I believe the 02 is pretty much the same as the 04. Here is what I did on my 04 TS. BTW all you'll need is a phillips head screw driver.

- disconnect the car battery
- eject the cup holder on the dash
- remove the two screws in there
- pull out the enitre cup holder assembly
- Now slowly pry the center console trim down from the top and around the right side making your way to the upper left
- Remove the screws that hold the stereo and the plastic pocket in (it it NOT necessary to remove the climate controls)
- Pull the stereo out
- Remove the screws and any cables
- Connect your wiring harness for the new head unit and the antenna cable and the ground wires
- If you can, set the stereo somewhere in the car (or have someone hold it) and re-connect your battery and test the stereo before re-assembling the whole deal.
- If everything is good, put it all back together.

 

hm...the stock wrx HU is a double din...what if im putting in a single? i will need an install kit right? for like a pocket for the second din? and mounting brackets or whatever too?

 

You should just need the pocket. A good reason to use crutchfield or sounddomain. They give you a pocket for free. As well as the wiring harnesses that match your new HU.

I believe the mounting bracket already on your double din deck will work on the single din HU and pocket. Can any WRX owners confirm that for me???

 

well, i have the HU already, it came out of my dad's mustang. im selling it to a friend w/ a WRX and agreed to install. unfortunately i dont have a WRX of my own anymore so idk how the radio is mounted

 

I got a blaupunkt single din HU and the factory brackets don't do much of anything to hold it in place, on the top or bottom. I'm looking for brackets or a mod to hold it, probably just have to drill the factory brackets. I've heard of some people being able to bolt in an alpine head unit without modification though