Randy T.
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☯ AURORA GXP ☯
Posts: 3,758
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Post by Randy T. on Jan 5, 2009 21:51:12 GMT -6
Do you need to change your tape or cd player without changing your whole radio. Or maybe you would like to replace a worn button. Here I will show you how to take out and replace these parts on your Aurora. Anyone could do this, it is a pretty easy project.  To change the tape player you don't have to take the face off, to change the cd you do. I took the whole radio apart and reassembled it in 41 minutes and I was taking pictures, notes, and chasing tools. '95s have different radios. The face is designed differently (the way it plugs in the front) and I am not sure how many of the other parts interchange. I think the tape and cd do interchange but I am not positive. What you will need:
1/4 socket.
3/16 socket.
T8 torx bit.
Toothpicks.
Small pliers and vice grips.'97 Aurora cd and tape player.  1. How to remove the face of the radio.I remove the face with toothpicks. Wedge toothpicks in the 2 top clips, then flip the radio and wedge the 2 bottom clips. After that there are 2 more on each side. You have to push the toothpick beside the metal tab not in front of it. If you don't, it won't lift the plastic clip high enough to release. Leave all of the toothpicks as you go or it will pop back into place. Lift all of these tabs and your face is ready to be pulled straight off.   2. How to remove and replace the buttons. The circuit board is held on by 4 screws. Be careful not to bend the pins when you are working around them. I use a small pair of pliers and vice grips for this part. After you remove the screws the face lifts off. Be careful not to let the white "L" part stick to the circuit board when you lift it. The first pic is upside down compared to the next.  Also, there is a plastic rectangle that is around the display area. Put the plastic rectangle back down the way it was facing.  In this picture I put the plastic rectangle back and removed the "L". When you remove the "L" the tape door will lift up a bit, be careful. When you put the "L" back in you have to lift the tape door, it then goes right back in.  Lift the clear plastic knob piece and the black thin piece and you are ready to replace your buttons. This would be a good time to clean some parts also.  3. Hot to remove and replace the tape player.Take the bottom lid off. It has one 1/4 inch screw. Pop the tabs up in the back of the radio first. When you lift the back of it, it releases the front. There are 3 3/16 screws holding the tape player in. Take those out unplug 2 plugs and you have it out.   4. How to remove and replace the cd player.Take the lid off. It has one 1/4 inch screw in the top. Pop the tabs up in the back of the radio first. When you lift the back of it, it releases the front. There are 2 torx screws in the front of the radio and the back. Remove these and the cd deck is ready to come out.   You will want to unplug the wire strap from the cd player deck, not the radio.  This is the plug on the circuit board of the cd player. It opens and closes. You will need to have it open when you plug the wire back in. Then you have to close it when the wire is all the way in. Open.  Closed.  Back together!  If you have any questions I will be glad to answer them. |
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Post by kaykirk on Jan 5, 2009 22:30:43 GMT -6
Hey RandyT, when you come to the meet in Aurora, bring my buttons with you. I found this great info on replacing the buttons. I removed the pix that came along with this great write-up to save space but I can print out all the instructions for you before you install them for me at the meet ;D PS there is a list of things you will need....be sure to bring them with you!  ....maybe you would like to replace a worn button. Here I will show you how to take out and replace these parts on your Aurora. I took the whole radio apart and reassembled it in 41 minutes and I was taking pictures, notes, and chasing tools. What you will need:
1/4 socket.
3/16 socket.
T8 torx bit.
Toothpicks.
Small pliers and vice grips. How to remove and replace the buttons. The circuit board is held on by 4 screws. Be careful not to bend the pins when you are working around them. I use a small pair of pliers and vice grips for this part. After you remove the screws the face lifts off. Be careful not to let the white "L" part stick to the circuit board when you lift it. The first pic is upside down compared to the next. Also, there is a plastic rectangle that is around the display area. Put the plastic rectangle back down the way it was facing. In this picture I put the plastic rectangle back and removed the "L". When you remove the "L" the tape door will lift up a bit, be careful. When you put the "L" back in you have to lift the tape door, it then goes right back in. Lift the clear plastic knob piece and the black thin piece and you are ready to replace your buttons. This would be a good time to clean some parts also. This is why we have a great site! Thanks RandyT, you are awesome  I bet it took you longer to do this write-up and upload the photos than it took to take the radio apart and put back together *edit* btw, do you know how to put a door panel back together.......the right way  I was pretty happy yesterday when my window was working again but when I took a look at it today, in broad daylight, it needs a little........uummmm............tweaking   |
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Post by oneye on Jan 6, 2009 5:42:17 GMT -6
Excellent wrte-up! Thanks, Randy. Any recommendations from the voice of experience on repair/replacement for the CD player?
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Randy T.
Administrator
☯ AURORA GXP ☯
Posts: 3,758
Staff Member
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Post by Randy T. on Jan 6, 2009 16:48:39 GMT -6
The door panel should just push down and lock in, and then there are 3 screws that hold it down. And I will need the instructions, it looks pretty complicated.  I think it took me a couple hours to write it up and organize it. My eyes were popping out. Oneeye, I haven't taken the cd deck apart, I have only cleaned the eye with a q- tip. |
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Post by kaykirk on Jan 6, 2009 17:41:54 GMT -6
I will need the instructions, it looks pretty complicated. ;D The door panel should just push down and lock in, and then there are 3 screws that hold it down. It's not actually the panel, it's the wood part on the door handle where the controls for the window are. Last time I had it to the mechanic to replace the window switch (I had hoped that would fix the window but it didn't) they didn't get the vent in the handle seated properly (the vent wouldn't open and close) so the hubby thought he would fix that while he had the door torn apart. Well, he got the vent to work but now the wood part isn't seated properly. the upper part is good but the lower part sticks up probably a 1/2 inch So I informed the hubby yesterday, he is still awesome just not as awesome as I thought the day before ;D He thought the window wasn't working and was glad to know it did. He then said that part wasn't where it was supposed to be in the first place and he couldn't get it any better. I informed him, it was I think he may try again but he doesn't have another day off for about 11 days  and in case anyone is wondering.....no, I don't nag |
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Post by Marc on Jan 6, 2009 20:53:49 GMT -6
I wish it were possible to see that for the 2nd gen.
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Post by Rocinante on Jan 6, 2009 21:08:39 GMT -6
I wish it were possible to see that for the 2nd gen. Marc, I asked about this a few months back. I don't think anyone on this site has done this for a second gen. I purchased another head unit on eBay since my original has several fused bulbs. Maybe I'll take a crack at it (although I'll have no idea what I'm doing). |
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Post by Marc on Jan 6, 2009 21:17:23 GMT -6
Rocinante......one suggestion: try getting a junk radio & practice taking that apart & putting it together.
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Post by robaurora01 on Jan 6, 2009 21:57:13 GMT -6
my CD player does not work properly I been meaning to order one off of ebay also. if you can't do it ill do it once my crappy one is out of the car and the new one is in and working properly.
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Post by oneye on Jan 7, 2009 7:29:55 GMT -6
Randy, I think the CD player instruction manual would be almost as complicated as the Aurora's. Considering the effort to change it out, I was thinking aftermarket replacement, with a new unit that would plug in, if there is such a thing.
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Post by oneye on Jan 7, 2009 7:58:26 GMT -6
Randy, I expect the CD player instruction manual would be almost as daunting as the Aurora's. Considering the effort to change it out, I was thinking aftermarket replacement, with a new, better quality unit that would plug in, if there is such a thing. I was wondering if anyone's actually done that (keeping the factory console intact otherwise, assuming that a dealership or GM replacement unit would come only at a pirate price and have the same reliability questions as the original seems to).
Last year I found a link, -- I thought from this forum although I couldn't find it yesterday -- to a small-business guy who would repair/rebuild factory units if you R&R it yourself. The price was honest and I think he even offered a warranty on his work, will keep looking for something to post.
I doubt if the fix would be as simple as cleaning the optics, but given my handle, maybe I should be the one to try it.
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Randy T.
Administrator
☯ AURORA GXP ☯
Posts: 3,758
Staff Member
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Post by Randy T. on Jan 7, 2009 8:09:03 GMT -6
There are still some smaller electronic shops that will work on car stereos. There are a couple here in the town where I live. You could call around and probably find one close to you. I am going aftermarket with mine, I am tired of burnt cds skipping. And I found a harness that you can just plug in with no wiring splices. aurorah.proboards47.com/index.cgi?board=Audio&action=display&thread=15168 |
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Post by oneye on Jan 7, 2009 8:34:00 GMT -6
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Post by blackcherry95 on Jan 14, 2009 19:25:21 GMT -6
hey randy is that the cd player you sold me? if it is i think you should give me a discount..har-har you know for a display model special or something... |
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Post by wcalcutt on Jul 16, 2009 12:47:02 GMT -6
Good write up Randy. The radio on my 97 shows "tp' . As if a tape is in it. there is not . how do I fix this without removing the system
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Post by lanceslambos on Jul 16, 2009 13:02:25 GMT -6
just throwing this out there. can't say it will fix it but worth a shot. unplug your battery which will LOC the HU then you can go through the unlock procedure, in essence clearing everything out and will fix itself. if there is not a tape stuck but it says there is, my 2 cents.
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Post by sall on Jul 16, 2009 13:20:06 GMT -6
Try inserting a cassette tape in it. Then eject it. See if the light goes away.
If it still exists try what Lance said. Just make sure you know your unlock code. When you unplug the negative terminal use an air compressor (low psi)/compressed air and spray into the tape deck.
It is not an error code. For some reason the stereo thinks there is tape inserted.
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Post by nelson480 on Jan 14, 2011 22:27:06 GMT -6
The 95 radio has plugs and wires that attatch to the face circuit board, it is almost impossible to unplug them without damaging them...
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Post by human on Jan 26, 2011 23:43:23 GMT -6
I dunno. Seems like a lot of effort when those radios are so plentiful and cheap at junk yards. The Pull-A-Part yard that I frequent charges about $15 for a radio, regardless of make or model. A 30-day replacement warranty costs a dollar extra. I picked one up for my Bonneville last fall (AM/FM/Cassette w/graphic EQ) and all it needed was a good head cleaning for the cassette player.
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Post by nelson480 on Jan 27, 2011 0:28:46 GMT -6
I dunno. Seems like a lot of effort when those radios are so plentiful and cheap at junk yards. The Pull-A-Part yard that I frequent charges about $15 for a radio, regardless of make or model. A 30-day replacement warranty costs a dollar extra. I picked one up for my Bonneville last fall (AM/FM/Cassette w/graphic EQ) and all it needed was a good head cleaning for the cassette player. Jeeze lucky! The only one i could find that was CD/cassette combo was out of a 95 park ave and still had to change all of the stupid bulbs in it...And it cost 40 bucks! The CD player is finicky too |
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Post by lanceslambos on Jan 27, 2011 10:28:00 GMT -6
i got a tape stuck in mine a few weeks ago. after much prying and pulling i finally got it out. now the "TP" on the display never goes away, even when i have a cd playing lol!
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Post by nelson480 on Jan 27, 2011 11:53:57 GMT -6
i got a tape stuck in mine a few weeks ago. after much prying and pulling i finally got it out. now the "TP" on the display never goes away, even when i have a cd playing lol! My cd player messed up a few wks ago, totally wouldn't eject the disk or play it E23 Next day it was fine, then my tape gets stuck when I eject it, and I have to pull on the cord of my converter to get it out... |
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Post by human on Feb 4, 2011 10:38:18 GMT -6
So did the Buick radio work properly in the Aurora? I've always been curious about that since the steering wheel controls are different on the two makes. Jeeze lucky! The only one i could find that was CD/cassette combo was out of a 95 park ave and still had to change all of the stupid bulbs in it...And it cost 40 bucks! The CD player is finicky too |
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Post by auroranut75 on Feb 4, 2011 12:45:02 GMT -6
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Post by nelson480 on Feb 4, 2011 18:26:35 GMT -6
So did the Buick radio work properly in the Aurora? I've always been curious about that since the steering wheel controls are different on the two makes. Jeeze lucky! The only one i could find that was CD/cassette combo was out of a 95 park ave and still had to change all of the stupid bulbs in it...And it cost 40 bucks! The CD player is finicky too OOps my bad, it was an olds eighty eight, 1995 model with wheel controls |
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Post by kyngofpop on Mar 26, 2011 23:17:57 GMT -6
Blah! Dog gone T8 Torx bit has me stuck Guess I'll go on a hunt at autozone 2morro |
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Post by northofyou on Apr 8, 2011 21:28:23 GMT -6
Dont know if anyone is interested but i have a 2nd gen bose cassette/cd unit just sitting collecting dust in my garage. Its basically mint just the power button and the forward and rewind buttons are a little scratched. No charge and since i cant see it being more the $20 to ship ill flip the bill. Sorry randy, didnt mean to thread jack but figured ill offer it up to whoever is here first before i throw her in the marketplace.
I cant believe that you would go through that trouble just to show us!
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Post by nelson480 on Apr 17, 2011 16:57:03 GMT -6
Dont know if anyone is interested but i have a 2nd gen bose cassette/cd unit just sitting collecting dust in my garage. Its basically mint just the power button and the forward and rewind buttons are a little scratched. No charge and since i cant see it being more the $20 to ship ill flip the bill. Sorry randy, didnt mean to thread jack but figured ill offer it up to whoever is here first before i throw her in the marketplace. I cant believe that you would go through that trouble just to show us! If it would work in my car i would buy it |
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To change the tape player you don't have to take the face off, to change the cd you do. I took the whole radio apart and reassembled it in 41 minutes and I was taking pictures, notes, and chasing tools.
I bet it took you longer to do this write-up and upload the photos than it took to take the radio apart and put back together 
I was pretty happy yesterday when my window was working again but when I took a look at it today, in broad daylight, it needs a little........uummmm............tweaking 
