CDR-220 Not coming out with Keys inserted

[barlowdo]

I am trying to remove my CDR-220. From previous posts I have read once you get the keys it is a ten minute job.

Well I started this task Friday and radio is still in the car with two ugly aluminum keys sticking out of the radio on my drive into work on Monday.

So far I have removed the Bezel around the climate control hoping to gain some access but did not seem to gain any.

Tried pulling both keys toward middle of radio to get the latches to free up and no luck.

Pushed in harder on the keys and tried pulling and prying on other locations of the radio and still it is stuck.

A couple of questions:

1. I saw a pic on line and a post stating the two keys are designed one for the left side and one for the right is this true? I ask because my keys appear to be identical.

2. Do I have to remove the horizontal cover found in the pic with the green arrow pointing at it before I can pull the radio out? I ask because I took a very thin putty knife and slid it between this cover and the bottom of the radio and I could feel it hitting something hard all the way across the bottom of the radio. Almost like part of the radio is positioned behind the cover.

3. How do I remove this cover if indeed it has to come off and what is the cover called?

4. Assuming I can't get the radio out is there away to get the keys out?

Thanks in advance.

[gnetwerker]

I did this in my (old) 986 Boxster, and have two pieces of advice:

1) The whole thing is stiff, and quite tight. I used two screwdrivers, one through each "key", in order to exert enough force to get the CDR-220 to slide out;

2) You may have to jiggle the unit up and down (not right and left) a little to loosen it.

That's it. My keys were marked right and left, but as I recall, they were the same. I haven't tried in my 996, but one can also pop off the side panel in the footwell and get some access to the back and side of the cage.

Good luck.

[Loren]

You need to pull evenly and very hard. I used gloves for the finger holes in the keys.

(photo courtesy Tom Morris)

After you get the radio out look for the blue tab (on each side) to release each key.

[barlowdo]

So you folks are saying I do not need to take the horizontal covering piece that I have the green arrow pointed at off first?

I am trying to keep from breaking anything. :)

BTW- I looked at this piece I am referring to a few minutes ago and it appears to be acting as a filler since the radio is slightly shorter than the height of the din slot.

Edited April 30, 2012 by barlowdo

[logray]

The bottom piece you refer to is part of the dash frame, you won't be able to get that off unless the radio is out. :)

Just pull harder, the radio will slide out.

Once you put the keys in far enough they will engage the releas eand then you just pull.

[barlowdo]

Logray. Thanks for the info on the trim piece at least now I know not to mess with it. I wonder why I feel metal directly behind it ?

[logray]

Once you get the radio out you'll find out. :)

As suggested earlier you can also pry off the trim to the left and right of the radio cage (those big leather triangle pieces where your calf rubs up against).

They just pry off from the back, grab with your hand and pull out towards the door.

[barlowdo]

I made some progress this morning. I tried putting on leather gloves and found then the gloves were too large to fit inside of the keys. So I just wrapped the little finger of each glove inside the rings of the key and that gave me more leverage and with a little wiggling it slowly pulled out about a 1/4 of an inch. Did not want to go farther as the battery was still connected and I did not want to set off any alarms if I accidentally tripped the antitheft micro switch that I am told is on the left side of the radio compartment.

"one can also pop off the side panel in the footwell and get some access to the back and side of the cage." - I took off the pass left knee carpet piece and really did not gain any room to get my hand up the upper cubby where the radio is. I gained some access to the lower set of the two cubbies but not to the lower of the upper two din cubbies.

At least I am making progress. So thanks everyone.

[ldrhoades]

Have you tried pushing it back in and re-seating it? Trying to remember last time I yanked mine out, but seem to recall this might have helped. Just my $.02

[barlowdo]

Not yet I am leaving it where it is until I get a spare moment. I got caught up in an AC issue on another vehicle. BTW - does anyone know if there is a microswitch anti theft device on the 996 like there is on the Boxster - at least that is what I think from reading some posts. Have not actually seen either.

[Loren]

it would depend on the radio style - CDR-220 has no switch the alarm connection is in the wiring connector.

[barlowdo]

OK Thanks - this is a CDR-220 , I did not intend to disconnect any connectors at this stage anyway. I was trying to figure which route I wanted to take to input audio to the CDR-220. VIA antenna which has the added bonus of displaying Song/Title info or via the Audio which I have been experimenting with and have gotten audio into the radio from the RCA cables that were previously connected to what I guess is a dead CD changer since all I get is "NO CD found".