I searched and I searched and found no useful tips on how to do this, so I just decided to do it and hope for the best. Here is what I did (and the stereo works and no loose bits hanging out).
What you will need:
- a well lit area or a friend with a bright flashlight
- Mini socket set (or full size with the mini adapter). Specific sockets needed: 6.5mm, 7.5mm (I think - somewhere between 6 and 7.5mm - two different sizes).
- new single DIN radio with fit kit of your choice and adapter
- Pliers or sharp hacksaw.
How to: PULL FUSES first. These are located behind a door that is on the passenger side of the console - see user manual for location if you can't find it. Pull any and all fuses for radio and clock. Wait til clock turns off to begin taking off the dash.
Open Driver's door. In the side of the dash that you can see two circular holes about an inch across each. In each of these holes is a
7.5mm socket style screw. Remove. Pop off the section that these two screws hold on (there is a visible split in the dash immediately to the left of the gas gauge).Remove all the screws that are under the steering column. There are two that are sunken in tubelike things that hold the top cover of the column on. One is on the righthand side and the other is only reachable when you fold the height lever down. Release the pressure clips on the top piece by pulling vertically up. All screws on this housing are smaller, 6.5mm headed screws.
All that remains is to pull at the dash until all the pressure fasteners release.
Unscrew the existing radio, unplug it, and plug in your new radio. Remove original brackets from Saturn radio. If your fit kit came with a pocket to go under the radio, remove the cubby from the brackets. Modify right side original bracket by cutting/breaking off the piece that is at a right angle to the vertical part of the bracket. Use the screws that came with your third party radio head unit to mount the brackets. Mount the radio in the slots using the side rails on the brackets. Once the brackets are placed, place the fit kit plastic in front of the metal piece and tighten it down with the original screws.
replace screws. replace dash. replace fuses. turn car on to test radio. done.
/2002 Saturn SL2 Automatic and now with Sony CDXGT100 stereo :)