How to Put a Radio in a '97 Altima

The radio in your 1997 Altima helps keep you entertained, while drowning out outside noises. When the radio fails, it can make for a rather boring, and possibly downright annoying transit. The hum of the Altima's 15-inch tires and the off-tempo beat of various potholes just don't quite replace the sound of a good tune from its optional four-speaker stereo system. Fortunately, you can soon return to listening to your jam-of-choice, as replacing the 1997 Altima's radio is a straightforward task that most weekend-warrior mechanics can perform.

Instructions

1

Insert the blade of a flat-head screwdriver under the gear shifter bezel -- the trim piece around the gear shifter, and pry the bezel upwards until it pops free from the center console.

2

Pull upward on the gear shifter bezel to remove it from the center console. Remove the four screws securing the lower part of the radio bezel, using a Phillips screwdriver.

3

Remove the three screws on the top part of the radio bezel -- two directly above the radio and one above and to the left of the radio -- using a Phillips screwdriver.

4

Insert the blade of a flat-head screwdriver under one side of the bezel -- between the bezel and the dashboard -- and pry outward until the bezel-retaining clips release. Repeat this step on the opposite side of the bezel.

5

Pull the bezel outward and pull the wiring harness from the rear of the cigarette lighter. Remove the bezel and set it in a secure area.

6

Remove the four screws securing the radio to the Altima's dash, using a Phillips screwdriver, and pull the radio outward until you can access the wires on the rear of the radio. Unplug each of the two wiring harnesses, by pressing the harness's locking button and pulling the harness from the rear of the radio. Pull the antenna cable from the rear of the radio. Pull the radio the rest of the way out of the dash.

7

Loosen the four screws securing the radio to its bracket, using a Phillips screwdriver -- each side of the bracket has two screws. Slide the radio from the bracket.

8

Slide a replacement radio in the radio bracket, and line up the screw holes on the radio with those in the bracket. Tighten the bracket-to-radio screws, using a Phillips screwdriver.

9

Guide the radio into the dash partway, and plug the wiring harnesses into the rear of the radio until they click into place. The harnesses are different sizes, so they only fit one way. Press the antenna cable into the antenna receptacle on the rear of the radio.

10

Guide the radio the rest of the way into the dash, lining up the screw holes in the bracket with those in the mounting tabs in the dash. Tighten the four radio-retaining screws with a Phillips screwdriver.

11

Plug the wiring harness back into the rear of the cigarette lighter. Guide the radio bezel into place on the dashboard, and line up the clips on the rear of the bezel with the slots in the dash. Lightly tap all around the radio bezel with the palm of your hand until all of the clips snap into place.

12

Tighten the seven radio bezel-retaining screws -- three upper and four lower -- with a Phillips screwdriver. Position the gear shifter bezel back in place around the gear shifter, lining up the metal clips on the backside of it with the slots in the center console. Lightly tap the all around the gear shifter bezel with the palm of your hand until all of the clips snap into place.