Protip: Removing a Miata double-din radio is very hard

"daender" (daender)
09/24/2016 at 17:57 • Filed to: miata

This picture shows just how far I had to disassemble the interior just so I could look at each the sides of the radio and then press down on the tabs while Pops slowly pulled out each side one at a time. Why? Because my cassette player stopped working and I pulled a potential replacement from what was not the worlds greatest car...but a Tribute .

As it turns, the Tribute’s cassette player is IN-OP and my current cassette still works, it just needed to be dusted off inside. Now to order a new mp3-cassette adapter from Amazon and I’ll be getting more miles out of my Miata’s half-decent Bose sound system instead of using my iPod earbuds.

By the way, Jake, this is what the back of your double-din looks like. The circular plug on the far right is obviously for the radio antenna and the large white connector is for our Bose sound system setup. That smaller white connector? It’s unused! I’ve heard of people tapping it with a computer plug to run AUX inputs but I’m eventually going with the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! method and running it with the connector that the mini-disc or cassette player current use.

But, while everything was apart, I went ahead with vacuuming-out the interior and ended up collecting a surprising amount of dust, dirt, and some fine gravel.

I also bent these fucking-annoying metal tabs that hold the radio in place. Hopefully I’ll be able to correctly use the proper Mazda double-din removal prongs to eject this radio in a more painless manner.

Also, I bought a second Nardi wooden 5-speed knob. It’s rougher than my pristine, new-in-the-box knob that I absolutely lucked-out on, but I actually want a more beater-friendly knob.

As expected, no two wooden knobs are alike! Mine pristine one has a silver pattern while this newest addition is more golden on top. I’m not sure if that’s due to sun fading or not!

DISCUSSION (23)

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > daender
09/24/2016 at 18:04

want another nob? i took mine out and replaced with a Voodoo knob cause its way better

96Formula6spd > daender
09/24/2016 at 18:22

Never looked back. Granted it was $15 and my speakers were only $24 but still. Junkyard radio with all the goodies for the win.

daender > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
09/24/2016 at 18:27

I’m surprised you haven’t sold it yet! I recall you mentioning that you were planning on replacing your Nardi for a Voodoo a few months ago! I’m honestly not sure what I’d do with three wooden Nardi knobs...

daender > 96Formula6spd
09/24/2016 at 18:36

Well, it’s a lot easier for you for not having to replace the Bose system.

Sam > daender
09/24/2016 at 18:59

I actually like the more golden look. Looks a bit classier.

daender > Sam
09/24/2016 at 19:07

Silver goes better with the ‘03+ silver interior trim but gold goes amazingly well with the OEM faux-wood trim.

96Formula6spd > daender
09/24/2016 at 19:13

Its easy to delete.

facw > daender
09/24/2016 at 19:43

That’s a lot of effort. My car has a system that’s the same size as a double-din, but not a double-din (different mounting system, thanks Volvo). The good news if you just pull the shifter all the way back, and pop two clips and the unit slides right out. Made it easy to install a Grom Bluetooth adapter, which pretends to be a CD changer, to get modern audio into my car.

daender > facw
09/24/2016 at 20:20

Nice! Sadly Mazda sorta parts-bin’d this one from the Protege, 626, and Tribute and it’s not a perfect system. It had potential as one of the later Proteges got factory MP3 adapters but people haven’t found a way to make them function in an earlier head unit.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > daender
09/24/2016 at 20:31

lol its sitting on a shelf with my RX7 knob

1111111111111111111111 > daender
09/24/2016 at 20:56

I’m getting ready for a boseectomy on my 99. It sounds bad. But I’m going to pay for it. Initial quotes are around 300 for a head unit and speakers that should be way better.

daender > 1111111111111111111111
09/24/2016 at 21:14

Not a bad quote at all, hope it’s a clean install!

NJAnon > daender
09/24/2016 at 21:59

My car stereo upgrade wasn’t too bad (its apparently easy they said I can do it myself) until they started talking about the wiring. Yes I finished putting the thing in, but Im not doing that again risking the electrical system of a car!

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > daender
09/24/2016 at 23:53

Uh, wow. That’s a lot of disassembly. I need to take mine out so I can re-solder the LCD connections and install an auxmod.

daender > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/25/2016 at 00:01

If you can somehow eject it correctly just by popping off the black tabs on the sides of the radio (careful not to scratch your silver radio surround) and carefully inserting four two-pronged u-shaped thingies into revealed holes to properly push on some hidden tabs, then it should pop out.

...I have yet to see someone actually do it that way and not have to remove the console, or glove box. The GTA mod install guy somehow does it with the wrong tools.

Fkinja111 > daender
09/25/2016 at 04:04

Where did you buy a new nardi shifter knob?

daender > Fkinja111
09/25/2016 at 09:25

I hounded eBay for about 10 months, checking it every night on the rare chance someone would actually put one up for sale. I lucked out, someone was selling one in pristine condition with an 80$ buy it now price (usually the bids go up to 120$ or more depending on the condition with the highest being 200$). Turns out it was never mounted on a Miata, it even came in its original (but very worn) Nardi box with the correct Mazda part number and everything.

Fkinja111 > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
09/25/2016 at 11:44

If the inside of your knob is still letting it just spin I’d be interested in it.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > daender
09/25/2016 at 11:58

Changed my mind. I want a GTA mod now. The $130 bluetooth model.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Fkinja111
09/25/2016 at 14:04

It did spin a bit when it was on but i would just tighten it up i think. been a while since i drove with it

cluelessk > daender
09/25/2016 at 14:34

Dash work is awful.

Air bag goes off in a ‘08 Civic and you have an 8hr job plus a couple of hundred for a new bag and SRS unit.

NB Driver > daender
09/25/2016 at 15:08

I’ve removed mine lots of times over the years. Takes 5 minutes using a couple of bent coat hangers. Not a big deal to do. Push the wires in, push them apart and wriggle the radio out.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > daender
10/27/2016 at 22:28

So, yeah. I finally did this. Fuck those tabs. Fuck those tabs so much. Ended up taking out the center console and surround as you did, then using my ‘removal tool’ (bent coathanger) in conjunction with a flat-head screwdriver as a pry bar to get the damn thing out. Broke my radio, ordered another one (don’t break your radio. Double-DIN NB2 Bose units are stupid hard to find), popped in the AuxMOD (if you order one there will be no confirmation email or anything, but it will be shipped within a day with two-day shipping. Surprised the hell out of me), and went to town.