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installing a new radio, 1989 Mustang

18209 Views 9 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  djkris
A friend and I were taking a look at my stang yesterday and cannot figure out how to install my new deck.its an automatic 5.0. how do we get to the stock radio? the center console was a pain and thats when we stopped. Is there a guide somewhere that I can buy/download? thanks for anyhelp. :gringreen
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There should be just some wires that have harnesses and plug into eachother, just pop 'em out and pull out the stereo. On second thought it may be screwed in to a metal or plastic frame. That frame bolts in behind the consol, just remove those bolts. Good Luck

Heres a run down on how to remove the center console... It may help

1) remove the armrest in the back of the center console. There are two oval plug type deals on the sides. Pop them out and remove the 4 5/16" bolts in there. Pull out the the armrest.

2) Remove the 2 screws revealed by removing the armrest. Then pop out the shifter boot plastic which sits in the main console. Remove the 2 screws revealed by removing this. (You will have to take out the shifter knob and boot with plastic completely) now you can remove the center console main piece. Make sure to have the ebrake engaged and the shifter in 1st or 3rd, and dont forget to remove the wiring plugs on the bottom which go to the lighter and the power mirror switch.

3) Open the glove box and drop it all the way down by squeezing it as you let it down. Remove the wiring plugs in the back of the trunk and fuel door buttons if you have them. Also remove those 2 screws you see next to the buttons. Now remove whatever is below the steering column (it will different if your car is post 1990 'cause of the airbag). now remove the 2 screws that hold the rest of the main body console just like near the glove box. There may be 2 more screws at the back of the main body i cant remember off the top of my head. Remove the main body and now you have all the access to the stereo you need. You may have to take out the stereo previous to taking out the main body, I have not seen a stock stereo in a fox in a very long time. Good Luck, hope this helps.
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The Radio is easy to get out of the 87 and up Mustangs. Most Fords are the same way also. Take a wire coat hanger and cut two six inch sections out of it and bend them into a U. On each side of the radio is 2 holes. Place the U shaped tool you made in them as far as they go, less than one inch. Gently pull them away from each other while pulling tword you.

To install an aftermarket stereo you need to get a dash kit. Like this one from Metra.
http://www.metraonline.com/product.aspx?sku=99-5025
You can order them from Crutchfield, Sounddomain.com, and sometimes find them at walmart. They install with four screws. You only other choice is to make your own out of plexi or 1/4 mdf. I am in the process of making my own to be able to add both the radio and a full din eq.

Hope this helps!

Oh yeah, please do me and everyone else a favor, go out and get the wireharness adapter and do not cut the wires. It helps you out by not having to match wires in the car and it is easy to replace the radio with a new aftermarket one or the factory one!
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The only thing I dislike about those kits are the radios are super easy to steal.
It's easy.....Buy from Crutchfield and they send you the install info.

I've had good luck with them.
Stangboy5666 said:
There should be just some wires that have harnesses and plug into eachother, just pop 'em out and pull out the stereo. On second thought it may be screwed in to a metal or plastic frame. That frame bolts in behind the consol, just remove those bolts. Good Luck

Heres a run down on how to remove the center console... It may help

1) remove the armrest in the back of the center console. There are two oval plug type deals on the sides. Pop them out and remove the 4 5/16" bolts in there. Pull out the the armrest.

2) Remove the 2 screws revealed by removing the armrest. Then pop out the shifter boot plastic which sits in the main console. Remove the 2 screws revealed by removing this. (You will have to take out the shifter knob and boot with plastic completely) now you can remove the center console main piece. Make sure to have the ebrake engaged and the shifter in 1st or 3rd, and dont forget to remove the wiring plugs on the bottom which go to the lighter and the power mirror switch.

3) Open the glove box and drop it all the way down by squeezing it as you let it down. Remove the wiring plugs in the back of the trunk and fuel door buttons if you have them. Also remove those 2 screws you see next to the buttons. Now remove whatever is below the steering column (it will different if your car is post 1990 'cause of the airbag). now remove the 2 screws that hold the rest of the main body console just like near the glove box. There may be 2 more screws at the back of the main body i cant remember off the top of my head. Remove the main body and now you have all the access to the stereo you need. You may have to take out the stereo previous to taking out the main body, I have not seen a stock stereo in a fox in a very long time. Good Luck, hope this helps.
wow thanks for the response, so thorough! Ill try tonight when I get home :strut
I have an 89 mustang 2.3 is the rdio removal method the same because i was told you dont have to remove the center console?
u can get a panel from americanmuscle that actually moves your radio to the top and the ac knobs to the bottom and gives u 3 spaces for gauges in the middle, i'm seriously thinking of getting, they got pics of it installed and looks nice
It's easy.....Buy from Crutchfield and they send you the install info.

I've had good luck with them.
i'd second that. bought parts from them and installation went perfectly.
i hve a question question since we are on the radio discussion. i have a 1989 mustang LX hatchbck 2.3L. i want to install a Pioneer AVH-p4200 in my car. i kow i need to install the foxbody radio/AC constols rearrangment pannel & jus to make sure this is the 1 i need correct? (Foxbody Radio/HVAC Relocation Panel 1987-1989 at AmericanMuscle.com - Free Shipping!) the pioneer screen is 7 inches idk the mounting depth but my car can only hold a 7 3/4th inch mounting depth by the way. so to install this id need to get a double din installation kit (where can i buy the 1 for this) and cut out the right size opening in the foxybody part, meaning id be cutting out the row of holes right below the single din slot for the radio. id also need a indash dvd wire harness right? or will a regular wire harness work because i jus brought 1 from bestbuy? please tell me all you guys have to offer knowledge or what ever im listing!
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