Installing roof antenna (punching a hole...)

[Mazda3Rookie]

Hello folks,

I'm planning on installing a ham radio antenna right in the middle of the roof in my 2006 Mazda3 S Touring 5-door. Yes, I'm going to drill a hole...

To do so with minimal "invasive surgery" I'd like to remove the rear overhead light fixture and drill the hole from the inside. BEFORE I drill the hole for the NMO mount, I'll check if I can run a wire fish tape through the entire length of the B-pillar behind the trim, from floor to roof. The idea is to run the antenna cable from the mount in the middle of the roof to the top of the right B-pillar, down through it and then under the passenger seat, which is were I plan to put the body of the radio. The control head would go inside the ashtray cubby.

Now, back to the rear overhead light, I tried to pull it off, but although if flexes a lot if I pull it with my finger from the edge facing the front, it doesn't pop out the roof liner. It feels like something is keeping anchored to the roof liner on the sides.

Does anybody know how to remove it without breaking anything? Pulling off the clear plastic covering the lamp I see that there are no screws and no visible attachment to the roof right above the bulb, but you can't see much of what there is on the sides.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!!!

 

[Kain]

I'll offer the same advice I gave to my friend who wanted to stick his hand in the mouth of a woodchipper to remove an object that was stuck...









... DON'T DO IT.

 

[eg6motion]

... DON'T DO IT.

+1

 

[Mazda3Rookie]

kain & eg6motion,

and the reason being.....?????

 

[Nliiitend1]

I removed mine when I had to take out my headliner, and I think I recall there just being some "tension clips" (if that makes sense) holding it in (I think they were on the sides - not the front and back - though I'm not 100% sure about that).

I can't remember exactly, as it was about a year ago...

Perhaps someone who has removed that light more recently will chime in.

 

[Rotus8]

It comes out pretty easily if you know the trick. Take a flat blade screwdriver (cover with tape if you are extra paranoid) and insert between the light fixture and the headliner in the middle of one side and push. Then twist a little and it will pop out. There are little tabs on the sides that latch into the head liner.

 

[Mazda3Rookie]

Nliiitend1 & Rotus8,

When I tried to pull it out it felt indeed like something was holding it on the sides, thanks for the tips.