Removing Stock Protege H/U: WIP

[blueamcat]

After reading up on it a little bit last night, and after some Concrete Mixers from Culvers, Abraham and I tried to rig up some little tools with a wire hanger.

About 45 mins later, all we had to show were sore hands, a bent up hanger, and white paint that was on the hanger, now all over my car. Nothing broke, thankfully, but it hardly moved and we put a lot of weight into it. I don't understand.

I swear that deck is super glued in there somehow. Are we missing something? No one said anything about removing anything extra before trying to get it out.

If anyone has any experience taking out the Protege H/U, please post! I wanna get this thing out, and get my new Alpine in!

 

[mndsm]

Can you get pics of the h/u w/ the trim plate off the car? I think I know what yout problem is, but I'd need to see it to be sure.

 

[blueamcat]

Yea, I'll get some tonight if I can. All we have off right now is the little tiny black side plates that go right along the deck. Didn't take anything else off. That's what you mean right? It just makes the holes visible etc.

 

[Workdawg]

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123643578 ?

 

[dmention7]

Jen, there is a special tool used to pull these kind of decks, IIRC, and it's a pain in the ass to do without it. It's two u-shaped pieces of wire with notches in the ends that simultaneously unclip the deck from the frame, and allow you to pull it out.

Look at this picture:

EDIT: at least I think that's the tool you need. Either that or else it would be one of these key-shaped things in this picture, that get inserted along the sides of the radio, and do essentially the same thing:

 

[blueamcat]

Alright, if that's all I'm needing, I will have to give in and buy them I guess.
First though, gonna see if anyone has some I can borrow.

 

[DrWebster]

I don't think Mazda ever used the U-shape tools to hold the factory decks in; I think the slide keys are what you need. Just get a couple of butter knives you don't care about and jam 'em in there. Otherwise, we could do an install meet and any combination of Jay, Tom or I could get it taken care of (and your sub too).

 

[mndsm]

Yeah, when I did the old h/u in a Millenia, they used the wire things, we actually cut up a coat hanger and shoved it in much the way the wire things indicate, and went that way.

 

[blueamcat]

Well, bought those "U" tools and no luck.
Next step is to take off the area around the stereo and see if we can't find bolts holding it on.

Right now I just have to buy the iPod cable off eBay for $10 + a $15 mounting kit/sleeve off Crutchfield and I'm good!

 

[blueamcat]

Finally got the deck out today! My cousin spent about 30 mins with the help of a friend.

I got two sets of those "U" tools and they did work. The only thing that was holding it up was one of the clips was bent so it took some prying to finally get it out of there!

Abe and I bought the other accessories we needed from Best Buy and all is well minus my iPod cable, which is in the mail, and also I don't have the mounting sleeve for the stereo so it doesn't sit tightly in the dash for now. I'm going to see if the guy I bought the deck from still has it. Otherwise I am not sure where to find one.

I can already hear the sound difference and it's like night and day! Love the new Alpine deck so far. Now just need to finish up the sub/amp when I get back from KC.