Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Replace Head Unit in an MX-5 NC2 (2011) - 2. Remove Old Head Unit

Car / MX-5 / Radio.

There are many instructional (?) videos on the Internet that show you how to remove and install a new head unit in an MX-5 NC (aka Miata MK3.5 etc.). 

Some of those videos are pretty good, many others are terrible and awful 😏 so I decided to write this post as a kind of 'addendum', and answer the questions the videos did not. Obviously this is limited to my own setup!


Links

First the videos, then my notes. (At the bottom of this post there will be a number of links to these and other sources of information.)

Note that the Crutchfield sheet seems to be a bit of a mixed bag... literally. Some images belong to NC1s and some to NC2s...


Step by Step

0. Prepare

1. Disconnect power

2. Protect the interior of your car

3. Have an area to safely store all the bits you've taken out


I. Security bolt

1. Unscrew, then remove cover (see Provo Beast at 00:40)

2. Check if you have the rotten security bolt  (see Provo Beast at 01:30)

This thing is a complete nightmare. There's no telling if you have one, or not. Some claim that later models (after 2009 or so) don't have them, but my 2011 NC2 did have one!

It's hard to get out, and make sure you don't drop it -- because there's no telling where it would end up.

You will need a small wrench with an extension, and a 10 mm hex.




(Click on any image to enlarge.)


II-A. Center console - shift only

Important! You might not have to remove the full center console!

Depending on the situation and configuration you might be able to leave the console in the car -- you'd only have to unscrew it, lift it, and shift it a few centimeters backward to access the screws in front.

If you're unlucky and you have to remove the center console completely then see II-B further down.

Lift and shift, but don't remove:


1. Remove rear part of center console (HammoTech at 00:10)

A screwdriver or plastic 'panel kit remover' is all you need. I suggest not to use a screwdriver (too much danger of scratches). Screwdrivers are for screws.

2. Remove 2 screws near the back

3. Lift the rubber from the bottom storage section (below the cupholder, if you have it). Remove the screw below.

4. Lift the rubber in front of the gear lever.

5. Lift center console (pull out of the clips)

6. Shift the console a few centimeters backward. Avoid scratches.

You should have just enough space to pull out the side panels. If you don't, you'll have to remove the center console as per below.


II-B. Center console - full removal

1. Remove rear part of center console (HammoTech at 00:10)

A screwdriver or plastic 'panel kit remover' is all you need. I suggest not to use a screwdriver (too much danger of scratches). Screwdrivers are for screws.

2. Remove 2 screws near the back

3. Lift the rubber from the bottom storage section (below the cupholder, if you have it). Remove the screw below.

4. Lift the rubber in front of the gear lever.

5. Lift center console (pull out of the clips)

6. Remove the section containing the window buttons

Now it gets tricky. If you're unlucky (I was) then the cables will be very short, and you can't lift it up far enough to disconnect the electric window buttons. In that case, you'll have to do it by touch. As in: squeeze your hand in there and try to push the metal clips (holding the window buttons) in so you can push them up and out of the console cover. A small screwdriver may be helpful.

7. Disconnect the connectors to the window buttons

I tried to, but you can't do it blindly from the bottom. That's why there is step 6 above...

8. Remove the section containing the handbrake sleeve

In most videos on the 'net you can simply slide it off, but in my case it was too tight. I had no choice but to push the plastic clips at the underside of the console, and press them to remove this section.

HammoTech's 'easing out / sliding up' (HammoTech at 03:00) didn't work for me. 

9. Remove the gear leaver knob

Just screw it off.

10. Lift and set the cover aside


III. Side panels and Aux connector

1. Remove two screws near the gear lever (HammoTech at 03:40)

In the image below they are indicated by the red arrows. Leave the green ones in place.


(Click any image to enlarge.)

2. Pull off both side panels

You do so by pulling them towards you, ie. towards the backside of the car, not to the sides.

3. Unscrew and pull out the section with the 12V cigarette lighter

This may not be necessary... But, if you want to repurpose the slot for the Aux connector then yeah, you'll have to remove this bit as well.


4. Unplug all connectors

You might be able to repurpose the bit containing the Aux connecter. (More about that later.)


(Click any image to enlarge.)


IV. Radio

1. Remove side screws ((HammoTech at 04:00)

2. Now pull the radio unit forward

This may take some wriggling and a bit of force. Make sure that stupid security bolt is out!

(Hammo drops his radio onto the stick shaft... he's lucky he doesn't have any scratches on his screen.) 

 3. Unplug all connectors

The cables might be very short, and the connectors might be hard to remove. You have to insert a screwdriver or something similar to unlock the connector.


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