hnr

im new to the board and im planning on getting a cd player for my 02protege and i was wondering if anyone has used the scosche SKMA37-4 kit and what they think of it...is this kit better than the regular scoshe kit...dont know the part number. anyone have pics of either of these kits installed in their cars? and is it easy or hard to remove the stock hu...i saw the post with tools and how to remove and that sounds pretty easy, but i have also heard some horror stories from a shop in town here. i would just like some more input from other people. also anyone have more pics of the removal of the stock unit

here is a link to the kit: http://www.scosche.com/scosche/soundkase/SKMA37-4.asp ... you can also click to "see it in action!"

thanks guys

NoahsMP5

Some say its easy others say its hard. I had a hell of a time trying to get my stock player out. I ended up bringing it somewhere. I bought the schoshe kit but mine was just an empty pocket under the player. . If you want to spend the extra money you can buy the MP3 dash peice. It looks alot nicer to me.

Aydu

Removing the head unit can be either very easy or very frustrating, depending on the tools you use.

I just finished an upgrade to my factory system and was dreading taking the head unit out of my 02 sedan.

I got two sets of Ford radio removal tools from Walmart. About $4 per set (you get two tools per set and you need 2 sets). Best money I've spent!!

The four individual tools fit perfectly into the factory head unit. You can hear them shap into place, when they are fully installed. You then pull each tool out - towards the sides of the radio. This unhooks the tabs that hold the radio in place.

Mine popped right out of the dash about an inch. You then just use the tools to pull the unit straight out of the dash, unhook the factory wiring harness and antenna and the unit is free!

I've heard of people trying to make due with one set of tools, working one side at a time. I've also heard of people trying to use coat hangers and the home made tools that are shown in the sticky at the beginning of this forum.

Depending on your skill and experience level, any of these may work fine for you. The Ford tools will work for the 1st timer, with no problem.

I taped off the trim on the dash with masking tape, to make sure I didn't scratch anything. The back of the radio has some bare metal edges that could nick the dash, if the head unit and the dash come into contact. The masking tape worked great. I used the blue tape from the paint department at Walmart as it doesn't leave any sticky residue behind. It didn't and I have no damage.

I threw the radio removal tools in the glove compartment for future use. If you're really cheap, you can use them and return them to Walmart. I'm not that cheap.

The kit you referenced looks great. The "best" solution to the empty space seems to be the official Mazda pocked with the door. Bad part is that Mazda dealers want close to $100 for this part.

MisterT

I used a Scoshe kit, but not that one. You can see the one I used by clicking "www" below. It was very easy to put in too! It looks good and truth of the matter, the tray is a useless piece of ****! I had a Metra before hand, and it is even uglier!! So I switched to the Scosche. I don't have a model number (got it from crutchfield as well).

Michael