How to Swap Radio with Gauge Panel
Oct 28, 2004, 11:09 AM
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How to Swap Radio with Gauge Panel
My new MR came with the factory 3-gauge kit installed in the lower console opening with the boost gauge in the far right of the 3 holes. I wanted to relocate the radio to the lower opening, move the gauges to the upper radio opening and move the boost to the left hole. This is a very easy swap and the existing wires/hose are all long enough.
Relocating the radio has been covered lots of times before but I thought I put it together with the gauge swap here in one post.
Tools: Medium and small Phillips screwdrivers
Small pliers
1 small wire zip-tie
Time: about 30 minutes
Step 1: Remove the radio. Remove the 3 HVAC knobs buy pulling them straight off their shafts. Remove the 2 screws under the two outer knobs. Carefully remove the center stack trim cover by reaching in the HVAC knob holes and pulling outward. The edges can be sharp so try using a thin rag to cover your fingers. It may be necessary to pull hard the first time to release the snap clips holding the cover on. Remove the 4 screws holding the radio to the stack and carefully pull the radio straight out. Don’t force it iff the radio hangs up but look under the radio with a flashlight to see if the wiring bundle connector is caught behind the dash structure. If so, slide a long screwdriver or coat hanger in to lift the wires/connector up and over the structure. Unplug the white multi-wire connector by pushing down on the small tab on the top of the connector and pulling straight back. Grab only the connector – not the wires! Unplug the black antenna wire by carefully grasping the knurled connector body with small pliers and pulling straight out while twisting slightly. This is a very long connector and is held in tightly. Remove the now free radio and place it aside.
Step 2: Remove the OEM 3-gauge panel. Remove the 2 screws on the underside of the lower opening trim panel. These are located vertically just above the front of the gauges. Pull the lower trim panel straight off. The panel is held in place by the 2 now removed screws and 2 snap lugs at the lower rear of the panel. Remove the 4 screws and 2 black plastic spacers (1 on each side) holding the gauge panel in place. Remove the wire connectors from the three gauges by pushing down on the small plastic latch tabs on the connectors and pulling straight back from the rear of the gauges. Remember that the connector with the white and blue-white wires goes to the oil temp. gauge. Also carefully remove the black rubber vacuum hose from the rear of the boost gauge by slowly pulling and twisting it back and forth.
Step 3: Swapping the boost and volt gauges. Place the gauge panel face down on a padded surface and remove the knurled nuts and lock washers from the silver retaining brackets on the rear of the 2 gauges. Swap locations and reinstall the brackets, lock washers and nuts being careful to keep the brackets square to the rear panel surface.
Step 4: Relocate all the wiring. Move the radio’s white wire connector and black antenna cable behind the HVAC control unit so it comes out the lower opening. Move the gauge wires and black rubber hose behind the HVAC control unit to come out the upper opening. You may find that gauge wire are extra long and the excess has been coiled and zip-tied to some console structure. Cut the zip-tie, re-coil the excess and zip-tie it to some out-of-the-way support above the HVAC control unit. Keeping the excess wire out of the way will prevent it from interfering with the HVAC control.
Step 5: Reinstall. Reverse the above checking the radio and gauge operation before replacing the center and lower trim panels. The radio in the lower opening now uses the 2 black plastic spaces and long screws that came off the gauge panel and the gauge panel uses the 4 short screws that came off the radio. Note that the gauge panel may have to be pushed slightly left or right to center properly in the upper trim cover opening.
That’s it. I hope this helps and turns out to be an easy and useful mod.
Relocating the radio has been covered lots of times before but I thought I put it together with the gauge swap here in one post.
Tools: Medium and small Phillips screwdrivers
Small pliers
1 small wire zip-tie
Time: about 30 minutes
Step 1: Remove the radio. Remove the 3 HVAC knobs buy pulling them straight off their shafts. Remove the 2 screws under the two outer knobs. Carefully remove the center stack trim cover by reaching in the HVAC knob holes and pulling outward. The edges can be sharp so try using a thin rag to cover your fingers. It may be necessary to pull hard the first time to release the snap clips holding the cover on. Remove the 4 screws holding the radio to the stack and carefully pull the radio straight out. Don’t force it iff the radio hangs up but look under the radio with a flashlight to see if the wiring bundle connector is caught behind the dash structure. If so, slide a long screwdriver or coat hanger in to lift the wires/connector up and over the structure. Unplug the white multi-wire connector by pushing down on the small tab on the top of the connector and pulling straight back. Grab only the connector – not the wires! Unplug the black antenna wire by carefully grasping the knurled connector body with small pliers and pulling straight out while twisting slightly. This is a very long connector and is held in tightly. Remove the now free radio and place it aside.
Step 2: Remove the OEM 3-gauge panel. Remove the 2 screws on the underside of the lower opening trim panel. These are located vertically just above the front of the gauges. Pull the lower trim panel straight off. The panel is held in place by the 2 now removed screws and 2 snap lugs at the lower rear of the panel. Remove the 4 screws and 2 black plastic spacers (1 on each side) holding the gauge panel in place. Remove the wire connectors from the three gauges by pushing down on the small plastic latch tabs on the connectors and pulling straight back from the rear of the gauges. Remember that the connector with the white and blue-white wires goes to the oil temp. gauge. Also carefully remove the black rubber vacuum hose from the rear of the boost gauge by slowly pulling and twisting it back and forth.
Step 3: Swapping the boost and volt gauges. Place the gauge panel face down on a padded surface and remove the knurled nuts and lock washers from the silver retaining brackets on the rear of the 2 gauges. Swap locations and reinstall the brackets, lock washers and nuts being careful to keep the brackets square to the rear panel surface.
Step 4: Relocate all the wiring. Move the radio’s white wire connector and black antenna cable behind the HVAC control unit so it comes out the lower opening. Move the gauge wires and black rubber hose behind the HVAC control unit to come out the upper opening. You may find that gauge wire are extra long and the excess has been coiled and zip-tied to some console structure. Cut the zip-tie, re-coil the excess and zip-tie it to some out-of-the-way support above the HVAC control unit. Keeping the excess wire out of the way will prevent it from interfering with the HVAC control.
Step 5: Reinstall. Reverse the above checking the radio and gauge operation before replacing the center and lower trim panels. The radio in the lower opening now uses the 2 black plastic spaces and long screws that came off the gauge panel and the gauge panel uses the 4 short screws that came off the radio. Note that the gauge panel may have to be pushed slightly left or right to center properly in the upper trim cover opening.
That’s it. I hope this helps and turns out to be an easy and useful mod.
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