How-to: Remove centre vents/louvres/honeycomb for gauge(s)

[yelomp5]

before anything, i must say thx to BigBen in m6c, he has helped
me alot, w/o him, i cannot accomplish this....

Hours spent Part A: 30min - 90min
Hours spent Part B: 45min - 90min
Hours spent Part C: 45min - 60min

Part A
tools:
phillip screw driver (centre console)
10mm socket (centre console)
hairdryer (heated once, not the ones that blows cool air only)
flat head screw drivers
dish detergent
rubbing alcohol
Q-tips or cotton ball

1.
You DO NOT have to remove the whole centre console to get the vent unit out, j/ un clip the centre console,
un-plug the wiring to the HU that will give you some room to put a screw driver behind to take out (4) screws that holds the vent unit. (Pic will be upload shortly)
2.
Once you've un-assembled the vent unit, this is wat it looks like.
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/9933/resizeofdsc00067fv0.jpg
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/3572/resizeofdsc00068ja8.jpg
3.
@ the top & bottom of the unit, you will see a total of (4) rectangular tabs, (2) @ top, 2 @ bottom.
I used a hairdryer, and blow heat towards the tabs before i pry it out w/ a flat head. DO NOT BREAK!
Please have patience, and take your time, work slowly. so that you will not damage anything. "$80ish USD @ dealerships for this part"
http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/311/resizeofdsc00069wl9.jpg
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/770/resizeofdsc00070jl2.jpg
4.
once all tabs are loose, pull the "cylinder w/ foam" in the direction demonstrated in the picture below
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/4060/resizeofdsc00073yf1.jpg
5.
now that you've removed the cylinder, look @ the unit from the back. there are (3) tabs that you'll need to pry
it out w/ a flat head. rotate your vent as shown in the pic(notice the groves behind the vent is point to 6 o'clock)
Again, i've used a Hair dryer to warm up the plastic, and go slowly.
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/7657/resizeofdsc00078gy9.jpg
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/1297/resizeofdsc00075if5.jpg
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/6149/resizeofdsc00076oj0.jpg
5a.
Here are some references what the tab looks like, (3) tabs in total, but (2) different kinds..
http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/6705/resizeofdsc00079kt6.jpg
http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/2316/resizeofdsc00080rt7.jpg
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/5423/resizeofdsc00081eo1.jpg
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/5808/resizeofdsc00082yt6.jpg
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/571/resizeofdsc00084nm9.jpg
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/5944/resizeofdsc00085ph3.jpg
5b
once all tabs are pushed in, the louvres/honeycomb unit should fall out from rear to front
direction, in my case, i used too much force, and the whole thing j/ flew out,
flyin' across the room....
Again, work slowly!
6.
Here is what it looks like when it's remove
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/8816/resizeofdsc00086pp3.jpg
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/5571/resizeofdsc00087zw6.jpg
http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/9171/resizeofdsc00089nf6.jpg
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/8737/resizeofdsc00090de7.jpg
7.
as you can see, it's a 3" opening there....so you can definitely fit a 52mm or 60mm gauge in there...
80mm maybe a bit tight
http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/8193/resizeofdsc00091cz1.jpg
8.
Finallly it's removed, clean the white grease w/ dish detergent.
as you can see, there is no need to CUT/NOTCH/BREAK anything for this mod...
j/ simple clips that needs to be un-clip "patience-ly"
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/1500/resizeofdsc00092jt0.jpg


Part B
tools:
Gauge (52mm or 60mm, i used 60mm)
DVD plastic case (prefer non-warped ones)
Compass Blade
5/16" x 5/16" thk. norton tape (rigid sponge double side tape w/ very little compression tolerence)
gomme-gomme
phillip screw driver (centre console)
10mm socket (centre console)
My STRI DSD-SLM II 60mm gauge (SLM6031-E)
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/1916/resizeofdsc00003yj7.jpg
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/8056/resizeofdsc00004am3.jpg

1.
Test Fitting the gauge
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/438/resizeofdsc00005tg2.jpg
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/8445/resizeofdsc00006ib1.jpg
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/4387/resizeofdsc00007au6.jpg
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/8192/resizeofdsc00008kx1.jpg
2.
Cut out a mounting plate, from a DVD Case. Instead of using a ruler,
i actually printed out a 1:1 scale cut-out. 76mm outside diametre, and 60mm inside diametre, (using AutoCAD)
double sided taped onto the case, and cut.
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/9125/resizeofdsc00010an1.jpg
3.
Using a Compass blade (less than $10), cut the 76mm circle out and test fit after cutting.
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/6867/resizeofdsc00012ng7.jpg
http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/657/resizeofdsc00013br1.jpg
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/7841/resizeofdsc00014aw3.jpg
4.
Cut out the inside circle, and file all edges to fit gauge & opening if necessary
(took me a good 30min to file/sand it down to fit everything tightly)
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/9614/resizeofdsc00015sf2.jpg
5a.
prepare 3 layers of 5/16" x 5/16" thk norton tape. to be stacked on top of each other
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/7137/resizeofdsc00016rp5.jpg
5b.
score/slice (1) side of the tape so that it will bend nicely..
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/7789/resizeofdsc00019xm0.jpg
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/747/reexposureofresizeofdscdp7.jpg
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/8431/resizeofdsc00017th9.jpg
6.
attach the mounting plate onto the stacked norton tape
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/7219/resizeofdsc00021ut1.jpg
7.
now stuff your gauge into that little opening.
because of the thickness of the norton tape, i have to give a little effort to push
the gauge in, so that it's secure.....by compression. the gauge is fully secure, and
it will not slide/rattle out. (notice, i put my gauge upside down...oops)
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/2912/resizeofdsc00022ho9.jpg
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/8484/resizeofdsc00023ui1.jpg
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/3415/resizeofdsc00025ad2.jpg
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/5507/resizeofdsc00026ln1.jpg
8a.
for extra pre-caution, i used some "Butyl Tape" (something sticky, flexible, chewing gum texture,
no odour, and it sticks good, but not permanent, it can also be scraped off easily w/ finger nails)
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/4779/resizeofdsc00030kv0.jpg
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/8324/resizeofdsc00031wt1.jpg
8b.
now it will not pull out or push in anymore....
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/945/resizeofdsc00034gi3.jpg
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/3923/resizeofdsc00035gl6.jpg
9.
Install the whole assembly back into the car.....

Part C

Big Thanks to Mazda6smtx for helping me out on installation.
for further installation info, please PM Mazda6smtx directly!
Pictures taken under moderate lightings..
http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/5705/resizeofdsc00005rc2.jpg
http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/7889/resizeofdsc00007ol2.jpg
http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/600/resizeofdsc00008kz2.jpg
Pictures taken indoor
http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/6725/resizeofdsc00009tz0.jpg
http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/8411/resizeofdsc00020sl9.jpg
Pictures when it's off
http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/9716/resizeofdsc00028an0.jpg
http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/6632/resizeofdsc00029ek4.jpg


i assume no responsibility or liability for this information. use at your own risk! Nevertheless, i will gladly to help and answer as much question as i can.

[wannabe]

nice write up :)

[elieleb1303]

very nice write up, it looks real clean too. and i really like that guage, one of the first ive seen that i like.
in any case, does this affect the warranty?

[elieleb1303]

anyone?

[wannabe]

very nice write up, it looks real clean too. and i really like that guage, one of the first ive seen that i like.
in any case, does this affect the warranty?

it shouldn't. it would affect the warranty on the vacuum hose you tap into, and possibly the electical system if you short something out, but in general, it would not hurt the warranty.

[elieleb1303]

alright thanks

[VRMS6]

awsome writeup. I will be using this when I do my install in a few weeks...

[knyghtryda]

Great writeup! I'm gonna do this, and maybe something special around the rim of the gauge. My question though is how you routed the wires out the back, and what you did to plug the AC vent. It looks like there might be some room between the vent in the car and the gauge, but I just wanna make sure there's no cutting to the car involved in this. Thanks.

[yelomp5]

Great writeup! I'm gonna do this, and maybe something special around the rim of the gauge. My question though is how you routed the wires out the back, and what you did to plug the AC vent. It looks like there might be some room between the vent in the car and the gauge, but I just wanna make sure there's no cutting to the car involved in this. Thanks.

i only did the gauge installed myself, but all the wire hookups and connections were assissted by "mazda6mtx". however, he placed my
sensor between the struct tower and battery, and routed the
electrial wire near the pedals/fuse box (there were bunch of wires
there already stock, j/ need to open up the grommet by cuttin'
a small slit) than from behind the steerin' wheel column, all the way to
the back of the HU. i've also used duct tape to cover the vent.

[Driverman5777]

amazing write up... can't wait to try

[GT-Mazdaspeed 6]

Looks awesome! That's exactly what I want to do.

[Speed6gurl]

That looks super clean. Nice work.

[ugadogs_11]

Looks nice, thinking about that or the other vent pods. This one is free though.