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Technical Stereo Removal

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Technical Stereo Removal

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ne1l

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Parked in the garage
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Jan 22, 2005
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Can anyone tell me how the stereo is removed from the Bravo?

I've ordered my new Parrot Bluetooth unit, which should be here tomorrow, and will need to get the headunit out to install the 'stereo mute' box that comes with it so the unit mutes the stereo when a call is received?

The car didn't come with any obvious 'tools' for removing the stereo. I've noticed two slots on the unit. Are these the release spots for the stereo? If so what can I use to get it out?

(y)
 
Well seems the dealers near me haven't a clue.

I went in to the nearest one to me and they couldn't give a damn. The girl at the desk just looked at me in a stupid blank way and told me she didn't have the appropriate key couldn't help without even checking with the service guys. I couldn't face having a go as by the looks of her I'd have got nowhere. Looked as if she cared more about the fact she was working rather than going out shopping for fake nails, shoes and hair extensions with her spotty 16 year old boyfriend :bang:!

So went along to the second dealership not far from me. A bit more pleasant and helpful but couldn't do anything as they hadn't recieved any keys or such tools from Fiat to remove the Headunits as of yet. I asked could they advise of when they would or if they could contact Fiat and ask for the tool to be sent and she said no they and as a result me would just need to wait until Fiat sent it :bang::bang:

Finally on the way home i knew there was an Arnold clark that was Fiat approved and as i was passing by thought I might as well give them a try. Very helpful the service guy came out took a look and said yeah no probs I should be able to get that out. Told me he doesn't have the proper official tool from Fiat but has something similar from Alfa which should work as it looks to be the same security set-up on the Bravo headunit with the same sized slots and should take 2 secs to pop out etc.

Ok great I thought!! "Can you just pull it out just now and I'll drive home without a headunit and get my Bluetooth installed and pop it back in when I am done?" I asked. "Oh sorry I can't I am really busy just now........" (fair enough I thought the guys got work to do) but then he follwoed up with "I'm just about to go for my lunch in 5 mins!!" :eek: Surely he could have taken the 2 secs he apparently claimed it would take to take it out? :bang::bang::bang:

Customer Service Fiat (n)

Not once but three times at three seperate dealerships (n)(n)(n)

So now I'm stuck until next weekend now to get the bluetooth installed as all the service departments will be shut tomorrow. So it'll be next Saturday before I get back to them. That'll give them a week to think up some more lame excuses :mad:
 
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captain chaos said:
Thats crazy i remember going in to fiat research in nuneaton with me old bravo and they did it there and then no messing.

Looks like you have a right bunch by you buddy:eek:
Click to expand...

It doesn't bother me to much that all you seem to find in places like this now is lazy inconsiderate idiots. They're everywhere now. But what I find amazing is a year after the Bravo was put on sale Fiat appear to have not bothered to make sure there dealerships are equiped to help their customers. Surely after a year you'd think the dealerships would have something as simple as the tool to remove the headunit.
 
ne1l said:
what I find amazing is a year after the Bravo was put on sale Fiat appear to have not bothered to make sure there dealerships are equiped to help their customers. Surely after a year you'd think the dealerships would have something as simple as the tool to remove the headunit.
Click to expand...

Fiat did equip the dealerships with these extraction tools but that was years ago & most are no doubt lost now.

Even with the tools if one of the retaining clips bend then it can end up in a 20-30minute job (assuming you dont want to scratch dash in anyway & be very careful) ... personally when I get this request (yes I have the tools) I ask customer to leave car for hour or so as this lets me finish the job i'm doing and gives extra time incase one of the said clips bend.Most customers walk away as are too impatient then sheepishly return a few hours later with a scratched dash:rolleyes:
 
T14086 said:
Fiat did equip the dealerships with these extraction tools but that was years ago & most are no doubt lost now.

Even with the tools if one of the retaining clips bend then it can end up in a 20-30minute job (assuming you dont want to scratch dash in anyway & be very careful) ... personally when I get this request (yes I have the tools) I ask customer to leave car for hour or so as this lets me finish the job i'm doing and gives extra time incase one of the said clips bend.Most customers walk away as are too impatient then sheepishly return a few hours later with a scratched dash:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

The dealerships told me they hadn't recieved the tools for the new Bravo yet. If they have then it just adds more to my argument of them simply not bothering with helping customers. And we're talking about the new Bravo not the old so I doubt the keys were available years ago for it. Maybe the old Bravo yes.
 
New bravo extraction keys were sent out ages (year?) ago by automatic issue to every dealership.

I thought you ment old bravo however above problem (bent clip) still applies.

You cant use 'other' types as although they fit they wont extract the unit.
 
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T14086 said:
New bravo extraction keys were sent out ages (year?) ago by automatic issue to every dealership.

I thought you ment old bravo however above problem (bent clip) still applies.

You cant use 'other' types as although they fit they wont extract the unit.
Click to expand...

Proves my point then doesn't it. According to the three I visited this morning Fiat hadn't issued these keys and they were still waiting on them. So basically they couldn't be a**ed checking.

Poor (n)
 
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ne1l said:
This is true :) I think after the mornings happenings elsewhere that was just the icing on the cake though
Click to expand...

If anyone is thinking of installing anything that requires the removal of the HU from he Bravo................... forget it!

I've probably wasted £120 on a Parrot Blurtooth kit due to the idiotic staff that seem to work with Fiat and probably Fiat themselves.

After a trip around 6 different dealerships at the weekend only to find that in every single one Fiat hadn't bothered to issue any of their service departments with the stereo removing tools I eventually found one today that had the tool available.

Freshly out the box and never been used before on any Bravo the guy at the dealership tried to remove the HU and guess what?1? The tools didn't work!! :bang::bang::bang::bang::bang::bang::bang::bang::bang::bang:

What now? A large hammer and a large crow bar!!!!!

How come every other HU/car I've had it was a 2 sec job?!?

Suppose we know now it's secure and won't be stolen. Though car thieves note. if you fancy trying to help me get my HU out please feel free.

:mad:
 
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T14086 said:
I done one on saturday morning:)
Click to expand...

OK T14086 how do you get the new Bravo HU out then when it is stuck tight due to bent clips.

I took it to my local dealership who attempted to remove it with 'SONY' HU removal clips. I asked him if he was sure they'd be ok to use. he told me yes he'd removed a few HU's with them. It didn't work after 20mins of trying. He told me to take it to another nearby (15min drive) dealership and see if they had the tools.

The guy at that dealer tried to remove it and couldn't with the proper tool. Advised me that the previous dealership had probably belt the spring clips when they tried to remove it.

Asked him to sort it then as it was a dealership problem. He told me to take it to the previous dealership as it was there problem :bang:

So off I toddled to the original dealership. Spoke to the girl at the front desk and told her the situation. She advised me (sorry told me!) that it wasn't their problem. I couldn't prove they had broken it. Asked for the service manager and out popped a little greasy spotty 19 year old who told me the same.

So rather than spend some time locked away after tearing the head off the little boy manager I walked out the garage telling them to go away ;) lol

Anyay now I'm stuck with a stuck headunit for the time being. Rather than going to another shambolic dealer I'll remove it myself.

Hopefully you can help me mate (y) Give me some pointers if you can (y)
 
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T14086 said:
I agree,its the original garage who messed it up so they should sort it.Use the wrong clips & your f*cked.
Click to expand...

What do I do then to get the stereo out? I'm contacting Fiat direct in the morning over the whole shambolic way I've been treated over something so simple as the removal of a headunit. But in the mean time I'd like to get the headunit out and get my Parrot bluetooth kit installed as right now it's £120 gathering dust.
 
T14086 said:
took me hours (I was being very careful as not my car!) does it pull out a little bit or not at all?
Click to expand...

It pulls out slightly. About an inch or two. But no further. I don't mind how long it takes just how to do it. After spending over a week trying to get a dealer to do it, spending a few hours one night this week won't faze me at all.
 
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