i have removed the cover around the shifter and the 2 screws in the bottom that hold down the air conditioner controls.. i just cant get the thing out! i tried pulling at the vent, but it wont come out. it looks like the vents and the part that holds the stereo is connected. I have the cassette player, so it's not the premium AM/FM/TAPE/CD unit. Please help... thanks in advance.

 

The vent (above the stereo) and stereo are not connected.
The vent assembly is a bit tough to get out... lift up and pull straight out. After you remove the vent assembly, you should see 2 screws that hold the top of the stereo.

 

just finesse it a wee bit

 

so it's just the front trim/molding around the cassette player and the storage pocket that's attached to the vent assembly?

 

Remove the ashtray and screw.
Remove trim around shifter.
remove vent assembly above stereo.

You'll be left with the radio/trim/storage pocket.
Remove 4 screws (2 above and 2 below)
The Radio assembly should slide out enough
so you can reach the connectors in the back

 

i used to have a 2000 maxima gxe with the premium sound, and the vent came out easily, but for some reason, this 2001 with just the cassette is different...it wont come out no matter how much i yank at it. are you positive that the design is identical?

 

So were you able to yank your stereo out?
I have a 2000 SE with bose... so I can't be sure
if the 2k and the 2k1 are identical... though
I've been told that overall design hasn't changed.

 

i finally got it out after a lot of huffing and puffing.. felt like i broke something on the vent assembly, but it seems okay. looks like on the crappy gxe model without cd player, the front fascia/trim is attached to the vent assembly. the rest seems the same. thanks for all the help.