|
|
$100T2 09-06-2005, 12:31 PM This is going to be LONG.
Tools needed:
Digital Camera. IMPORTANT!!!
#2 phillips head screwdriver (get the removable kind that can swap heads. Trust me on this.)
9, 10, 11 mm sockets
Small vise grips
13/16 inch socket
Gear puller
Zip-loc container. Not a bag, get the containers. $3 at Wal-Mart, worth every penny.
Common Sense
Ok, for today, I didn't need the gear puller. I swapped my steering wheel 2 weeks ago for a Grant wheel, so I didn't need the gear puller to pop it off. If you have a stock steering wheel, you'll need the puller. You can borrow one from your local Advance or Auto Zone.
I started on the passenger side. The drivers side is a bigger pain in the ass, so if you want to get the difficult stuff out of the way first, start on the drivers side.
Take out the center console stuff. Either remove your radio at the same time, or do it later. My console was already out, so there you go.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030009.jpg
I started with this small panel on the side by the door:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030011.jpg
I went ahead and took out all these screws. They're coming out eventually, so do it now.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030012.jpg
Remove the panel underneath the glove box:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030013.jpg
Then, you will find three screws shown here. They must be removed to get the glove box out:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030014.jpg
When you take out the glove box liner, you will notice the cute little light on the top of it. By reaching underneath and around the back, you can pop the lightbulb out of the housing. Then, you can pop the housing forward through the glovebox liner and out! Removing the door to the glovebox is simple. You just have to twist the little sliders a bit, and it comes right off. Remember, don't just twist away, use as little force as possible. It's 20 years old, you don't want to break it.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030018.jpg
You should now be looking at something like this:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030017.jpg
Remove the A/C vent. Just give it a little push on the side and wiggle it out. Again, be careful not to break it:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030019.jpg
It turns out that when the previous owner let the car sit in his driveway, a mouse made his home in my A/C ducting. He shit all over it and made a nest. I took this opportunity to take out the A/C ducting and wash the hell out of it.
See these two bolts? They're coming out later. You can do it now if you want.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030020.jpg
Here's when I yanked my stereo:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030021.jpg
Go ahead and take out the clock, and while you're at it, get a deep socket to remove the two hex nuts holding the panel to the A/C controls:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030022.jpg
$100T2 09-06-2005, 12:37 PM Then, remove the steering column covers. There's something like 6 screws holding it in place. Remove them all.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030027.jpg
Here's the removed parts from this side. Notice that big zip-lock container? It's holding all the screws. You are going to end up removing probably 100 or so screws, it's nice to have them all in one place. It's also a good dumping ground for small parts.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030028.jpg
I used the digital camera to take some shots of what screws to remove next. Beats the hell out of laying on my back under the dash to look. Remove the choke knob at the same time. There's a screw on the knob you need to loosent to be able to pull the knob off:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030029.jpg
Remove these as well:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030030.jpg
Remove the nut that goes on the choke knob. I used a flat-head screwdriver to break it loose, then just twisted it off.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030033.jpg
If you want this lower piece off, you have to undo the two screws in the fuse block.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030034.jpg
This is where I'm laying on my back to get the damn fuse block off. It's times like this that is sucks to be 6'3".
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030035.jpg
This is the braket that holds the fuse box in place. Remove it, too:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030037.jpg
Now, while you're down on the floor, most likely swearing, remove the four screws that hold the hatch release and fuel door release:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030038.jpg
The panel should be *mostly* free by now. Yank the cord that goes to the dimmer controls so that you can unclip it.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030041.jpg
I pulled off my steering wheel when I had to flip around on the floor underneath the dash. You should be looking at something like this now:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030042.jpg
Oh, by the way, go ahead and unscrew and remove the two small pieces of carpet that are shown missing here:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030043.jpg
Next up, the gauge cluster needs to come out. It's a pain in the ass, I'm telling you now. Especially if you have big hands like I do. You need to reach up under the dash, around the back of the cluster, and unhook the cable that goes to the speedometer. You also need to remove the screws that hold the cluster in place.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030044.jpg
Now, there are four electrical connectors on the back of the gauge cluster. Remove them. The two big round ones are going to be on tighter than a virgins'... you know. You need to push the lever in the center of the round connectors down while pulling them off. Yes, it sucks. Luckily, they go back on easier than they come off.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030045.jpg
Voila!!
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030046.jpg
Here's where I started yanking out more A/C ducting. It just gets in the way.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030047.jpg
Now that the big pieces are out, the only thing left to do is get out the actual dash cover. Take this opportunity to have a coke and a smile, because it's the last time you're going to smile for the day. I popped out the demister grilles at this time, because all you have to do is reach up from underneath and carefully pop them out. Simple.
See this? This is where your radio goes. What you can't see is the two screws that are inserted from the back that need to be removed. They are about an inch down from the two empty holes from the screws you removed before. Take 'em out.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030049.jpg
$100T2 09-06-2005, 01:07 PM Now, here's the really fun part. The dash is held on by an assload of screws where the glovebox was. You might not have to remove them, because the further you progress, the more screws you take out, and a bracket comes loose that may or may not handle the problem. I already took the damn screws out, so I couldn't tell you.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030053.jpg
Remove these too:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9030055.jpg
I only had about 5 or 6 screws left. Each of them presented their own problems. This is where we get to play everyone's favorite new game, called "What the FUCK are you stuck on now???" Turns out that Mazda has some Smurfs working for them, because that's the only way some of these screws could have gone in:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9040005.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9040006.jpg
Most of these screws are in backwards. So, how the hell do we get them out? Simple!! Someone at Sears tool design must own an FB, because they created these:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9040007.jpg
There are two screws buried, and I mean buried in the dash above the center A/C vents. The only way to get to 'em is to move the center vent (and by move, I mean I ripped the thing right off the screws holding it in place. Nothing a little epoxy can't fix) and use one of these wonderful little screwdriver/ratchets from Sears. $19.99, but priceless for doing this.
This is what you're dealing with. It sucks donkey dick. It was at this point that I removed the drivers side seat. It's just easier to lay down on the floor without it in, and seriously, at this point, you need to feel like you're accomplishing something.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/Diagram1.jpg
After removing the last of these screws, I was able to lift the dash up and away. Sure, it took some of the A/C ducting with it, but whatever. The dash is out, that's all that matters to me.
Here's what's left!
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9040010.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9040011.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9040012.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/100T2x2/P9040013.jpg
|