Almera Head Unit Changing Guide

This page gives a clear step-by-step guide on how to change the standard head unit or radio in a Nissan Almera.
To get the specifics out of the way I will start by saying the following things: my car is a 2000 Nissan Almera Sport+ (N16) which has the radio cassette player, a 6 CD multi-changer in the front just below the radio and the steering wheel controls. Different models of Almera have variations on these so you may have to omit steps of this guide.
Also I am using a standard ISO lead in this guide which renders the CD changer and steering wheel controls inoperable.
Finally in this guide I am fitting a Sony head unit so different makes may require different connectors etc.

Disclaimer : The following always applies; I am not responsible for any errors in this guide neither am I responsible for any damage you cause to your car, equipment or your person. If you do not feel competent doing this then get in a professional.

All the pictures can be enlarged by clicking on them!

First up check you have the right stuff. You will need a face plate, an ISO lead and a Phillips cross-head screwdriver.


The very next thing you should do is take any cassettes and/or CDs out as when the units are disconnected discs and tapes cannot be removed!
Next, very important, remove the fuse for the audio system! (It's in the engine bay fusebox)
Once you have done that you will be left with something like this


Lets get dismantling!
Pop open the storage cubby-hole on the top of the dash board and take all the junk out. Firmly take a hold of the inside at the catch and sharply tug it towards yourself and away from the window. The whole fitting including the vents below will come away. You will notice that the cable for the breakdown lights button stops you from completely removing the unit but I simply turned the unit sideways and put it down. There was ample room to work like that although you can disconnect the cable where it joins the switch.


Next you have to remove the lower part of the centre console just above the ash tray. To do this on the passenger side there is a little hook. Grab hold of that and sharply pull towards yourself. The whole piece should come away but probably only at that side. Go to the driver's side and give it a yank towards yourself again and it should come away quite easily.


You should now be left with something that looks like this:

Next up get your Phillips screwdriver out and remove the following screws. This may vary from model to model but on my car I had 6 screws to remove altogether. Put them somewhere safe!


Now the whole assembly is just sitting there. Again this part may vary from model to model but although the head unit and the CD changer are not next to each other they are in fact joined together with the heating controls between them. With one hand grab the head unit and with the other grab the CD changer. Now pull the whole lot out. You will see that the heating controls are left behind.


Next you will have to remove the head unit from this strange awkward assembly. To do this there are 2 screws on each side of the head unit. Take them out and be warned; they are in tight! Keep them safe too because they need to go back in.


Now you will be left with a head unit dangling by a load of wires. You have to remove all of these connectors which are 3 blocks and the black one which is the aerial. To get these things out press the tab in (marked by the blue dot on the picture) and pull the block out. Try to pull the actual connector rather than the wires because they can sometimes come out of the block. With the aerial just pull it out (marked with a red dot). Now chuck that old head unit away! Just a note here that this is the point of no return because as soon as these connectors are out the head unit will need it's security code entered if you re-connect it.


Now with this Sony head unit there are screw holes on the sides which we will have to use. Unfortunately Sony in their infinite wisdom did not thread these holes. I found it impossible to get screws in while holding it in the bracket, so, take the new head unit and place it on it's side on a hard firm surface. Take one of the original screws that held the head unit in and force it into the holes marked with an 'N'. N for Nissan? I don't know. Do the same again for the other 2 on the other side.
Take the screws out of the head unit if you haven't already done so and place the unit in the cradle lining up the screw holes. Now screw it in. 2 on each side.
Next up take the cable that came with the head unit and plug the black end into the head unit, you should feel it click into place.
You should notice that there are a fairly thick pair of wires which can be disconnected with metal clips. These are the main power to the head unit and the always on feed that 'remembers' the settings. If you get these back-to-front the head unit will 'forget' all the settings whenever you turn the key off. So make sure it is RED to RED and YELLOW to YELLOW.


Now take the ISO lead you bought and connect the black to the black and the white to the brown. Don't worry if yours has different colours they can only fit in the correct way round - just don't force them. Lastly connect the big white one to the biggest white connector coming from the car. Connect the aerial too, you need the adapter that came with the head unit for that, plug it in the back of the head unit and then plug the aerial lead into that, give it a good push in too.


Nearly done! Slide the whole lot back into the slot where it came from being very careful not to catch any wires, remember there are a load more now! This is where I test it out too. Put the fuse back into the fuse box, put the face plate on and turn on the new Sony! Turn it up to a sensible volume and put your ear up to all 4 speakers and make sure there is sound coming out of each one. When I did this there was no sound coming from the driver's door speaker which just turned out to be one of the connectors wasn't pushed in hard enough. If that is ok try tuning the radio into a local station. This will have made sure all the speakers are connected ok and that the aerial is in properly.


Turn the radio off now and take the front off, you don't want it getting scratched now!
Take the face plate you bought and place it over the head unit and heating controls. Get 2 of the screws you safely stored which held the original assembly in and screw the faceplate to the assembly bracket.


Now put in the other 4 screws at the very top and bottom of the assembly, tightening them up well. Look back up for the picture showing where they came from if you need to.
Take the bottom section of the centre console (the bit with the little hook) and offer it up. Make sure you have both sides aligned up correctly and sharply push it back. It should clip back in easily at each side.
Now at the top of the console, turn the storage unit section back round the correct way and if you disconnected the breakdown lights switch - connect it back up now. Offer it back to where it came from, you might have to push the wires back in a bit too. Once you have it sitting where it belongs give it a sharp push with the heel of your hand back into place. It should just clip back in and cover the clips on your new face plate.


That's it done!

Notes: I didn't manage to get the surround for the head unit on because the clips were too short to reach through the faceplate. I'm either going to glue it or file down the faceplate so it fits.
I'm not an expert on this so if there are any errors please let me know!
The leg in the picture is mine as is the hand.
I got the ISO lead for £4.30 including postage and the faceplate for about £13, both on eBay.