Hey all,

I need to get to the back of the WRX stereo to complete a satellite radio install, but haven't quite figured it out yet (after two seperate dismantalings). Does anyone have a pictorial of how to get back there?

 

No Pictoral, but here is part of the writeup from my fm modulator install.

First you pull out the ash tray. Then you unscrew the shift ****. Next you pry up the trim ring around the shifter boot, disconnect the plug going into the cigarette lighter, and remove that portion of the console. You then unscrew the two screws under the arm rest and up where the lower center console meets the dash(right under the shifter boot plate you just removed). The last portion of disassembly is to remove the center plate that houses the HU and HVAC controls. There are two screws at the bottom and the rest of the assmebly clips in. Carefully pry it loose up top on the sides and it will come loose. Then gently move it to the side (I didn't disconnect the HVAC controls) while you remove the 6 phillips head screws securing the HU to the interior. As you pull out the HU, you'll notice a nice little cubbie hole where you can mount your FM Modulator without any interference in fitment from the HVAC controls or the HU. You can either tap your 12v swtiched lead on the cigarette lighter, or on pin 10 of the factory HU loom (if I rememer correctly its the yellow wire with a green stripe). http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/at...tachmentid=1961. I pulled the ground off the same lead going to the chassis of the HU in hopes to avoid a ground loop situation. I think that so long as I don't use a 12 charging aparatus for the iPod, this should be fine. If I DO pickup a hum when using a car charger, I would tie a ground from the cigarette lighter to the ground on the HU chassis.

The only tricky part is getting the radio pannel off. Unscrew the bottom screws, then work your way up each side with a plastic semi-stiff spatula (so you don't scratch or cut anything). Up at the top corners there are the main clips that will fight you. Be patient and use the spatula, and you'll be able to pop em loose. This was for an 05, the 04 has screws behind the cupholders that you replace to get the pannel loose. Additionally, you can look here http://www.subaruparts.com/guides/44S_Subwoofer_IxI.pdf and scroll down to find the pages that cover the front pannel.

Hope that helps,
Chris

 

Thanks Chris. Great information, this should definitely help me to finish up the install!