I have a 1998 Dodge Dakota. I want install my Alpine deck, but not sure if the dash trim is screwed in or help in by clips. The PO of the truck installed a wood trim dash kit, and not sure if the screws are hiding behind that or how I would go about taking the dash ring off, any help would be great.

 

i have a 98 dakota R/T that I have taken the dash off numerpus times. its actually held in by clips. if you take a long flat head scredriver with a very narrow end and starting at the top right, gently pry at it and it will pop off. i say gently, but please be aware that it does reqire some force to pop the clips off. it also helps to have the steering collumn all the way down, and the gear shift in the '1' posistion (all the way down). im not sure if you have fog lights or not, but if you do, the fog light switch can be removed from the dash very easily from the back side- just squeese the clips on top and bottom and it pops right out. with that, the whole front of the dash will lift right out. i really hope that helps! like i said, i have taken my dash apart MANY times, so if you have any other questions, please dont hesitate to ask. also, good choice with the Alpine!. i work for a shop that sells them and they are GREAT headunits.

 

Thanks, I will try that. I went in to a stereo shop today, and they wanted $80 to install, cause Dakotas need to have the whole dash removed. I thought that was a load of BS, so I said forget it. I figured that front plastic trim piece would come off. Truck by the way is a standard, so no worries about the shifter and there are no fog lights. Thanks again for the help.

 

yeah i work at shop in Buffalo, NY called Stereo Advantage and i do installs every once and a while (including my own). that is a load of BS, cuz once u take that front dash trim off, theres 4 screws that hold the radio in....thats it

 

Actually theres only 2 screws (10mm hex heads) holding the radio in the dash of a 98.

You dont even need to use a screwdriver to get the plastic bezel off. Just CAREFULLY pull it away by hand and it comes off rather easy. If you have OEM fog/driving light switch, you'll have to disconnect the plug at the switch.

 

Thanks for the answers. I knew that piece came out some how. I guess they either don't know what they are doing, or they just wanted to scam more money out of me. Cause basic install is $44.99 (this is canadian) and i figure basic means what it says. Shouldn't matter how the old deck comes out and the new one goes it. But either way going to look at putting the deck in tonight.
One more thing I notice on the wiring harness. There is no ground plug on it. All the other wiring harness's I have had have a ground wire. so for the dakota do I just find some metal in behind the deck for ground or is my wiring harness faulty with no ground wire?