remove center console and run RCA speaker wires
 

This again has already been done on my car, but to give you an idea, I went back and took photos.

Remove the ash tray and take out the one screw.

Pull both seats forward and remove the screw on either side of the console.

Remove the shift knob and the trim piece. This picture doesn't show it too well, but at the front of the console, there are two screws. Take them out. If the parking brake isn't up - make it happen. Now lift the back of the console up and to the rear. Then raise the front of the console up, clearing the rest of the dash. Now lift the rear part of the console to clear the parking brake. There will be a wiring harness attached to the console, unconnect and the console is out.

RCA and speaker wires coming from the glove box area. Notice, I have 2 RCA cables and 4 speaker wires - lots of room!!!

Another pic showing the front half of the console and the wires. Run the wires to the left of the parking brake - can tuck them down in the carpet. Routed underneath the carpet that straddles the console and along the left side of the shifter and on up to the radio. Zip ties hold everything together and in place, plus makes it look professional :D

FWIW: The console on the automatic transmission is a bit different. You pull the screws out of the coin tray and behind each seat. Then you pull up on the circlular plastic ring around the shift_lever. Then you work your fingers up under the plastic in front of the shifeter that contains the air conditioner and pull upwards and toward the back of the car. Remove the white ribbon cable from the climate controls and continue on to remove two screws on either side of the console forward of the shift lever.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y21...eRemoval01.jpg

The worst part of this is removing the rubber piece around the hand brake. That was a PITA when I did it.

I just slipped mine up and over the pulled brake.

What if you don't have the coin tray!!!!! I have a 06 and no coin tray. If some tells me how I will post pics!

I also have an 06. Where is the top-side bolt that I would need to remove to take out the center console?

How do you remove the center piece that holds the stereo?

NVM...I found this link.

http://liljerk.morpheus.net/350Z/dash_removal/

that link is awsome, thanks

Great Link. I am just about to do a Audio install on mine

too much work just to run RCA's and speaker wire. I just ran it under the carpet and down the side. Took 5 minutes off popping off panels

Some of us are not running RCA wires only. I was trying to install an 06 Bose unit into my 03 which means I had to pull everything out.

PS. The 06 stereo will not fit in an 03.

is the process of removing the 06 head console (AT) any different than the one you shown?

i never figured out why anyone would run wires down the center:

1. its much more work

2. it puts the rcas closer to the power wires

3. incase you hve a failed rca or a spekaer wire or what not, it makes it so much harder to fix and diagnose...


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I agree, 16psibrick. The only reason I opened mine up is to custom mount the iPod adapter, which in the Premier line, is large. I'm not a fan of distortion so I keep the power and the rca's on opposite sides of the car.

My RCA's run down the center console, and my power wire runs down the passenger side floor board. Everything worked out well for me :) Only problem I have, is I broke some clips on the driver side. I think a ground wire might have gotten in the way, so it won't stay clipped. It looks ghettooooo :(

as long as the power wires are not touching or very close your not gonna get any audible "noise". just make sure your grounds are grounded well to exposed metal.