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.
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"
4.
once all tabs are loose, pull the "cylinder w/ foam" in the direction demonstrated in the picture below
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.
5a.
Here are some references what the tab looks like, (3) tabs in total, but (2) different kinds..
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
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
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"
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)
1.
Test Fitting the gauge
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.
3.
Using a Compass blade (less than $10), cut the 76mm circle out and test fit after cutting.
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)
5a.
prepare 3 layers of 5/16" x 5/16" thk norton tape. to be stacked on top of each other
5b.
score/slice (1) side of the tape so that it will bend nicely..
6.
attach the mounting plate onto the stacked norton tape
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)
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)
8b.
now it will not pull out or push in anymore....
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..
Pictures taken indoor
Pictures when it's off
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.
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.
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"
4.
once all tabs are loose, pull the "cylinder w/ foam" in the direction demonstrated in the picture below
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.
5a.
Here are some references what the tab looks like, (3) tabs in total, but (2) different kinds..
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
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
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"
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)
1.
Test Fitting the gauge
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.
3.
Using a Compass blade (less than $10), cut the 76mm circle out and test fit after cutting.
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)
5a.
prepare 3 layers of 5/16" x 5/16" thk norton tape. to be stacked on top of each other
5b.
score/slice (1) side of the tape so that it will bend nicely..
6.
attach the mounting plate onto the stacked norton tape
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)
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)
8b.
now it will not pull out or push in anymore....
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..
Pictures taken indoor
Pictures when it's off
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.
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