2008 Miata MX-5 Stereo Head Unit Removal

Here are the steps I took to remove the HU.  The main difference between my instructions and others I saw is that I use a very simple way to remove the side panels and that there appears to be no internal bolt to remove from inside the dash in my car.  Here is where the instructions are that include info on the bolt removal and a lot of other stuff:

http://www.mx-5.com/Community/forums/ShowThread.aspx?PostID=6195

The first step is to remove the triangle side panels. Do this by putting the flat part of a screw driver against the point of the side panel that is toward the front of the car.  Pull directly toward the back of the car and it pops off.

Do the same thing for the other side panel.

Next remove each screw on the side of the head unit exposed by removal of the side panels.

Once that is done, put a towel down on the center console if you don't like scratching up all the plastic in your car.

Then grab the two sides of the head unit and pull toward the back of the car.  It should move backward pretty easily, but don't pull it back too far since there are cables that aren't very long connected to the back.

The next part was the hardest for me.  Remove the connector at the bottom of the panel that is goes to the climate controls.  I did it by pressing in the tab on the bottom and prying on the sides of the connector with a screwdriver.

Then reach in and cut the tape that bundles the wires behind the head unit.  Once that is done the head unit can be pulled out quite a way without unplugging the main connector for the head unit and the antenna connector.   Although the antenna connector probably got pulled out in the initial pull on the head unit, so plug it back in if you like FM or AM radio.

This picture shows the back of the head unit with the climate control plug removed from the bottom plug.  The satellite plug is the white one on the top right next to the antenna plug.