Most newer Nissan vehicles come with decent factory car stereos, but if you want to install a custom stereo, you'll need to remove the old one. Two of Nissan's most popular vehicles, the Altima and the Sentra, come standard with CD players. In the Altima's case, the upgraded stereo is a Bose unit, while the Sentra's upgraded unit is a Rockford Fosgate system. If your Nissan has these upgraded systems, you'll find that the removal procedure is the same as in the basic factory stereo system.
Unhook the negative battery cable (--) with your pliers. Move the cable away from the terminal to prevent incidental contact. This prevents electric shock when handling the stereo parts.
Pull and unclip the small trim piece under the vent controls. Behind this trim, you'll find two screws. Remove them with a Phillips-head screwdriver.
Grasp the vent panel above the radio. Firmly pull the panel away to unhook it. Do not unplug the connections; instead, set the panel on the dash to allow room to access the radio screws.
Remove the two Phillips screws behind the vent panel. These are the last screws holding the stereo in place. Pull the entire stereo assembly out of the dash. On the back you'll find the antenna and wiring harness connections. Unplug them.
Examine the sides of the radio assembly. Remove the five Torx screws (T20) from the assembly, and then slide the stereo away from it.
Unhook the negative battery cable (--) with your pliers. Move the cable away from the terminal to prevent incidental contact. This prevents electric shock when handling the stereo parts.
Push down the trim beneath the gearshift knob. Behind this you'll find a small metal clip. Pull it out with a pair of pliers. This clip secures the gearshift knob to the rod assembly. Pull the gearshift knob straight up to remove it.
Remove the gearshift faceplate trim. You may need a trim tool or another pry tool to remove it, if you cannot pull it off with your hands.
Grasp the air vent control panel. Pull it away to unclip it. It's not necessary to unplug the wiring behind it; simply set the panel to the side to expose two Phillips screws. Remove these two Phillips screws.
Pull off and unclip the rectangular trim piece above the radio display screen. Remove the two Phillips screws behind this trim. Pull the radio panel toward you to remove it. Unplug the connections behind.
Remove the four Phillips screws on the side that mount the radio to the dash panel. Slide the radio forward to remove it from the panel. Remove the six Phillips screws from the radio bracket to remove the radio from the factory bracket.
