Somewhere on this site someone scanned their Mazda directions on how to remove their radio, to install the tape deck. I can't find it ANYWHERE< I must have done 20 different searches. All I really need to know is, what size is that bolt under the dash, the one you really gotta climb down there to get?

 

The dang manual does not tell you what size socket you need. 10 mm if I recall correctly. If I'm wrong it's 8 or 9 mm.

Warning, that sucker falls really easily and potentially drops between the transmission hump and the carpeting.
It can cause you to have a bad day. I dropped mine twice . I got really lucky and retrieved it both times .

I'd suggest putting some plastic wrap (the kind in your kitchen) into the socket to make it fit the bold tightly - then unscrew it nice and slow towards the end.

Also having a telescopic magnet would probably be handy - I bought one after the fact and have not had a chance to use it yet.

rx8cited

 

I ask because I'm creating a very well illustrated tutorial on removing your radio (and installing an iPod). But I did just that, lost my radio bold the first time I installed my iPod. It fell right where you said and I've never been able to get it back. But you don't really NEED that bolt, its more of a theft prevention thing than anything right? Anyway I recently took my car apart to take all the pics and I had to skip that step :-)