Installing Aftermarket Radio, 2001-2004

[Aleromaster]

Here is how to remove and install an aftermarket radio in the 2001-2002 Alero's. Start by removing the radio trim.
The folling instrutions Quotes from Silentalero
Submitted by Silent Alero

Ok step by step here is what you do to remove it completely (remind you I have torn my interior apart about 20-30 times already)


1) Pull the pin out of the front of the gear shifter, and pull the gear shifter off.

2) Ok now your gear shifter is off, now the center plastic piece that is directly under your gear shifter (the piece with the P R N D 3 2 1 on it) no take a screw driver and pry that up. Ok now reach under it but only pull it to where the wires will let you, Now do this, find the plug for the light under the P R N D 3 2 1 and turn it half a turn and pull it out. Now push the 2 clips on the side of the ETS Trac button and push it up through the top. now disconnect the button by unclipping it. Now you can pull the bottom center console piece off completely.

3) Now that the bottom center piece is removed you can remove your main center console piece (with the hvac and radio fit into it) actually now it will be easier. just pull it forward untill you have no clips holding it in. then you will need a 7mm wrench to remove the hvac controls (heater/ac). There are 4 bolts on the back of the WHITE plastic piece (white from behind the console, you will know once you get back there) they are black just incase...Ok now the 3 knobs and the 4 int/ext ac/defroster buttons will come out with it, this is just one big piece.

4) Once the hvac is off now you have to pull off the lighter plug, which is just connected by a clip (find the way and unclip it). Then take the center light (which lights up the dark cave in the center under your heater controls) and turn it half a turun and just pull it out. Now the center console piece will come out.

End of Quote

After you have the trim off remove the 3 7mm bolts holding the radio in place and slide the radio out and dissconnect the harness and antenna.

You will need a Radio Relocation Harness avalible at most Mobile electronics stores (ex. Best Buy, Circiut City) for aprox. $60. If purchased at Circuit City you also have an option to puchase a "smart connector" which is a simple plug and play harness that goes from your aftermarket Radio to Radio Reloc Harness, otherwise you will have to solder or butt splice your aftermarket harness to the Reloc Harness.

This part gets a little more difficult. You will need to remove the center consol or at the veryleast lift it up. To do that you need to remove the 2 bolts inside the armrest compartment under the rubber mat. There is also a bolt on each side of the consol at the front of the vehicle under small plastic caps. There are two spring clips in the same area that have to be released. There is also a support of some sort by the seats as well.

You will also need to remove the bottom of the rear seat. To do so use a Flat head screw driver andplace in the slot under the seat in the front on each of the driver and passenger side of the seat. you can also remove the seat back to make it easier but its not required. To do so look over where the seat back splits and down where it pivots the is a latch you can push then its just a matter of lifting and removing the seat.

Run the Reloc harness through the center consolmaking sure to secure it away from any moving parts. Run it through on of the openings in the carpet and fish under the carpet to the area under the rear seat. Run it up under the trunk carpeting to the driverside of the trunk at the rear of the trunk. If you peal back the carpet on the driver side between the wheel hump and coner you will see a hole that will hold the factory radio nice and tight and out of view. Place a peice of tape over the cd and tape slot to prevent dunt from entering thos holes. plug the harness into the radio and place in the whole. At this point I would plug the other end of the reloc harmess into the factory harness and make sure the factory radio powers up. Make sure you leave the factory radio turned off after you check. If you plan on installing amps now would be the time to run your RCA's and remote turn on wire. You may now reassemble your rear seat and center consol. Ther will be a red wire in the reloc harness that has to be run to an ignition switch sorce. I usually runthe wire through the dash to the driver side fuse panel.

You may now install your dash adapter. You will have to connect an antenna addapter to the Factory antenna cable and connect it to you new radio.

There will be a 2 wire connecter attached to the Reloc harness that is desinged for a speaker availible by the manufature of the harness. I cut that off and install the factory front door speaker to the wires but if you are not replacing yuor speakers than you will need to purhase the reloc harness speaker. i install the speaker in the lower front area of the center consol. You may now reasemble the radio trim.

Oh yeah and finally, ENJOY