Central panel removal

[coyfish]

Did a search to no avail. Anyone know how to remove the central panel?? Im talking about the panel where the gps is supposed to be located. Don't wan't to break it by just pulling it out. Hopefully its easy . . .

thx in advance

 

[Qwik6]

Remove the center console covers.(cup holder/shift cover) Once those are off you can access 2 screws on the bottom of the radio. Once those are off give a nice tug on it and it should pop right out. Cover the shift knob with a towel so you dont scratch the face of the radio. Then there are 2 screws holding the top center compartment. This pops out as well but there is a plug you will have to disconnect. This is a simplified version. Should take about 10 minutes.

 

[coyfish]

thx so much qwik. My question is . . . you really need to do all this just to take off that top lid. Im putting my CPE triple guage pod on . . .

Right now im attempting to pull the radio out. I undid the 2 bottom screws but its still a scary procedure. I feel something budging but last thing I want is to crack something. Im just pulling from the bottom which is the only place you can really get a grip on it.

 

[Qwik6]

rip it off! you wont break anything. I had to pull real hard the first time around

 

[crlsnlopes]

dont forget the bolt thats behind the unit, you have to through the glove box to remove it, once that bolt is off it just pops out with little force.

 

[coyfish]

finally got everything off but now i can't seem to figure out how the stupid top lid comes off. I don't see any screw or anything. Do I just rip it out ?

Sorry for these noob questions but im paranoid when it comes to this stuff. Always scared im going to break something.

Its funny I can swap out an entire catback exhaust or intake in 20 min but it takes me hours to remove the center console

 

[Qwik6]

The whole piece slides out. Just 2 screws holding it if I remember correctly.

 

[coyfish]

Well I see no screws on it. All I see is a very tiny little hole on each side. Its dark out and I cant see in there with my flashlight. Not to mention I cant get that one little plug off the back of the top panel unit. Its a white plug with 1 clip holding it in. I tugged so hard and sliced my hand open trying to pull it out.

Thanks for you help guys. Im just going to bed and waking up tommorow before school to finish this crap. So frustrated I don't want to break anything and regret it tommorow.

Love installing parts in the car but I HATE battling with mazdas lovely cheap screws and conventiantly placed bolts and clips that are tightened beyond belief.

 

[coyfish]

ok now ive managed to get that clip off so the entire clock computer / top compartment has been removed. I have undone 4 screws and pulled off the underlying plastic piece. The top lid is held on by 2 hindges. They are basically 2 circular tubes on each side. There is no screw or anything and they are tight / small as hell. How are you supposed to get these out !

 

[crlsnlopes]

try to call cp-e they usually are very helpfull

 

[coyfish]

Well finally got it off. Talk about the biggest PITA ever. Essentially there are two tiny little flimsy metal (too many adj's) circular "hinges" / tubes that the holds the lid in place. The holes are tiny. I had to go to the hardware store to buy a little metal stick basically to shove in there and pry it out. Not a pretty procedure. I would love to see how mazda tech's remove that without damaging the hinges. Another A+ for mazda engineering.

Managed to do everything with no damage. Very suprising considering how PO'd I was.

 

[tunersteve]

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123721169

 

[zinger002]

Well finally got it off. Talk about the biggest PITA ever. Essentially there are two tiny little flimsy metal (too many adj's) circular "hinges" / tubes that the holds the lid in place. The holes are tiny. I had to go to the hardware store to buy a little metal stick basically to shove in there and pry it out. Not a pretty procedure. I would love to see how mazda tech's remove that without damaging the hinges. Another A+ for mazda engineering.

Managed to do everything with no damage. Very suprising considering how PO'd I was.

sorry... i have a start to finish how-to that needs pictures. and it would have helped if i had pictures up...

 

[coyfish]

sigh where were you yesterday steve !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well I finally got it out. That was a nice writeup. Am I just retarded or what. How do these people figure out that the little hinge expands and you can just drill it out. . . Well I start med school soon so I can't be that dumb /:.

Thx for all the help guys. When I finish it ill post a pic.

 

[coyfish]

Just one last question. Where is the best place to drill to pass the wiring? I haven't taken that good of a look in there yet but I was thinking the A/C or defroster.