How can I get woodgrain plastic frame around the radio and AC/heater controls to release?

The bezel surrounding the radio and heater/AC controls is held on with 6 tension clips. It also has tabs at the top that are held under the adjacent horizontal trim pieces.

Remove the horizontal trim pieces on each side of the radio bezel using a small plastic pry tool. They will pop off fairly easily. Then simply use the pry tool to work your way around the radio bezel and pop it off as well. This will expose the heater control that you need to replace.

the older ones I messed with required taking a frame off that covered the heater and around the radio.. then each control was separate held on with hex head screws.. remove these and it should slide out far enough to undo electric connections and control cables..

The dash is held in place by screws you will have to open both front doors in the door jam area you should see two screws take these out then you will have to take the radio out then you will have access to the other screws pull the control panel out for the heater and ac controls this will give you access to other screws that should about do it you will have to pull up on the dash in order to release it from the fraME.

the trim around the heater controls snaps in, its black. Remove it and remove the four screws on the woodgrain panel. Lift off to acess radio.

need to check the back side of the ac connector where the harness plugs in remove the heater control unit assy and u will see the ac button connector with it still pluged in start the car and turn the ac button on wiggle the ac connector if the light comes on and off it's a loose connection in the harness/connector at the ac button try to jamb a folded over zip tie about 4inches long in between the ac button connector and the plastic frame basicly just make sure that the connector staitionary not wiggling around I had the same problem on my 95 prelude vtec push the ac button sometimes comes on or hitting the dash just got old hope this helps

i have 2002 lx sedan, and only one hand. its very easy if like mine. there is a woodgrain panel around the radio and air controls, look at the dash material around that area may need to remove it to acess woodgrain panel. panel is snap on snap off, if no removal tools carefully start at top center and pull out working fingers in and moving to left or right till you go all the way around and it will come off with air control attatched, just unplug the wires to air control to move panel out of way. i removed after market but if u have factory they sell removal tool very small paperclipish pieces of metal that slide in and make it pop out. they are cheap at walmart and you will need a aftermarket install kit around 10$ for both, and u need a wire converstion plug also very cheap at walmart. 20 bucks is it for everything. the instructions to put everything together are very easy takes no time. then after u do what it says just snap woodgrain panel back on then dash parts. very easy square block square hole only thing u can screw up is breaking plastic panel which is risk in all cars without proper trim removal tools. i nvr broke any and changed a lot just be careful

start by carefully prying the woodgrain/brushed aluminum panel around the column shift upwards. Start at the rear, near the cubby. be very careful not to break it where the panel wraps around the drivers side of the shift indicator. when it is removed, you will see screws holding the next panel on (may be 7mm hex or philips - can't remember...) once removed, you can pry that section off as well exposing the radio and climate control screws. both have to come out to get the radio out. the XM portion is not in this radio, but is actually in the rear end of the truck behind the side panel on the driver's side. Be careful if you go poking around in there, because you may have a power inverter back there feeding 115v power to the center console (entertainment package).

The easiest way to remove the radio from a 1997 Acura TL is from the front. Assuming you know your anti-theft radio code, disconnect the negative side of your battery. See the last paragraph if you have lost your anti-theft radio code.
Next, remove the plastic wood trim from the dashboard surrounding the radio. To do this open the glove box, reach up inside and push out on one of clips holding the wood trim, as it comes loose grasp the trim from the front and carefully pull the trim until each clip unsnaps from the dash. The attached Heater/AC control panel above the radio comes off with the wood trim, so just unclip the 2 wire harnesses from the back and set trim panel aside.
Next, using a phillips screw driver, remove the 4 screws holding the black plastic radio frame into the dash, then pull the radio forward to remove it. Disconnect the 2 wire harnesses and antenna cable from the back of the radio to complete the removal. If you are putting in a replacement radio, just loosen the two small bolts holding the radio on the back of the frame, and then slide the radio out of the frame.

1. Remove the dash around radio (just clips)
2. Remove 2 screws pointing up . (You do not need to remove screws which are parallel to the floor)
3. Remove screw pointing up on the bottom of the dashboard on left side of the driver (near left leg).
4. Remove 2 screws pointing up in the instrument cluster area.
5. Put car in 1st gear and gently remove black plastic surrounding instruments (it will have ait vents, so slide it carefully out not to damage foam insulation on air ducts; start on the bottom hear steering column) ; unplug connectors to clock and emergency flashers.
6. Remove 2 screws, now exposed, near instrument area, holding dashboard. (that was what I spent most time on, I didn't know about this screws.
7. Now gently remove (or move up) dashboard (around instrument cluster and heating controls.) Start next to ignition (careful not to damage the bulb next to the ignition.
Since you only need to get to the heating controls block, I only move up the dashboard next to it.
8. Remove 2 screws that hold the heating control and slide heating control out . This step is unnecessary If you totally removed the dashboard.
9. Pull out lever controls for fan speed, zone and temp
10. Use the screwdriver (flat) to pry 2 plastic tabs on top and on the bottom of heating control so black cover can be remover.
11. You did it! two bulbs are going to be under the cover.

the panel just pops out it has clips holding it in, you might want to pull the side panel off just in case there is a 7mm screw holding it in but that should only be for the radio removal, i have a question for you, how did you replace that actuator and did that solve your problem, my car does the same thing and i already replaced the switch, and te climate control panel, thanks.