Subaru Wrx 2016-2017 Radio Removal step by step

Subaru wrx radio removal walk thru. 2016 -2017
Quick video and photos on how to remove the radio.

[@stimdealer5768]

I doubt anyone will ever see this, but I was able to remove the driver side bolt fairly easily with a swivel joint and long extension without having to remove any panels, or the airbag. Good luck!

[@jonnydwolf]

Totally. Glad the video is here for your comment.

[@glenwright8294]

BRB. Out to buy a swivel joint having spent a bit of time already on this bolt. Thanks.

[@Matrix803]

I've never replaced a car radio before (or worked on a car myself ever, I'm more of a computer nerd LOL). I'm going to be attempting this myself in about a week. Got an iDoing radio for my 2015 Crosstrek. Spending these next few days getting the tools I need and mentally prepping myself to do this without any issues. I am trying to get the radio replaced the same day I start it, so I'll probably just reserve Saturday or Sunday to do it. This will be nuts. xD

[@phd12volt]

To clear up a few responses: The heating controls were nothing more than a plug. I didnt leave it out of the video at all. I did about 4 of these in a row, none of them had cables in it. I literally made this because i was active in the wrx/sti forums back then and people were looking for a step by step. All the main points are covered in the video of getting it out. I never expected this is be viewed as much as it has, but im glad it helped some people out.

[@danielwingmx]

It keeps on helping. Thank you for taking the time. I’m guessing from your comment you’re no longer active. May I ask what are you driving nowadays? I just bought an Impreza 2015 and I’m enjoying it. I’m wondering if you’ve moved out of Subaru into a new brand or just stop actively working on forums. In any case, thanks for this great video. 🎉

[@Pmrmodified]

@@danielwingmx currently in a 22 camry trd in calvary blue. I still do installs but lately its a lot of older chevy products. Being in the car audio industry for 33 years im getting old and cranky LOL

[@jons.2613]

Great video man, super helpful the way you show the hidden pull points and bolt locations. Thanks!

[@briangroves635]

this video saved my life tried to install cell phone holder and I dropped it behind the radio cause it was a fit under vent above radio hrs later step by step got it all done and back together 1st time for everything thks again ur video same me so much frustration and $ on my 17 sti

[@RyanVoight]

Watched a bunch of videos on this... yours was by far the most helpful. Good (simple, but clear) explanations and even though the image quality wasn't stupendous or anything, it showed what you were describing or doing very well. THANK YOU!!!

[@edgarmunson5288]

A very important part this guy left out was disconnecting the cables for the HVAC controls. Both driver and passenger sides have a cable to disconnect before you can actually pull the unit out or else you'll break the plastic gear arms. Driver side cable was white, passenger side was black.Also as someone else mentioned you skip the airbag step if you have a longer extension and swivel head.

[@phd12volt]

Some of the climate controls just unplug. The last four or five I’ve done is all plugs.

[@spacklebarrett]

Where do you pull the climate wires at? I can only pull the unit out a half inch.

[@ragnarocking]

@@spacklebarrett look for the video titled "2015-2019 Subaru Crosstrek Radio Removal and Pioneer Navigation Headunit Install". Climate controls are around 5 minutes in.

[@Drivenut4]

Seriously. That was the most annoying part

[@demigod8721]

Thanks for a great video. It was straight forward and no bs. I appreciate it lots bro

[@MindRiderFPV]

That was very useful. Ended up skipping the side bolts, the HU holds fine with the 2 front one for ease to access to the amp that is now behind the HU.

[@franklyons4503]

This was a great help for me and my new Crosstrek

[@0jimmeyer0]

Thanks for your help on this. Is there anything I need to be aware of when pulling the climate control unit out? Aside from the electrical are there any physical levers or cables that need to be unhooked?

[@frankgomez7161]

He completely left that part out

[@robert.arnone]

Something to note, you should remove the negative terminal off the battery of the car before doing any electrical work. You don't want to short anything out and it stops you killing the battery (or hearing that dinging) the entire time you're working on the car.

[@WolfTheWhiteVideos]

This same video works great for the Fujitsu Ten 7" head unit of the 2018 models or at least in my 2018 STi. That is, it has the same removal process as the Clarion.

[@brandonzak2965]

Great video. Thanks

[@2009renny1]

Thank you. This video was helpful

[@jdavidp66]

thanks for the video. Are you planning replacing the head unit with another Android operating system unit?

[@paultrevino2566]

Great video. I was interested in wrapping the black gloss with something else and was just wondering how easy it is to remove the black face that surrounds the radio and AC controls. Any info on that? Is it as easy as just separating from the radio after it's all been taken off?

[@Mihogan]

Did you ever figure this out? I'm trying to do the same thing - hate the glossiness.

[@joelchristner6688]

Saved my arse. Thanks!

[@johns2682]

Did you unplug the battery when you're in the driver side putting down the airbag?

[@MoFoFoRillDo]

Awesome video very helpful. Keep an rollin

[@vinceruel5131]

Long shot here but I have a stock radio in my 18 wrx. Can I swap with a stock 19 wrx radio so I get android auto? Plug and play? Or extra wirering needed?

[@arther8615]

Great DIY video

[@Black-WhiteMagician]

Thanks bro

[@nickhalka]

cleanest glove box I've ever seen in a customers car.

[@loganemonds314]

Is the 2016 forester much different? It looks like Subaru just reused all of the same interior pieces when building these cars.

[@Troy_Audi0]

Thank you! great video

[@MrShortStuff]

Hey buddy I have WRX 2014-2015 , it have a Fujitsu Denso 10 headunit. I'm upgrading not new Kenwood DAB series. Do you know what pin would be for OEM reverse camera harness? I want to use stock OEM reverse camera with this unit. Cheers!

[@fdas3554]

hi, thanks for the tutorial - there's one plug you mention at the end, and you say it is a "ground for the radio" (5:35). I installed an amplifier to this head unit and I am trying to solve a ground loop problem. How do you know this is a ground? Could I rewire this lead to the chassis?

[@phd12volt]

That is a small gauge ground wire. I would not rely on that for an amp ground.

[@fdas3554]

I agree - the amp is grounded to chassis (it is a small amp btw, alpine ktp 445u) - but the tech support suggested that I ground all the grounds in the system to the chassis - I already grounded the 10 pin ground to chassis, but I can't find a wiring diagram that confirms that that other wire is also a ground - it might be responsible for a ground loop causing the high pitched noise that is driving me insane!

[@fdas3554]

so if it is definitely an additional ground to the one that is in the 10pin connector, then it should be safe to cut this wire and connect it to the chassis, do you agree?

[@phd12volt]

It is chassis ground. The black wire should be connected from the 10 pin harness to the radio. I am not even using the extra chassis ground and I have a way bigger amp than you do. You should have no noise extra whatsoever. Did you ground the amplifier to a solid chassis ground? And the radio should be fine ground to the 10 pin plug with the ground coming off of it. I don't know why you said you chassis grounded that wire as well. Maybe we are not on the same page?

[@fdas3554]

Here's what I did: First I bought a "jumper harness" www.autoharnesshouse.com/82191_info.html and used the +12v and gnd wires supplied to power the amp (it is small enough that it seemed to be okay. Everything worked except for a high pitched hum. Next I added a LOC (www.crutchfield.ca/p_142SLC4/Scosche-SLC4-Line-Output-Converter.html). The high pitch was better but still present. Next, I cut the ground from the 10 pin connector, and connected it to the chassis. No improvement. My theory is that this other ground wire you point out in the video is at a slightly different voltage than the chassis, and is causing a ground loop. My plan is to cut this wire and join it to the other grounds, so they all share a common potential. If this doesn't work then I will try a ground loop isolater.

[@DjJeffopolis]

I've got a unit coming in soon, would you happen to know which cables I would have to pull from the 20-pin to wire up the reverse camera to my new head unit? It doesn't have the connection for the camera through the 20-pin plug, but instead uses a separate plug.

[@phd12volt]

If it is a 16 it is a 28 pin connector. Access makes the adaptor for it. If you have a 17 with the 5 pin connector with 4 wires in it I don't have that adapter but it's easy to hardware it.

[@phd12volt]

Axxess not access.

[@DjJeffopolis]

Ah, ok I have the 28 pin. I'll see what adapters axxess has. You mentioned at around 5mins or so the cables for the speaker leads & power & ground. Which ones were which specifically? Is the 6 pin connector the power & ground and the 10 pin connector the speaker leads? Also, would you happen to know which wire colors from the 28-pin are for the reverse camera and reverse signal?

[@phd12volt]

70-1761 metra harness is color coded to the radio harness. Pretty easy to do that one. Most people get confused with the 28 pin adaptor. Are you going to use a steering wheel control unit?? If not then there is not a lot to hook up. If you are and doing the camera there is some advanced wiring.

[@DjJeffopolis]

I'm doing the reverse camera and the steering wheel control. I want the reverse camera for sure, but the steering wheel control I'm not to big on. I picked up one of the Chinese android units which is what is making this wiring thing so difficult.

[@GamerNxUSN]

Is there a way to remove the HVAC control head without taking out the radio?

[@robertford3096]

Did you ever figure this out? I need a new HVAC but don't want to pull out the radio if it isn't necessary.

[@GamerNxUSN]

@@robertford3096 it is attached by plate, so yes you have to take out both

[@GamerNxUSN]

@@robertford3096 so I replaced the burned up connected last year, things have been working fine, then I respond to your comment and a few days later it's burned out again, thanks for jinxing me. Lol

[@mantiskungfu728]

I'm having trouble figuring out where that ground plugs into, on the oem head unit. I don't see any play where it can plug into. Any help would be great.

[@RoxyASC23]

Where you able to figure this out? I don’t know where this goes either

[@mantiskungfu728]

@@RoxyASC23 I did. It's kind of dumb once you lok at it, but it doesn't actually plug into anything, really... there's a little metal tab that sticks out, and it hooks onto that. Hope this helps, let me know if it doesn't. Totally understand that panic mode.

[@RoxyASC23]

@@mantiskungfu728 my apple car play hasn’t worked since I installed back this headunit I wonder if thats why….

[@RoxyASC23]

@@mantiskungfu728 little metal tab on the unit?

[@mantiskungfu728]

@@RoxyASC23 yeah, on the back... I don't see why that would cause only the apple car play to not work though... if the ground isn't connected the whole unit shouldn't work. I would think

[@rossifumifan1]

Simple and appreciated. Your camera work needs work. Lolololololol. Thank You for this awesome video.

[@behindthebuild9498]

Where can I find a dash kit for the 2017?

[@jasonewing5866]

The Awesome Review TV it is available from Scosche Metra and Best Kit all have kits.

[@behindthebuild9498]

Jason Ewing thanks! But I just checked I can't find one for the 2017 wrx!

[@jackmartin10]

Simple made step by step, this is what the hell I look for when it comes to step by step tutorials or ‘how to’ videos, none of the bull shit filler people throw in the videos

[@jaminx2]

Is this a Harman Kardon system ?

[@joseoviedot]

Excellent bro, thanks!

[@acemoto9466]

Thanks bruhhh

[@TylerSavin]

Speaker leads are in the 10 pin or the 6 pin? Thanks.

[@jpaez82]

which trim was this? i am doing my 2017 wrx premium.

[@R3spectTheV3t]

Why isn’t the car turned off?

[@Dr.Ticklebum69]

Did you launch the radio through the showroom window of your local Subaru dealership? About to replace mine and that's the plan. They need to string up the guy that designed it.

[@elbandidosti]

My 2018 STI has two more plugs ? what gives?

[@elbandidosti]

@Jason Ewing Thank you bro , i appreciate your quick response. I recently installed a Dasaita Android head unit under the impression it was going to be "plug& play" for some reason I can't get the OEM back up/reverse camera to work . All I get is a blank screen and then and ! mark on it . So frustrated .

[@ejcejc4113]

You gotta drop the airbag assembly, like wtf.

[@juku]

With a little bit of fo-💥

[@BradBauer-r5d]

I just punched my radio in the face for not coming out easy. Now I have to put a new one in anyways because my radios face has a broken nose.

[@_milady1]

Can’t seem to remove the first step after hours of trying , all the top clips broke and it’s still stuck in the car :(

[@_milady1]

I GOT ITTTTT JUST EXTRA STRENGTH ON THAT ROGHT SIDE FR