I'm so frustrated right now because i cannot get the stereo out for crap. I've removed all 3 screws and pull untill the headunit alost snaps. I've removed the two bottom screws by the ashtray and the 10 mm bold but the circle thing on the drivers side. Please help me

I've had mine out twice now. Both times I thought I was going to break the hvac assembly.

All I can say is keep tugging. Eventually the head unit will pop free of the little brackets holding it in.

I cant get it out even if i pull as hard as i can. could i have taken the wrong bolt off of the side? it seems to also hold on the white plastic circle thing

You most likely didn't pull out the right bolt. Did you take off the metal bracket behind the plastic piece under the steering column? If not you probably can't see the final bolt on the side. that you have to take out.

there's a DIY around here somewhere with good pics. if you search for it.

the bolt does nothing more than hold the radio in... literally there's a just a thin piece of sheet metal between it and the head unit. If anything else went loose you got the wrong bolt.

A couple weeks back I stumbled upon one of the DIYs ^^^^ and it had the best picture to date I've seen of the retaining bolt.

Like shaunv74 says... you can only just barely see the bolt by straining / contorting yourself after removing the plastic piece under the steering wheel. I hadn't considered removing the metal bracket, but definitely if you can get it out of the way you'll be able to see the bolt much easier.

This is the one i removed: http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/9650/1021985sg6.jpg
What DIY was it? I need this done asap.

yeah, definitely not it. come out a bit more... picture where the stereo would be and feel with your hand... you'll stumble upon the BOLT. It's metal to metal.

I don't know how I would find the DIY any easier than you at this point. It's all a matter of searching.

Ok thanks.
Edit - I cant find it at all! My arms all cut up looking for it. Anyone have any more details on it?

Found it. Here's a good pic.

http://www.whatsmyip.org/ipodrx8/4.php

2nd'ed that is the incorrect bolt.

Here you go.
http://www.thommino.com/images/Mazda%20Rx-8/Accessori%20e%20Dettagli/the%20hidden%20screw.jpg

And a note from W0rm:

"note that the metal sheild BEHIND the plastic paneling has also been removed. I was unable to reach it or see it at all until the metal was partially removed(I removed the right two screws and slightly bent the sheild out of place to access the nut)."

I remember it being tough to pop loose once everything was removed.... but nothing crazy. No tugging as hard as I can or anything like that.

eh.. the original how to hack your head unit to install an ipod blog... man, that thing was worth its weight in gold (and then some I guess) when I removed my stereo the first time.

There's another (guess I'll have to do my share of searching now) here actually, that is a picture of the bolt point blank. now if only I could remember where I saw it last.

<edit> there we go!

Haha got it guys, thanks so much for the help. Stupid mazda ;)
They should add that picture to a stickey.

What are you talking about? It is in the sticky. Page 5.:)

I find the easiest way to take off the stereo is to pop off the glove box and push from behind.

^ absolutely.

you then just gently pull it forward while pushing it from behind and it easily comes out.

Well it came out super easy once i got the right screw out -_-.
One last question i have is that there is a ground wire (black) on my LOC. I don't have to connect this to anything right? Also the best place to put the remote turnon would be to connect it to the + side of the cigarette lighter?
Just making sure i got everything correct after looking it up.

Thats fine.