Has anyone had damage to the plastic /dash that runs up the sides of the stereo. I have had two people pull the stereo adding a sirius starbase and both damaged the plastic. Can anyone pull the stereo without doing damage to it.?????

 

Yes it is possible to remove the radio without damage!
Did so on mine and will do it again this saterday on a buddys car.
Remove all screws that hold the radio in. aka hidden bolt.
Cover the shifter with large towels.
Pull gently on the buttom part of the radio, gently... is the word here,
you don't want to crack a circuit board!
Then use your fingers around the radio to pry the piano plastic to pull it out.
It will come out, might hurt your fingers in the process with cuts, but rather your fingers than your radio or paneling. it will heal

Use small flathead screw driver to loosen clips on the heater and acc controls.
This will free up a bit more space on the top part where you can now disconect
the FM anntenna, and the connector for the display.
Then slowly pull radio, making sure you do not scratch the dash, rotating the radio
90 degrees. Screwdriver will have room now to loosen last connector.

Will try to to a photo shoot on Saterday.

 

Dont forget the hidden bolt.

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...3-03-1230a.pdf

 

Yep, I did it much like modena described...

Remove the hidden bolt, and the screws behind the ashtray.

tuck your four fingers under (both hands) and keep your thumbs on the side pieces. Pull your four fingers towards you, it should start to come out. Be very very gentle. Now focus on getting just one side out about 1cm, I did this using the four finger thumb trick and using my other hand to help the top of the radio out and keep it level (you don't want to pry JUST the bottom out). This method worked GREAT and no cuts or marks to the car or radio.

 

I broke mine and that **** is expensive. I had mazda cover it under warranty. yes!

 

Don't feel too bad. I had damage on the dash trim after Mazda installed a cassette player for me, so it can happen to anyone. There is even a TSB out about taking care removing the audio unit. Bottom line is that it is a really poor design for a piece of equipment that is most likely to be removed and re-installed one or more time in the life of a car.

The good news is that the dealer had one of the local interior fixit companies come in and they did a great repair job on the plastic trim.

 

Same here. Dealer messed up the dash swapping the CD player for the 6 disc changer. Took it back and they had someone repair the dash. Can't even tell it was messed up anymore.

 

any idea how they actually revive the scratched dash?

 

i have a couple scratch from putting in a 6 disc cd changer. Any ideas on how to remove them yourself except for replacing the each piece that runs up the sides? Or do you think the dealer might do it under warrenty even though i put it in myself...i mean no...um...vandels/crazy kids did it.

 

Check in the phone book under "Automotive Interior" for people who repair plastic surfaces/seats. Also ask your dealer who they use for those repairs.

I don't think "pirates did it" would work in trying to claim it as a Mazda warranty repair. I believe they have a "pirates" exclusion clause.

 

thanks i'll have to look at the pirates exclusion clause haha.

somewhere else on the forum they also recommended mothers back to black i might try that, maybe it will make it just less noticable.