There must be an easier wy to remove the damn stereo?

[salviablue]

Hi, new excel owner here.
Right, my car is an MY86 SE, PAS, non-AC.
How to remove the damn stereo?
It has (i presume) the original Clarion tape deck.
It didn't work when I got the car, so after checking all the fuses and earths I could, I decided to have a bash at removing the bloody thing. Couldn't find any useful instructions in the service notes over how to do so, other than "remove stereo"! The gear lever is in the way, so I figured the key is removal of the stick. So, centre trim all out, cleaned up around the lever before removing the rubber gaiter. Off came the gaiter, off came the inner gaiter/cover (a bit hard when you don't want to damage it), out came the bolts (hope they're not torque specific, didn't see it say so in the service notes), out came the lever (put in clean plastic bag) covered the hole with some of the centre tunnel trim. Managed to get the stereo out, turned out it wasn't connected, so I did that, switched it on and was greated with green glow and what appears to be a code entry "screen". Looking around the unit to see if a code was written on it I accidently pressed some of the front keys, wasnt able to erase what I entered and the unit "locked" itself. I have had on for around 1.5 hrs and still no code entry screen.
So I put the whole thing back together and thought I'd leave it on for a long drive and an hour or so after. Any way done that and still no code entry screen.
So now I want to remove it again, also need to get behind the console to sort out the clock and instr. light brightness switch(?).
There must be a simper way (probably not considering its a Lotus)!??
Also if any one knows how long the unit may have to be switched on before a code entry screen appears, or how to reset the time delay, or even reset the code?
Cheers

[amarshall]

When I took mine out it came out with the gearstick in place.

Had to make sure it was in 2nd, I think, to get just enough clearance to wiggle it out. It need to be tilted upwards pretty sharply, but it does come out.

Now replaced with a nice black Clarion head unit with green illumination and a USB port on the RHS so I don't need to worry about tapes or discs any more.

[Tanz]

I am at work now but when i get home I have the instuctions on how to get the code screen back up - but you still need the code - do you have it?

[salviablue]

Hi, cheers for the info guys.
I tried removing the stereo with the car in 2nd and reverse with no joy. Its one of those removable slide out types and just couldn't get enough clearance. Then again I was being extra careful, what with just getting the car and everything, just didn't want to break anything (further!). I now have another problem, bit of an emergency, but I'll post that seperate.
I don't actually know if i have the code to the unit. Written on it in pen was DIAT 553326 555326?
Cheers guys.

[chrisw2811]

Mine's an '86 with a Blaupunkt Toronto radiocassette, which came out OK but it is a tight squeeze and requires wiggling the unit out at an angle up over the gear knob. Have you had a check through the paperwork for the car or the glovebox? Often the code is on a small card or may be noted in the handbook. You may need to remove the permanent live feed to it to encourage it to re-set. If you don't have the code, there are several online code suppliers in the UK who will charge you a couple of quid for the information.

[Tanz]

My Clarion 950HX instructions say

'Keep pressing the ST switch for 3 seconds. The incorrect number on the screen will disappear. Then, input the correct CATS number.

CATS = Computer Anti Theft System

This might be useful http://www.devicemanuals.com/company/Clarion-page0.html

I removed mine without removing gear stick. Found the code written in the instruction book

[salviablue]

Thanks again guys, you have been a real help.

Unfortunately the guy that sold me the car was selling it for a friend. The owner had bought it around 3-4 years ago as a bit of a shed but with fairly sound body and mechanicals. He had it stripped and refurbed/rebuilt. He spent nearly 3k on the engine rebuild and nearly 1.5k on the interior alone (shame he couldn't have had it resprayed too! although looks like someone started to take the paint down, realised the scale/skill of the job/got bored/ran out of budget/time and just had it cheaply resprayed back?! Looks great until close inspection). .He then barely drove it and decided it was best to sell on before he spent more money on it or stopped driving it altogether and it seized.
Thus I have no handbook nor instructions. I have a few tax discs stretching back and mots but thats about it. IMHO a rebuild/refurb is as good as a FSH.

[hodders]

my original Clarion unit cost me £40 to have the code reset - there was a travelling technician visiting my local audio autoparts shop who was able to reset it. If it happened today, I would get a modern unit, MP3-capable as many here have done.

[salviablue]

Just spent the last (how long?) trying to get that stereo out, no joy. I think actually its the carrier cage thats stopping it. When I took it out yesterday, it looks like all the ones I remember, mangled. The slide out unit certainly wont get out with out the cage as there is no up/down clearence for movement.
I did get worried for a moment, just as I thought it was just going to come out, it didn't, but it wouldn't go back either. Effective gear selector lock!

Fortunately I managed to just about wiggle it back in. Can't be bothered going through the pallava of taking out all the tunnel trim and stick again tonight. Maybe tomorrow sometime.

Still, nice engine noise, but its too expensive in petrol to drive like that all the time and besides i'd like to drown out the wind noise (plus I like my music too much, but hate headphones)!