So you push in the tools until it clicks, then you spread them apart and it doesn't disengage the clips?

Someone had borked one of mine on my 97 Mark VIII. I was able to access it by removing the the message center but I can't remember any access with my 89 Cougar.

Inserted:


pushing out on far end to compress clip:


I snagged a new clip from a car in the junk yard and fixed it, the radio isn't great, but I didn't want to replace it with another factory deck or aftermarket yet.

 

Thanks for the pic, I'll have to try it again as the pic better explains the removal, it's been 6 years since my last Ford so I might have been doing it wrong.

It seemed like they could be messed up as someone had the dash apart before but my guess that was for the headlight switch.

 

Same problem here, from what I am seeing in the pic, mine seems to right past and not click - in. I have tried just inserting to what seems to be about the right place, pulling tool handles apart, and up. Have tried again and again. CD player underneath removes the same way, and it was a piece of cake. This radio has been out before. I am envisioning that the tool must be going in between the clip and radio, and not "pushing in" the clip so it can be removed, that maybe the clip is broken to the "far out" position? Have tried removing bezel screws to see if that gives more access, but don't see exactly where torx screw holding the bezel behind the radio and CD player is - assuming it is hidden behind radio.

 

I took out the OEM radio a few weeks ago and had the same issue. I even bought the removal tool from the auto store.

I could feel the tool click in and the radio was loose using it, but it still felt like it was hanging up on something.
Ended up wiggling it around and I accidentally ripped off the front faceplate off it. Kind of upset because I did want to keep the original radio.

It came out eventually but was a pain in the ass.

I have take out a few ford radios before and never had such a problem.

 

step 1. take it to the low end of town.
step 2. leave the windows down.
step 3. leave for an hour.
step 4. radio has been generously removed free of charge...lol

 

step 5. buy new wheels & tires...

 

You guys are so BAD !!!!!!

 

Got it out the other day, I removed the cluster bezel and pushed on the back of the radio while using the clips and it freed it up enough to get it out.

 

That is what I am trying, so far no luck. It feels like the factory tools just go right past where they should stop, even if I stop inserting at about the right spot, I still can not spread the factory tools apart and lift up and remove the radio as shown - I have had it out before, and the CD below was a cinch to remove using the same tools.

 

Same problem, I am thinking maybe if I remove the CD player underneath the radio, maybe then I can get the radio out by pushing on the back and wiggling while using the U-shaped tools - watched the video's, and have had it out before - thinking a clip is broken or something -

 

UPDATE - removed CD player (single CD) no problem, using the U shaped tools from Lisle - still can't get upper standard radio out, even pushing on the back of radio through CD player opening, wiggling, using tools and wiggling. Currently trying to get TORX screw out of radio area bezel to see if that will clear it up more - sprayed WD-40 with the spray tube on upper left Torx screw holding bezel in, and where catches are that are supposed to hold the radio in. One thing I noticed, cassette player never had sound after being fixed - noticed on CD player it looked to me as if there was nothing on the terminal on the passenger side at the CD player back - ?

 

Those tools will take it out. Make sure it's pushed all the way in first. Pulling on it won't do any good if the clips are locked.

Al

 

It feels like the tools do not stop where they should - am trying to stop the tools at about the right spot, and pull apart and up as shown to remove radio. So far no go, trying removing bezel screws, apparently can't get to the one behind radio - to see if I could access it any better. Am trying to push from behind also - maybe I can push from behind and manage to wiggle the radio while using the tools - sounds like a handful.