Hey All,

I'm new here and had a couple of questions regarding my new car which is a 1997 Chevy Cavalier.

I want to uninstall the factory stereo, and install my new JVC KD-HDR20 stereo. Is there a certain way I have to uninstall the factory radio?

I read on many sites on how to remove stereos from other models of cavaliers, but has had no luck on how to remove a 97 stereo.

Any help would be awesome!

Also I dont have a wiring harness, and i wonder can i install the new head unit without it?

Thanks in advance.

If you found info on how to remove a head unit from anywhere from 95-99, it will be exactly the same. it's not hard. Remove the dash bezel, all the screws will be right there. You will figure it out easily.

You want to go to a best buy or local audio store, tell them the year, make, and model of car, they will give you a wiring harness adapter. It splices onto the wires that come out of the new head unit(all colors should match) and plugs right into your stock connectors. Easy as can be.


On the other hand....you have other fingers.

Some say he invented November.

JLAudioCavalier wrote:If you found info on how to remove a head unit from anywhere from 95-99, it will be exactly the same. it's not hard. Remove the dash bezel, all the screws will be right there. You will figure it out easily.

You want to go to a best buy or local audio store, tell them the year, make, and model of car, they will give you a wiring harness adapter. It splices onto the wires that come out of the new head unit(all colors should match) and plugs right into your stock connectors. Easy as can be.

That's the thing, I have not found any info on how to remove the factory stereo for those years.

Also when you say dash bezel, are you talking about the whole dash board?

And do I have to get a wiring harness or can I do it without?

you need one. they are like 10-15 bucks. DO IT. DO NOT just cut your factory plugs off and hard wire it. It's a cheap piece of equipment, just get it.

You also need a dash kit for the head unit to sit right in the dash. Go to BB, CC, or a car audio shop. tell them your year, make, and model. Tell them you need a wiring harness for an aftermarket cd player, a dash kit for it, and an antenna adapter. You will be good to go. Should cost a total of like $30-40 depending on the place you go.

As for the dash bezel, it's the part that surrounds the gauges and the radio and the heater controls. 2 screws in your gauge area (under the "sun visor" portion, facing upwards), and if I remember right, 1 or 2 at the very bottom under the dash, but I dunno, might just be pop clips the rest of the way. it's been a long time since I dug into a Cavalier dash. Come to think of it, you actually have to remove the top dash pad. It's not hard, and I think there's a write up on here for all this.


On the other hand....you have other fingers.

Some say he invented November.

To get to your factory radio out kinda depends on where u want to start at but where i usually start is by taking off the side pieces on each side of the dash(driver side where the fuse panel is) than just the passenger side. They just pop right off, there will be 1 screw on each side for the top dash piece. Than go up to your defrost grill and take the screws out of that than take that off. There is 2 screws underneath your defrost grill for the top dash piece. Than open up your glove box and you should be able to see 2 golden screws, those have to come out. Than i believe the top piece should come off. Than there is screws all around the dash bezel. Than TADA theirs the radio, should be self explanatory from there. Hope this helps, i think i remembered all the screws haha its been a few weeks since Ive taken my dash apart.

Thanks for clarifying Josh, I knew it roughly, but couldn't remember it exactly lol.


On the other hand....you have other fingers.

Some say he invented November.