Stock Tape Player swap for Protege CD unit | Photos added

[timpronk]

Just returned from the junkyard.

Took a stock cd radio and the pop up tray from a 99 protege, they fit perfectly in the dash of a 1992 mx3 gs, and the wires hook up directly.

Cost was $25 for the cd/radio (protege), a tray under the radio that has pop up front (protege) and the a/c switch (from a mx3), plus the time to take them out. Overall, I am happy with my cheap stock Mazda CD player, and the popup front tray thing is deeper than the stock one in a 1992 dash.

Nice alternative for someone going to the junk yard and just wants a stock cd/radio to replace the stock tape deck/radio.

Maybe this info is already on this site, but I just thought of trying it while at the junk yard for the a/c switch, and it works.

====== PHOTOS ADDED NOV 2008 ===========
Flickr link as required




Flickr Link


Flickr Link


Flickr Link
Tray will fit cd's.

99 protoge cd storage tray with flip up front on left. 1992 mazda mx3 storage tray on right.
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Here is a picture of the 99 protege radio and popup tray (my tray looks a little different) :

[Mooneggs]

nice find! I've been looking for a replacement tray that had some type of lid cause stuff never stays in the mx-3 tray...

[shameem]

Do you know if the A/c controls detach (in the protege) - I assume they are electrical and not cable operated - i have been thinking of retrofitting those controls into my mx3....

[ninjajim4]

thats really freakin cool especially for someone who doesn't want to take up both DINs to have a cd player, like you'd have to with an mx-3 cd player. i wish i knew about it before the carPC days, i'd totally have done it.

pocket is neat too

[purewhitemp5]

a/c controls are electrical and not cable operated in the 99 and up protege's. I believe mazda did away with cable operated controls in 98 on all models.

[Nd4SpdSe]

Nope, Mx-3's had electric push-button controls in 94 and up, either it was an option or not I dont know, but I've seen cable sliders in 94's too, but typically it's electrical

[hotsiit]

nice find! I've been looking for a replacement tray that had some type of lid cause stuff never stays in the mx-3 tray...

...+1 I was actually planning on going to the salvage yard soon, to find a suitable tray that would fit...and now i know.

[wytbishop]

Can you post a picture of them installed in your MX-3 dash? I'd love to see the finished look.

[mx3boyze]

Can you post a picture of them installed in your MX-3 dash? I'd love to see the finished look.

X2, Im curious as to how it looks, I may be on the look out for a protege radio.

[purewhitemp5]

Nope, Mx-3's had electric push-button controls in 94 and up, either it was an option or not I dont know, but I've seen cable sliders in 94's too, but typically it's electrical

Yup your correct 94 - 98 MX-3's have electronic controls

[Mad Cow]

Nope, Mx-3's had electric push-button controls in 94 and up, either it was an option or not I dont know, but I've seen cable sliders in 94's too, but typically it's electrical

Yup your correct 94 - 98 MX-3's have electronic controls

I think it was an option, my '94 is cable operated, but it's not the unit from the <'93s because the AC button is right there beside the temperature slider.

[timpronk]

Photos added into first post.