I know that there are the special keys you need to use to remove to get the radio out. But, I recently found my old sub and amp and would like to put it in Thursday when I have work off but the keys would not be here until a week from today at the soonest. Does anyone know of a trick to get it out? Maybe a small nail file or something just to pop the pins?

 

Go to Best Buy or another place that installs audio equipment and ask them for a couple. That's why I did and they gave me two. Fo free .99

 

yes there is a trick to remove it out without the special tool... I bought that tool from ebay and didnt work.

I pried off the trim around the hazard relay then used a screwdriver to pry off the faceplate of the radio. From there you can see where the metal clips are. Once i removed the radio i took out the clips cuz their a pain in the ***.

 

This^^^^^

If you don't have a Best Buy or Walmart nearby this is EXACTLY what I did.

 

I made a key out of the metal rod in a hanging file folder, I just dremeled down one end to look like the audi key and it works with some effort. I only have one and it doesn't even have the notch but I just release one side and pull the deck out by the tape slot while releasing the 2nd one.

 

glad to know i wasnt the only one who did this trick!

It appears that madcow is talking about the concert radio where there are only 2 clips. I've done that before(before i did my double din swap), crafting my own tool and took me 30 mins fudging around to unclip one side and pulling the radio out. Although, it'll be more difficult with the symphony radio requiring 4 clips to be removed simultaneously.

 

bad news and good news. I tried to pry the front plate off, but my dumb *** put the screwdriver in there too far and ended up busting the radio. Good news is ecs has a new one on sale for $40, sucks that I broke it but the 40 is way better than the 350

 

You sure its busted? When I did this trick I had the intentions of breaking the radio (i thought it was broken anyway and knew that ECS sells em for $40). When the cover gave away, i thought it broke for sure, but realized it was just clipped in. Once I replaced the blown fuse inin the back of it, i prayed hoping that when i snap the cover back on, it will turn on. It did.

 

The radio still works and plays, but non of the functions on the front work. I cannot turn the radio off, change the station or turn the volume up or down. Also, I am pretty sure I can see where it snapped the computer chip that relays the information to the rest of the radio. But, the CD changer has been broken on it since I bought the car so I guess I can justify getting the new one a little more.

 

Bet a trip to best buy sounds like it would have been a good idea now, eh?
I've learned the hard way not to use proper tools.. Sometimes it works, but it has been too costly the times it hasn't.

Always use the right tools. Shortcuts usually aren't. Just my bit of experience.