I ordered the 2008 STS model Lockpick on Thursday and it arrived on Friday with standard shipping! Wow!! Didn't have far to come I guess. Anyway I've watched the CoastalTech video many times and can't figger out for the life of me how to get that trim panel off. I can get a small screwdriver in place in the area they show, but can't get a grip with my finger tips as suggested. Of course it arrived so quickly I couldn't get in touch with my Cadillac interior specialist on Friday afternoon and I want to get it installed this weekend. Anybody have any tips or tricks to getting that panel off without doing damage to the car? My skin grows back pretty well but if I ding her car...

Thanks!

Ya get a specialized panel popper from a hardware store. I'm a car electronics installer and there are many plastic tools that have a bended head so you can get leverage. That wood trim piece is held on by clips so all you have to do is get enough pressure to pop the clips up. Look for a tool like the one shown below with a head shaped like the ones below. These are metal try to find in plastic because metal can cause damage to the leather trim because it is stronger. Good luck hope this helps

I ordered the 2008 STS model Lockpick on Thursday and it arrived on Friday with standard shipping! Wow!! Didn't have far to come I guess. Anyway I've watched the CoastalTech video many times and can't figger out for the life of me how to get that trim panel off. I can get a small screwdriver in place in the area they show, but can't get a grip with my finger tips as suggested. Of course it arrived so quickly I couldn't get in touch with my Cadillac interior specialist on Friday afternoon and I want to get it installed this weekend. Anybody have any tips or tricks to getting that panel off without doing damage to the car? My skin grows back pretty well but if I ding her car...

Thanks!

It really comes right off pretty easy... Just pull the trim up gently... Until I mastered the new lockpick modifications, I removed mine around 11-12 times to test different units etc. I found it easier to pull from the top first. Even without a screw driver you can almost pull enough to get your fingers under it. Just be gentle and take your time.. Once you get the first clip out the rest are easy.

The trim panel has two clips at the top, and two down each side. Start at the top, work slowly, because the under layer can crack (the surface will not). Easy to pop on. The middle side is at the break in the dash pad below the ignition switch. Here is a back side view. The arrows point to the 6 white clips.



40528

Super, THANKS to everyone who replied. If I can't figger it out now I'll have to turn my tools in and take up something like jigsaw puzzles.

OK guys... equipped with the pictures of the part and the tools to remove it I fabricated a small tool that did the trick. Got the Lockpick installed but after driving for 30 minutes the GPS signal never came back. Everything else works as expected/advertised. Any suggestions or ideas?

Thanks again!

OK guys... equipped with the pictures of the part and the tools to remove it I fabricated a small tool that did the trick. Got the Lockpick installed but after driving for 30 minutes the GPS signal never came back. Everything else works as expected/advertised. Any suggestions or ideas?

Thanks again!

Did you press the mute button 4 more times to turn off the system? You cant have both working at the same time. You either use the GPS with the video locked or use the video unlocked with the GPS disabled.

Did you press the mute button 4 more times to turn off the system? You cant have both working at the same time. You either use the GPS with the video locked or use the video unlocked with the GPS disabled.

Doh! Tom, where would I be on this project without you?!!? I seriously owe ya more than a cold one... but you gotta come to Florida to collect!

Sounds trite, but.. THANKS AGAIN!

harbor freight sells those vinyl dash tools stupid cheap