does not use standard automotive radio wiring colors. I made notes of the difference and what was what and that info is included in my article.My only regret is not getting a Bluetooth-enabled radio. I may have to go through the process again. Go for it, Dude! 1 Likes
Re: Replacing The Radio Reply #7 – February 12, 2017, 06:57:54 pm Question for those folks who have replaced your radios....??Did any of you have the setup like I have, Sony XR-F5100 (single DIN, c. 2004) coupled with the optional Sony CDX-757MX Ten CD Deck???I'd like to upgrade to the Sony WX900BT but I don't want to do that if I cannot keep my 10CD deck functional. Any wisdom out there would most likely be helpful.
Re: Replacing The Radio Reply #8 – February 12, 2017, 07:28:41 pm Hi Steve. 17 years ago I had ordered our 'Bluebelle' and purchased an Alpine with a remotely located 12 CD changer. It has worked flawlessly and still does. But I bought a new radio at Wal-Mart for about $100 to get the CD player out from under the passenger seat. CD's are obsolete (almost) now. The new radio with remote control has a place to plug in a small 16 Gb. flash drive. My over 800 CD's fit in a box, in my closet, after they were loaded into my computers. Now I have full access to them in my cars. The motorhome will soon. The radio can play one CD. I don't know if it can convert the CD to MP3 format and put it on the flash drive. It might. One of my other (10 year old) cars will read disks and store it (in Redbook format) on it's hard drive. I think that a 13 year old CD changer would be mechanically poor item to base the purchase of a new radio upon. Definitely, as Joan would say, YMMV. RonB
Re: Replacing The Radio Reply #9 – February 12, 2017, 09:02:07 pm "I think that a 13 year old CD changer would be mechanically poor item to base the purchase of a new radio upon."Sadly I would have to agree with you but...It really rankles me that one must abandon perfectly good equipment because of obsolescence. Just because the latest rendition has a few more whistles and bells is no reason to throw the old one in the trash. Lazy Daze did a super job of mounting that changer out of sight in one of the compartments of my Entertainment Unit (30'IB) and it provides hours of music when there's nothing on TV (which in my opinion is 99.9% of the time). How much trouble would it be to provide the circuit and connector needed to accommodate a perfectly functioning component???But after just having to accept a unwanted HDTV converter box because the cable people insisted it was necessary my hackles are still up. 1 Likes
Re: Replacing The Radio Reply #10 – February 12, 2017, 09:46:16 pm "one must abandon perfectly good equipment because of obsolescence. Just because the latest rendition has a few more whistles and bells "Agreed. My Victola and 8 track player still work😤😤😤Ed 2 Likes
Re: Replacing The Radio Reply #11 – February 13, 2017, 01:29:03 am I had the Sony CD changer and was hoping to keep it, but the WX-900BT does not have a CD changer control function. The installer said it is old technology that is no longer supported by the new equipment. You can play your entire music collection with the aux music input jack, Bluetooth, or from a USB jump drive. I removed the CD changer and associated wiring. The WX-900BT does have a single CD slot.
Re: Replacing The Radio Reply #12 – February 13, 2017, 08:08:38 am Steve,It may be a slim hope, but have you called the folks at Crutchfield? They are all pretty knowledgeable and helpful in my experience. It's possible they may have something that would work with your existing ten disk unit. Bill
Re: Replacing The Radio Reply #13 – February 13, 2017, 08:54:20 am "Just because the latest rendition has a few more whistles and bells is no reason to throw the old one in the trash."In general, I agree with you. But I'm with Ron on this one: being able to store 800 CDs worth of music on a thumbnail-sized chip with no moving parts to wear out, and being able to access all 9,000+ tracks by name, artist, album or genre--heck, with my iPhone I can just say "Hey, Siri, play some Art Tatum"-- is not in the "bells and whistles" category. It's a major improvement. I wouldn't regret for an instant replacing a mechanical CD changer with a setup that's so much more versatile and less trouble-prone.
Re: Replacing The Radio Reply #14 – February 13, 2017, 01:21:48 pm Quote from: Lazy Bones - February 12, 2017, 06:57:54 pmDid any of you have the setup like I have, Sony XR-F5100 (single DIN, c. 2004) coupled with the optional Sony CDX-757MX Ten CD Deck???I'd like to upgrade to the Sony WX900BT but I don't want to do that if I cannot keep my 10CD deck functional. When I checked on this, several years ago, the CD deck was obsolete and no new radios could be found that could control it.You are stuck and will either need to stay with what you have or upgrade to the newer technologies.Our LD's original radio died and we were forced changed to a newer, Bluetooth radio. We use our phone's music libraries or XM as the sources, as well as over the air broadcast.Larry
Re: Replacing The Radio Reply #15 – February 13, 2017, 02:41:44 pm "You are stuck and will either need to stay with what you have or upgrade to..."Well, thanks for all the comments, it's 'poor beef' but what can I do?Not only does one have to put up with planned obsolescence but at my age I contend with poor eyesight and poor hearing. Put that in a jug and shake it up... the result is not a pretty sight. 1 Likes
Re: Replacing The Radio Reply #16 – February 14, 2017, 08:04:24 am I had the unit installed yesterday. I was with the tech the whole time. The doghouse had to be removed. No way around it. The radio was bolted to a bracket that keeps the unit level. (also anti-theft) There was caulk on the bracket. Why? I have no idea. I think Lazy Daze uses caulk like the guy on My Big Fat Greek Wedding used Windex. 5 Likes