How to Install a Stereo in a 2007 Subaru WRX

Despite the fact that many WRX owners may believe the WRX first hit the market in the 2002 model year, it was actually a 10-year-old model at that point. The Impreza WRX actually dates back to its release in Japan in 1992. The 2007 WRX came standard with a 224-horsepower, turbocharged 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine and a four-speaker, AM-FM stereos with a CD player. Installing a replacement CD player in the 2007 WRX requires removing two trim pieces but is a simple task.

Instructions

Removal

1

Wrap the tip of a flathead screwdriver with a layer of duct tape to prevent damage to your WRXs trim panels.

2

Open the WRX's hood and loosen the nut on the negative battery cable's pinch bolt. Pull the negative battery cable from the battery and set it aside to prevent accidental reconnection.

3

Pry around the perimeter of the console front panel, the trim panel surrounding the gear shifter and ashtray, with a flathead screwdriver to disengage its five hook pawls. Remove the console front panel.

4

Remove the two screws at the base of the center panel, the panel surrounding the radio, and heating and air-conditioning control panel using a Phillips screwdriver. Pry outward on the top left and right corners to disengage the two hook pawls using a flathead screwdriver, and pull the center panel outward to access the wiring on its rear.

5

Unplug the wiring harnesses from the rear of the center panel and remove the center panel.

6

Remove the six screws securing the radio-and-pocket assembly using a Phillips screwdriver. Slide the radio-and-pocket assembly outward until you can access the wiring on the rear of the radio.

7

Press and hold the unlocking buttons on the wiring harnesses on the rear of the radio and unplug the harnesses. Unplug the antenna wire from the rear of the radio. Remove the radio-and-pocket assembly from the WRX.

Installation

8

Plug the wiring harnesses into their receptacles on the rear of the radio and plug the antenna cable into the rear of the radio. Slide the radio-and-pocket assembly into the dashboard, aligning its screw holes with those in the dashboard. Tighten the six screws with a Phillips screwdriver to secure the radio-and-pocket assembly in place.

9

Connect the wiring harness into its receptacle on the rear of the center panel. Align the center panel cutouts with the radio and heating and air-conditioning controls. Press the center panel onto the dashboard to lock the two hook pawls on the top of the center panel. Tighten the two screws on the bottom of the center panel with a Phillips screwdriver.

10

Set the console front panel back into place around the gear shifter and press around its perimeter to lock its hook pawls into place,

11

Reconnect the negative battery cable to the negative battery terminal and tighten the pinch bolt's nut to 30 inch-pounds, using an inch-pound torque wrench and socket.