How to Install a Radio in a 1998 Lexus GS 300

Lexus Toyotas luxury car division released its first vehicles, the LS 400 and ES 250, in 1990. In the 1993 model year it released an all-new sedan, the GS 300. The 1998 model year brought about a redesign of the GS line and the introduction of a new GS model, the GS 400, to complement the GS 300. The 1998 GS 300 came with a wide array of high-end features for its era, including a seven-speaker, AM-FM stereo system with an amplifier and a cassette player. Installing a radio in this high-end car is a straightforward and relatively simple process.

Instructions

Insert the key into the GS 300s ignition and turn it to the Run position. Set the vehicles parking brake and shift the gear shifter to its gear closest to the rear of the vehicle. Turn the ignition to the Off position.

Wrap the blade part of a flat-head screwdriver in duct tape to provide protection to the GS 300s trim while prying.

Pry outward around the perimeter of the center vent assembly the assembly housing the center vents, clock and hazard switch. Press the unlock button on the clock and hazard switch wiring harnesses, and pull the harnesses from the rear of the center vent assembly. Remove the center vent assembly.

Remove the two screws behind where the center vent assembly was with a Phillips screwdriver.

Insert the blade of the flat-head screwdriver between the dashboard and the ashtray panel under the radio and pry outward to disengage its retaining clips. Remove the ashtray panel from the dashboard.

Remove the two screws behind where the ashtray panel was with a Phillips screwdriver. Grab the radio and climate-control assembly and pull it from the dashboard just far enough to access the wiring on the rear of the radio and climate-control panel.

Press and hold the unlocking button on each of the wiring harnesses on the rear of the radio and the climate-control panel and pull each harness from its receptacle.

Remove the eight screws securing the radio to its bracket. Remove the radio from the bracket.

Slide the new radio into the radio bracket, lining up the screw holes in the radio with those in the bracket. Tighten the eight radio-retaining screws. Plug the wiring harnesses into their respective receptacles on the rear of the radio and the climate-control panel until each harness clicks into place the harnesses are all different sizes to prevent incorrect connection.

Slide the radio and climate-control panel assembly into the dashboard and tighten the four retaining screws, two on top and two on the bottom.

Position the ashtray panel in place under the radio, lining up the clips on the rear of the panel with the slots under the radio. Press the ashtray panel onto the dashboard to engage the retaining clips.

Plug the clock and hazard switch wiring harnesses into their respective receptacles on the rear of the center vent assembly. Slide the center vent assembly into its cavity above the climate-control panel until the retaining clips snap into place.

Shift the gear shifter back into Park and remove the key from the ignition.