How to Change the Radio in a Pontiac Grand Prix
by Jule Pamplin
General Motors developed the Pontiac Grand Prix with the ability to be fitted with an aftermarket stereo unit with relative ease. Grand Prix owners who wish to upgrade their stereo system or replace a malfunctioning stereo can do so with little car audio experience. You might elect to have a technician at an aftermarket retailer change the radio in your Pontiac, or you can do it yourself and save the cost of labor.
Step 1
Disconnect the negative battery cable from the Grand Prix battery. Use the screwdriver to loosen the clamp on the negative lead. Rest the clamp away from the battery.
Step 2
Remove the two screws securing the lower dash panel using the screwdriver. The screws are located at either ends of the panel under the steering column, closest to the dashboard instrumentation. Pull the panel free from the dash by hand.
Step 3
Grab the dash panel that surrounds the dashboard instrumentation and stereo. Pull the entire panel free from the vehicle. Disconnect the wire connection that powers the hazard switch at the top left corner of the dash. The wire binder can be pulled free by hand.
Step 4
Remove the two screws on either side of the stereo deck with a Phillips-head screwdriver. Pull the stereo from the dash far enough to access the wiring groups connected at the rear of the unit.
Step 5
Pull the wire groups from the stereo. Grab the groups by the plastic wire binders, not the wires themselves.
Step 6
Connect the wire groups to a wiring harness adapter. The adapter will be clearly marked with abbreviations or color codes to show where connections are to be made.
Step 7
Insert a universal faceplate adapter into the stereo dock left vacant by the old stereo. Feed the wiring harness adapter leads through the back of the faceplate adapter.
Step 8
Connect the wiring harness adapter to the rear of new radio. Insert the radio into the faceplate adapter. The radio will be fully seated when the edge of the unit is flush with the trim of the faceplate adapter.
Step 9
Replace the negative battery cable clamp around the battery's negative lead post. Tighten the clamp with the screwdriver until the clamp cannot be moved around the lead by hand.
Step 10
Replace the dash panel that surrounds the stereo and the dashboard instruments. Reconnect the hazard switch wiring. The dash panel will snap into place. Replace the lower dash panel (beneath the steering column) and screw in the two corner screws with the screwdriver.
References
Tips
- The Pontiac Grand Prix is able to receive a single DIN-sized stereo.
Things You'll Need
- Phillips-head screwdriver
- Wiring harness adapter
- Universal faceplate adapter
Writer Bio
Jule Pamplin has been a copywriter for more than seven years. As a financial sales consultant, Pamplin produced sales copy for two of the largest banks in the United States. He attended Carnegie-Mellon University, winning a meritorious scholarship for the Careers in Applied Science and Technology program, and later served in the 1st Tank Battalion of the U.S. Marine Corps.
