I need to raise it a bit to get my new carpet in. I don't know if I'll have to completely remove it, or if I can just lift it, or what. I can't find a detail on this in the Haynes manual, and I'm not having much luck with the factory microfische, either. Any help? Redirects?

 

Wow...

I would have noticed this before ordering new carpet.


In your case I would shim up the dash and press the carpet in with a paddle that has a smooth rounded tip.

Let the carpet heat up a bit first.

Remove all of the center console peices you can and then shim up the center without breaking it.

Try to force the carpet in that way.

Remember measure twice, cut one, but cut it so that very little needs to be under the dash.

You can then sticth the peices to each other across the hump under the shift boot to keep them from slipping out.

Just dont stress or puncture the shift boots.

This will cause your boots to start disintegrating.

 

I got the carpet from 1A Automotive, cut for the FC. It *seems* to match pretty well. I'm hoping that I don't have too much matching to have to do. So the original carpet actually flows under the center console and the arm rest and all, huh?

 

Yup.

You should be prepared to remove ALL seats and lower side pieces of interior plastic.
Also remove ALL removable components that touch the carpet.

seatblets and all.

Its a tediuous process, but if you prepare right, youll have an easy time laying it in.

Rememer, REMOVE the pars that the carpet runs under unless it the enitire dash.

Use a upholtsry removal tool, Advance auto has them for $9, they are fork shaped and save all your fasteners from snapping off at the surface of the plastic.

Dont proceed without one (or two)!!!!

 

Did you just get the front section or front and back???

 

Easiest way is to install a carpet. Remove your seats, dash, steering wheel, center console, rear bins, speaker covers, hmmmm a pillars, radio, stubborn bolts and screws and nuts, you will probably break the windshield defroster grills into 5 pieces (MAZDATRIX sells them), and also you want to remove your shift lever..

Its hard but all worth it!..i did it to my TII.. Have a friend help you with this project because its a back breaker.

TO remove the 3 screws on top of the dashboard you will probably have to modify a phillips drill bit. Its a tight squeeze removing those screws under the windshield.

 

Im not sure that cpmplete dash removal is required here.

Ive gone and looked at the issue in another car and i think that forcing the carpet under and pulling it through will work okay.

 

I got front and back.

Now the old carpet is out--I didnt' actually have to remove the dash completely. Just loosen it and raise it. And I took off the wheel for convience. Getting the new one in, I think, is going to be harder.

 

good luck... taking out the carpet is a PITA!!