Replacing antenna assembly

[Silver91Miata]

Has anyone completely removed the antenna assembly on a 2008 CX-7?

My wife backed into the garage door that didn't open all the way and it damaged the plate and rubber gasket. The small whip didn't break (Cheapest part to replace!)

Do I need to remove the headliner to attach the new part? (I just ordered it should be be here on Friday.

I don't want to start tearing things apart without knowing what I'm in store for.

Thanks

 

[Silver91Miata]

I replaced the antenna today. It entailed removing the three push in panel holders on the rear of the headliner and pulling down the headliner.

Removing the side plastic panels that hold the speakers would make this job EASY. I was unable to pop the plastic panels off and didn't want to crack them so I had to work around this, adding time and agrivation.

The bottom of the antenna has a wired lead that plugs into a connector which needs to be pulled and the bottom of the antenna base had a locking nut with a cutout that goes around the wiring of the connector. This nut screws up to ock the base to the roof of the CX-7.

Havng to work your hands up in the opening without the corner plastic panels removed makes this a PITA, but I was able to do it in about 30 minutes.

 

[CX-7owner]

I want to add sound deadening, removing the plastic panels is really easy, they're held in with 1 clip.

 

[Silver91Miata]

That would have been nice to know. Dealer was no help, so I posted here and waited a week with no responses. I didn't want to break the panels or clips so I worked around it with no damage. I would be very easy with those panels off.

 

[CX-7owner]

The clip it' self isn't easy, removing the black seal trim also helps, then it's just pull off, I'll have some pix of the back seat pillar, I've taken that one off to see if I could move my tweeters up there.