1994-up Impala SS radio installation

These notes are also useful for instructions on removing the doors for installing Dynamat (see door speaker install section)

Copied from a fax received by Crutchfield. The pictures suck, but probably they are better than nothing.


Preliminary

Disconnect the negative battery cable

Antenna

The factory antenna is located on the right rear fender

Radio removal and in-dash installation

Note: The factory radio provision is for an M2000 GM chassis radio. An installation kit is required for all aftermarket installations. We recommend the use of a Scosche GM1500 series kit. Note--If you are installing the GM size Pioneer DEH-65DH, DEH-75DH, or DEH-85DH, then all necessary mounting hardware is included.

  1. Remove fuse panel on left side of dash

  2. Extract (1) 9/32" screw behind fuse panel

  3. Extract (2) 9/32" screws from the under dash panel on the driver's side (not the black wiring access panel) Also note you do not need to remove the two screws holding in the square panel on the drivers side. There will be two more screws outside of this square panel. If you do remove the square panel, it does not hurt but it won't help you out either.

  4. Extract (2) 9/32" screws from below the ash tray

  5. Extract (2) 9/32" screws from the top of the instrument panel bezel

  6. Make sure the parking brake is on, then insert the key and turn to the on position

  7. put the vehicle in first or low gear, and tilt the steering column adjustment all the way down and pull outward on the instrument panel bezel. There are (3) spring clips on the bottom, release and remove.

  8. Extract (4) 9/32" screws holding the ash tray, remove ash tray, unplug connector for light

  9. Extract (1) 9/32" screw from upper right side of ash tray cavity

  10. Open glove box

  11. Starting from left side of the dash, working below the steering column, pull gently outward to start releasing spring clips. Be gentle, but you do have to pull pretty hard!

  12. Work all the way across the dash piece--there are about (8) spring clips total. The last one will pop out near the glove box. Remove dash.

  13. Extract (2) 9/32" screws holding radio, slide radio out.

  14. Unplug all connectors, antenna, and remove radio.

Dashboard


Removed dashboard panel

Door speaker installation

Note: Factory speaker provisions are for standard 4"x6" speakers with adaptor - bose4" with enclosure.
  1. Pop upen the dummy caps located at each end of the door

  2. pull handle and remove the two srews-one from each end

  3. extract the single screw from the door release cup, then carefully snap off the cup/trim piece.

  4. remove (2) screws from iside the door pull cup (at armrest)

  5. carefully, pry off the electric accessory control panel, disconnect the connectors and remove the panel

  6. Extract the single screw from the storage pocket recess, just below the armrest

  7. carefully, release the door panel fasteners and lift the panel off, disconnect the electrical connectors, and remove the panel
Important: Do NOT remove your door panels unless you ALREADY have with you replacement plastic door fasteners. You WILL break at least half of these fasteners removing the door panels, and even those you don't break will probably be weaker. The first time I took off my door panels I didn't have replacement fasteners, so I had to jimmy the panel back on as best I could. My car rattled until I re-attached the panel with new fasteners (picture)

Note: I installed new speakers in my doors, and these instructions are pretty much OK. However, the last step is a lot harder than it sounds! You'll probably need a GM tool to remove the door panel. I used needlenose pliers to grab each connector and pry it out, but it was very hard & tricky to do. It is connected with plastic screw-like things that pretty much break when you pull off the door panel. So be sure to order a bunch of them before you take apart your door! Also you should strongly consider ordering some dynamat before doing this. It is extremely time consuming to take apart the doors, and as long as you've got the doors taken apart for the speakers, why not install some dynamat too? I personally am kicking myself for not ordering dynamat before putting in the speakers. Now I have to take apart the door again to put the stuff in. I have not yet ridden in an Impala SS or any other car with dynamat in the doors, but I have heard that it does a great job of reducing road noise. The Impala SS comes stock with just some cheesy see-through plastic covering up the various door holes.

Dynamat notes: The rear door panels are removed pretty much the same as the front ones, with one big difference. There is a screw on the very bottom back end of the door! I missed it the first rear door panel I removed, and ripped out a big chunk of door. Oops! Also there is no single screw in the pocket recess. Once you get the doors off, put on as much Dynamat as you can. Dynamat works by converting vibration to heat, so it works best when it is actually sticking to a surface. If it is just covering up a hole it won't do as much. On the front doors, with the window up it is possible to reach the inner side of the outside of the door. Putting as much Dynamat on this metal surface is extremely helpful.


Front door

Rear deck speaker installation

Note: Factory provision are for 6"x9" speakers
  1. carefully, pry off the factory grill

  2. Remove (4) screws securing the speaker. Disconnect the leads and remove the speaker.
  3. The wiring is as follows: Brown = LR(+), Yellow = LR(-), Dark Blue = RR, Light Blue = RR(-).


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