Cybrex

Hey Everyone!

My girlfriends birthday is coming up and she bought a 2002 Chevy Cavalier recently and its still running around with the factory stereo in it, I want to replace it. Only problem is, theres no way for me to sneak the car out to have a stereo installed for her because she has it all day while at work, and I usually work nights and weekends. So I need to figure out how to install it myself.

I've helped a couple of friends in the past but its been awhile, and I'm not sure how to go about removing the stereo itself and replacing it with a newer model that will fit in its place.

From what I've seen online is I practically have to remove the whole dash to get the stereo out (as shown in attached image), at which point I then need to have a kit (depending on the stereo I get her) thats either the same size as the factory, or one that would then require a kit with a space filler with it. Ie. 2002 Chevy Cavalier Stereo Installation at CARiD.com

How long do you think this will take? Her birthday isn't till July but i'm making sure I've got all bases covered and I don't fry myself I guess, haha.

Thanks for the help and guidance.

Dukk

Yeah this isn't exactly a great car to be learning on - you do take the entire top and front of the dash off. Quite often the new deck interferes with the supports in the back of the cavity also and they need to be removed.

I can get one done in about half an hour but I've done a lot of them. If you have the kit and harness pre-prepped, and can get around a dash ok, I would guess at an hour. In that time, you could 'steal' it, get a shop to do it, and have it back.

VWdude

Paul is right on. I think there's a few screws and the rest snaps off. You can prepare the wire harness ahead of time and get the cage installed in the dash kit ahead of time. The wire harness is straight forward. Get the correct one for the year and car and match of the wires with the harness that comes with the new deck. They are color coded but also verify what is written on the wires and make sure they match.

If the wire harness is $60 for that car then that means its the updated wiring which means you ah e to relocate the factory radio. If that's the case then I would have it professionally done as describing it on here would be too tough.

sweetlikechutny

Order the wire harness and dash kit from ebay (roughly 20 - 30 bucks). Have the wiring ready (solder and heatshrink) and the brackets attached to the new head unit. Then steal her car from work (or just break into it). It should take you max 10 minutes to install it if the wiring is prepared ahead of time.

Dukk

^ 10 minutes? Only a pro with experience with that gen of Cavalier could pull that off.

10 screws to take the top of the dash off, three more to get the front fascia off, another three to get the factory deck out, and then back.

cheddarbiscuit

Those cars are a pain in the ***, only do it yourself if you're comfortable. I was totally lost the first time I did an install on one years ago.

cerwinvega_fan

Crutchfield and youtube are your best friends!