How do you remove the dashboard to access the radio in a 2001 Buick Century?

Answer 1

1) Open the passenger door. On the part of the dash that is against the door, there is a fuse panel; give it a good tug to remove it (it's just got a couple of clips holding it on). Looking directly at that panel, there is a screw on the left, just next to the vent. Unscrew that.

2) There is screw underneath everything on the same side, about where a passenger would put her right foot. Remove that one too (it's a little tough to see). Open the glove compartment. Give the panel that was held in by that screw a tug up near the top, it is held in by a pair of clips.

3) On the driver's side, underneath the steering wheel is another panel. Give it a good tug up near the top, there are a couple of clips. Don't bother taking the whole thing off, just leave the top edge hanging loose.

4) Underneath the ash tray are two screws, remove them. Give the top part a good tug to release it. There will be a wire running from above into that, just leave it alone and set it on the floor.

5) In the same place as you found the fuse box on the passenger side, there is a panel on the driver's side. Give it a hard tug, it has three clips that may not want to come off. If they fall off of the panel, they will be easy to retrieve, as they will either stick in the dash, or fall down to where the driver would put his feet.

6) Lower the steering wheel as far as it can go. Insert your key and turn the car on battery mode (you don't need to start it). Press on the brake and bring the gear shifter down as far as it can go. If you are on any sort of incline, set your parking brake before this, you don't want to roll. Once you've done all that, make sure your glove compartment is open. Starting over at the right-most vent on that long panel that covers the radio, give the long panel a good tug. It is secured by many clips, just keep tugging and moving your way across. You will need to squash it a bit as you maneuver it around the steering wheel, but you should be able to remove the entire thing without too much trouble.

7) Now you have exposed the radio, it should be held in place by two or three screws. Just remove them and carefully pull it out. There are two cords attached in back, when you are able to reach in, just pull them out. The wide one comes out easily, the thin one (the antenna cord) takes a bit more pulling.

~Hegh