Grrrrrrr...I've been wrestling with this for two hours now and it doesn't want to come out easily.

I got through everything alright until now, but I can't seem to get the actual unit itself out. I unscrewed the "illusive" bolt (which I dropped once it came out :( now I can't find it) but I can't get the clips for the radio undone and I don't want to tug too hard and break it in half.

What I'm wondering is, how hard did you all have to pull to get this thing out? I mean, I'm giving it some good tugs and it moves, but just the bottom piece. None of the top moves what-so-ever. From looking at the pictures I know the bolt I took out on the side is right...so it should be nice and freed up, but these darn panel clips have been giving me hell all evening. :-(.

Any tips on getting this thing the rest of the way out? I heard someone say push, not pull...where do I push from? I can't get my hands behind it? Did you all take a screwdriver to the top to disengage the panel clips?

Argh! I'm off to get a better flashlight so hopefully I can find the bolt...in the mean time...if anyone has any tips for when I get back I'd really appreciate them.

Thanks!

Don't try pulling it alone. You need to reach in thru the side and try pushing too, it makes it much easier. There is a small space near the top and back of the unit, so that you can push from behind, good luck.

Oh, whenever you get the head unit moving forward, look out for the connectors which are not that long and some are tapped to the frame.

Small space on the driver's side? Back by where the bolt came out?

Jeeeeeez, got it...w00t for the 3 dollar pry tool wrapped in tape. My damn hands would not get behind it for shit.

Well, now to get the connectors unsnapped...then to find the damn bolt...that's going to be the least fun.

Wish me luck...damn this shouldn't have been this hard.

DW

Jeeeeeeez....remind me to pay someone to do this next time. I guess I'm not as mechanically inclined as I thought. I can take shit apart, put it back together, write computer programs, but not put in a car stereo lol. Guess it is just not my forte.

I took mine out yesterday to do my XM commander install and it was a bitch and a half! I've done all this sorta thing for years, but this sucker has to be hardest yet. I checked my work as I went along, took care to not bang anything around, etc. And STILL managed to scratch the face of the stereo, AND now when I hit a bump my display gets all garbled up.

So tomorrow is time to take it all apart AGAIN and see what the hell got loose and where it is. *sigh*

That sucks :( sorry to hear that.

I've had better luck, mine is all in and working. 5 hours to rip it all apart, 30 minutes to put it all back together. It was like every single panel and connector was another half hour battle with mine...either trying to find room to get a screwdriver in there to unlatch it...argh. I had seriously inches to work in, my unit wouldn't pull out for shit and I didn't want to tug really hard and break anything.... Pain in the ass for sure! But I'm happy it's done and working, and that I didn't pay anyone to do it for me. I'm no worse for the wear, and only a couple minor scuffs on the silver plastic body panels from taking off the center shifter cover plate.

All in a day...'er two days, work lol.

I never did get the 2 connectors off in the back in my install after about an hour of frustration. I swear they are glued in back there :mad: . I finally gave up, tugged at the harnass to get enough room to get the radio mostly out and then swapped the mp3 player in with the connectors left on.

if feel bad for a lot of you guys lol...i actually worked as an install technician 10 years ago and i hated the experience of installing this mp3 player too.

i wonder how hard it would of been for mazda to just make this feature standard on this car.

for the guys that lose the "invisibale" bolt by dropping it just pull back the plastic right below the empty hole and the bolt should roll right out. i did it twice. :)