1996 Defender 90 CSW - radio question(s)

The next small irritation to tackle is the radio which works but has a habit of dropping the removable operating facia on the vehicle floor when going over bumpy ground. The radio is a Kenwood KDC-W4031 - I really don't know if this was a standard fit at the time of the vehicle build. On inspection it's obvious why the facia drops off as the locating mechanism left behind is all bent and horrible - I've tried to straighten it but with no real success.

That's as far as I've gone. I'm assuming that what is left behind is the radio itself contained in an aluminium housing. So what can I replace to fix matters - does the radio sit inside the housing and comes out - in which case the housing needs repacement? I had a quick look at a the radio manual (online) and see that I need a couple of unlocking thingy's which slip down the side - any idea where I can get these?

Sorry if I sound dim but this really isn't my subject - much happier with pistons and bearings.

Search for radio keys on Gay bay, or go to your local garage and ask them if they have a set, there are different keys for different makes of radio. Halfords or any ICE store might help you out.

Definitely not a standard fit item- either a Philips or LR-branded radio cassette would have been factory fitted. Radio keys are readily available or easy to make yourself. Usually, you have a stamped metal housing which is fitted to the dash, then the radio slots into this.

Most single-DIN units will fit as a replacement, though some may be a tight fit due to the greater depth of more modern units. I have a late-90s Sony cassette in mine, with a 10-disc CD changer which is an absolutely perfect fit in the cubby box.

You will be lucky to repair the mechanism if it's bent/damaged.

Replacement stereos are cheap enough, but be careful as there's not a great deal of depth to the mounting on the 300tdi, and some won't fit.

If you are not bothered about a CD player you could fit a tuner/USB unit, which are a lot smaller front to back.

For instance the Sony DSX-A40UI is what l fitted on ours, and it only costs £45.

lightning said:

If you are not bothered about a CD player you could fit a tuner/USB unit, which are a lot smaller front to back.

Click to expand...

I think this could be a good option. I don't like single CD players in cars- the CDs inevitably end up rattling around loose somewhere getting scratched to pieces. USB is much tidier

Recently updated my radio as wanted Bluetooth and USB.
Went for Halfords Alpine set; the CDE 173 model but note they do a non CD version the UTE 73 also.
Bluetooth works fine with iphone with mike on the A pillar top.

Thanks for the replies everyone which are much appreciated and to Nobber for the Youtube recommendation. Turned out to be a much simpler job than I thought - a bit of very light tin bashing on the edge of the radio metal casing seems to have straightened most of it out. I never play the radio on the move as it's impossible to get any "entertainment" from it - it is a 300 TDi after all (noise plus rigid suspension will make the CD jump - at least it did on my Suzuki SJ410)) but it won't be difficult to find some Devon bumps to see if it all holds together.