How to Remove the Stereo in a 97 LeSabre

The name "LeSabre" first saw use in a General Motors concept car in 1951, and Buick added the name to their lineup in the 1959 model year. The 1997 LeSabre, one year removed from a redesign, came fitted with a 205-horsepower, 3.8-liter V-6. The LeSabre also had a standard four-speaker, AM/FM radio and had the option of adding up to 10 speakers and an AM/FM/Cassette/CD stereo. Replacing the stereo in the 1997 LeSabre involves removing the trim from the front of the dashboard.

Instructions

1

Pry the instrument panel lower trim plates -- the two trim pieces at the bottom of the instrument panel -- up carefully, using a flat-head screwdriver. There is one short trim plate to the left of the steering wheel and one long one to the right.

2

Insert a flat-head screwdriver between the top of each air vent deflector and the instrument panel and pry each of the vent covers from the instrument panel. Notice that each deflector has circular notches on the top and bottom that pins in the dashboard snap in to.

3

Remove the three lower bolts on the glove box, using a ratchet and socket. Open the glove box and remove the two bolts on the top of the glove box, using a ratchet and socket. Pull the glove box from the instrument panel.

4

Remove the five bolts on the lower part of the instrument trim panel, using a ratchet and socket. Pull the trim panel downward to disengage the upper clips, and remove the trim panel from the LeSabre.

5

Remove the five bolts -- two upper and three lower -- holding the radio in place. Pull the radio out of the dashboard until you can access the electrical connectors on the rear of the radio. Press the locking button on each connector and pull each connector from the radio. Grab the antenna wire and pull it from the rear of the radio. Pull the radio out of the dashboard.

6

Remove the nuts holding the upper and lower mounting brackets to the radio, using a ratchet and socket, and pull the brackets off the radio. Set the brackets on the new radio and tighten the nuts, using a ratchet and socket.

7

Plug the electrical connectors into the rear of the radio -- they are different sizes, so they only plug in one way. Push the antenna wire into the rear of the radio. Slide the radio in place in the dashboard and tighten the upper and lower bolts to 1 to 2 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench and socket.

8

Set the instrument panel trim back on the dashboard and push upward to engage the upper clips. Tighten the five lower bolts to 1 to 2 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench and socket.

9

Reinstall the glove box in the dashboard and tighten its five bolts to 1 to 2 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench and socket. Close the glove box door.

10

Position the air vent deflectors in the dashboard and press them into their holes until the pins in the dashboard lock into the grooves in each deflector.

11

Set the instrument panel lower trim plates back into place on the bottom of the instrument trim panel and press them until they snap into place.