How do remove BOSE radio from J30

[mbsmith01]

The BOSE radio has decided to cruise stations on its own and must go. Not sure how to remove the current radio in order to install one from the wreckers. I'm handy but don't want to force things and possibly damage them while I learn a new procedure. Any tricks of the trade here?

[zadisrad]

It is really easy. The plastic cover that is around the shifter is held by brackets. Just use a flat head screwdriver and pop it off. At the bottom of the wood panel that is around the radio there are a few screws holding it(i think there are two). Once you take off the screws just pop out the wood panel as you did the other panel. It is only held in by brakets as well. Be gentle with the wood cover because it is thin. Then you will see the screws holding in the radio(4 screws). Unscrew those and the radio will slide out. Then you just disconnect the back wire and reconnect it to the new unit. Replace plastic covers and your done.

[mbsmith01]

zadisrad

Much thanks for the information re removal of the J30 radio. You probably just saved me $100 that Infiniti was going to charge to flip out the old radio and put in a replacement (excluding cost of the radio). I new there was a simple answer but didn't want to compromise the console experimenting. I'm good to go now.

[Joedudej30]

Open the cup holder.
Lift up on the bezel around the shifter, it has 2 main pawls, one on each side about where the N position is.
It'll be easier to have the car out of Park.
There are 2 screws at the bottom of the wood trim, which go through cream-colored plastic. Remove.
Gently, carefully, start prying up on the wood. It has two nasty pawls at the top of its arc, above the AC controls cluster. Try to pull out without bending the wood. Once started, use a screwdriver or small prybar, or paint can lid prybar covered with cloth to boost those pawls out. THE CLIPS ARE NOT SECURED TO THE METAL ATTACHED TO THE WOOD AND THEY WILL FALL OFF. Grab them as soon as you can, and put them in the rear ashtray. Have a magnetic wand handy to grab the one that falls off anyway. Unplug the ashtray harness, it has a pushbutton on the side of it. You may need a screwdriver to press on the button, as it's small enough to gouge into most fingertips instead of just releasing.
Remove the four screws holding the stereo/AC cluster bracket.
Start pulling the rack toward you, and unplug the AC harness and stereo harnesses.
Take the AC/radio bracket assembly to your bench. YOU WILL PROBABLY NEED AN IMPACT DRIVER TO GET THE RADIO LOOSE. The factory screws will have attached themselves to the radio chassis with what is effectively about 20 foot-pounds, and a regular old Phillips screwdriver will probably not have enough grip to break them loose without ruining both the screwdriver and the screws. This cannot be stressed enough, you do not want to deform those screws. An impact driver kit is about $10 at the Chinese Tool Emporium, and will be all you need.
The BOSE mounts are countersunk, but they do fit ISO/DIN mounting points on normal stereo chassis. Use care with the AC cluster, it's not something you want to manhandle and break.
Installation is pretty straightforward. You have a cavern of room behind the stock head unit, I can't think of a system that wouldn't fit there. If you're using the stock speakers and their amps, you will need a level adapter, and you will need to power the factory amplifier.

[mbsmith01]

joedudej30

Appreciate the input on removing the radio. It's the little things that can hold you up. Got the old radio out and car now sold, along with replacement radio.

Thanks again.

mbsmith01@rogers.com