Removal of quarter panel molding - 2004 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Remove the door opening weather-strip. Refer to Door Opening Weatherstrip Replacement in Doors.
Remove side sill trim plate. Refer to Door Sill Plate Replacement in Interior Trim.
Remove the lower quarter panel trim. Refer to Rear Quarter Trim Panel Replacement in Interior Trim.
Remove the center pillar upper trim panel. Refer to Center Pillar Upper Trim Panel Replacement in Interior Trim.
Remove the quarter upper trim panel. Refer to Rear Quarter Upper Trim Panel Replacement in Interior Trim.
Remove the center pillar outer applique. Refer to Center Pillar Applique Replacement in Exterior Trim.
Remove the roof drip molding. Refer to Body Side Roof Drip Molding Replacement in Exterior Trim.

Important: It is necessary to use new nuts when reinstalling the quarter window.
Remove the nine quarter window nuts (1), securing the quarter window assembly (2) to the body opening.
Caution: When working with any type of glass or sheet metal with exposed or rough edges, wear approved safety glasses and gloves in order to reduce the chance of personal injury.
Important: When removing the quarter window from the body opening make sure that the attaching pins are clear of the outer body.
Remove the quarter window (2) from the body opening.

Remove the rear seat cushion. Refer to Rear Seat Cushion Replacement in Seats.
Remove the rear seat back. Refer to Rear Seat Back Replacement in Seats.
Remove the door sill plate. Refer to Door Sill Plate Replacement .

Remove the 3 quarter trim panel retaining screws (1).
Starting at the lower edge of the trim panel and moving alternately clockwise and counterclockwise, pull outward on the trim panel to disengage the eight rear quarter trim panel attaching clips (2).
Remove the quarter trim panel from the vehicle.
Remove the 4 radio speaker grille speed clips (1), securing the speaker grille.
Remove the speaker grille (2).
Remove the rear quarter trim panel insulator (1), from the back of the quarter trim assembly (2).
Remove 7 rear quarter trim panel armrest retaining clips (1).
Remove 7 rear quarter trim panel armrest retaining nuts (2).
Gently pry the quarter trim panel armrest insert assembly (3), away from the rear quarter trim panel and remove.

You mite look for a video on youtube !

It is located behind the right rear quarter panel , In the back right of the interior !
Remove the right rear quarter trim panel. Refer to Rear Quarter Trim Panel Replacement - Right Side in Interior Trim.
Removal Procedure

1. Remove the rear seat. Refer to Rear Number 2 Seat Replacement or Rear Number 2 50-50 Seat Replacement in Seats.
2. Remove the Third Pillar trim panel. Refer to Third Pillar Trim Replacement .
3. Remove the garnish molding. Refer to Body Rear Corner Garnish Molding Replacement .
4. Remove the door sill plate. Refer to Liftgate Door Sill Plate Replacement .
5. Remove the quarter panel trim screws.

A lot involved in this but not to difficult !

1. Remove the rear door sill trim plate. Refer to Front Side Door Sill Plate Replacement or to Rear Side Door Sill Plate Replacement .
2. Remove the lower rear seat belt cover and bolt.
3. Remove the trim panel from the vehicle.

Remove the sill plate. Firmly pull the sill plate up and out from the retainers.
Remove the sill plate from the vehicle. Start from the front of the door sill. Use a flat-bladed tool in order to pry the door sill plate.
Rear Side Door Sill Trim Plate Replacement
Use a flat-bladed tool in order to pry the door sill plate. Remove the sill plate from the vehicle.
Body Rear Corner Garnish Molding Replacement
Remove the rear upper garnish molding. Refer to Rear Upper Garnish Molding Replacement .
Pull down on the upper corners of the garnish molding in order to disengage the retaining clips. Pull in order to disengage the remaining retaining clips. Remove the rear corner garnish molding from the vehicle. Inspect the rear corner garnish molding for broken or missing retaining clips. Replace the retaining clips as needed.
Good Luck ! Fun job !!!!!

Important: This sunroof system is timed from the factory in order to allow the actuator to shut off automatically when the sunroof window reaches a certain position. Use extreme care when removing the actuator from the sunroof module. This may cause the timing to be thrown off. This may damage to the sunroof. Anytime the actuator needs to be removed from the module, ensure that the sunroof window is in the fully closed position.
Remove the sunroof window. Refer to Sunroof Glass Panel Replacement .
Slide the sunshade fully rearward. Move the sunroof window to the vent position. Remove the sunroof screws (two on each side). Remove the sunroof window from the module.
Place the sunroof module in the fully closed position. Remove the headliner. Refer to Headlining Trim Panel Replacement in Interior trim.
Tools Required ?€¢
J 38778 Door Trim Pad and Garnish Clip Remover

?€¢
J 2772-C Headliner Installer

1. Remove the sunshades. Refer to Sunshade Replacement .
2. Remove the overhead console, if equipped. Refer to Roof Console Replacement .
3. Remove the sunshade retainers. Refer to Sunshade Anchor Replacement .
4. Remove the power sunroof switch, if equipped. Refer to Sunroof Switch Replacement in Roof.
5. Remove the sunroof trim lace, if equipped. Refer to Sunroof Seal/Molding Replacement in Roof.
6. Remove the dome light, if equipped.
7. Remove the coat hooks. Refer to Coat Hook Replacement .
8. Remove the assist handles. Assist Strap Replacement
9. Remove the rail lamp. Refer to Roof Side Rail Lamp Replacement in Lighting.
10. Remove the windshield side garnish molding. Refer to Windshield Pillar Garnish Molding Replacement .
11. Remove the upper quarter trim panels. Refer to Rear Quarter Upper Trim Panel Replacement .
12. Remove the center pillar upper trim panel. Refer to Center Pillar Upper Trim Panel Replacement .
13. Pull down on the door opening weatherstrip seal on both the front and the rear doors.
14. Remove the 2 rear retainers (2) using J 38778 Door Trim Pad and Garnish Clip Remover. Disconnect the headliner electric harness at the right side of the rear window shelf. Rotate the right front seatback to a horizontal position. Remove the headliner from the vehicle through the right front door.
    

Disconnect the electrical connector from the actuator.
Important: Before removing the actuator, ensure that the pins J 41718 are tight and holding the cable.
Thread the J 41718 into the front sunroof window screw hole in order to retain the cable adjustment. Remove the sunroof actuator screws. Remove the sunroof actuator from the module. Did you look for a video on youtube ?

its in the HVAC heater core box,
how to remove it is a very long answer.
read the FSM on HVAC
or login to alldata.com see HVAC chapter, and read. it.
anyone can, not just me.

i see this on line,.

1. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable.
2. Remove first row seat.
3. Remove second row seat.
4. Remove sliding door sill trim panel.
5. Remove quarter trim bolster.
6. Remove D-pillar trim panel.
7. Remove first row seat belt anchor.
8. Remove second row seat belt anchor.
9. Remove screws attaching quarter trim to quarter panel from bolster area.
10. Remove screws attaching rear edge of quarter trim to attaching bracket.
11. Disengage hidden clips attaching front of quarter trim to quarter panel rearward of sliding door opening and at locators.
12. Remove quarter trim from quarter panel.
13. Disconnect speaker wire connector on LWB quarter trim panel with rear air conditioning.
14. Pass second row seat belt through slot in trim panel on long wheel base vehicle.
15. Pass first row seat belt through slot in trim panel.
16. Remove quarter trim panel from vehicle.
17. Remove the two screws that secure the top of the quarter trim panel attaching bracket to the quarter inner panel.
18. Remove the screw that secures the back of the rear heater-A/C unit housing to the right D-pillar.
19. Remove the screw that secures the front of the rear heater-A/C unit housing to the right quarter inner panel.
20. Carefully pull the top of the rear heater-A/C unit housing away from the right quarter inner panel far enough to reach between the rear heater-A/C unit housing and the quarter inner panel to access the blend door actuator.
21. Remove the two screws that secure the blend door actuator to the rear heater-A/C unit housing.
22. Pull the blend door actuator away from the rear heater-A/C unit housing far enough to disengage the actuator output shaft from the blend air door pivot.
23. Raise the blend door actuator far enough to access and disconnect the rear HVAC wire harness connector for the actuator from the actuator connector receptacle.
24. Remove the blend door actuator from between the rear heater-A/C unit housing and the quarter inner panel.

For the XL - The AMP is located on the drivers side, behind the left rear trim panel.

1. Remove the cargo shelf. 2. Tumble the third row seats to the cargo position. 3. Remove the left body side window rear garnish molding.4. 4. Remove the left body side window forward garnish molding. 5. Remove the liftgate sill plate. 6. Remove the left rear door sill panel. 7. Remove the lower seat belt anchor bolt. 8. Remove the auxiliary power outlet from the trim panel. Release the five screws that retain the rear quarter trim panel to the body. 9. Remove the rear quarter trim panel from the vehicle.

If you don't have the XL then the AMP is located on the passenger side.
1. Remove the screw that retains the trim panel to the body. 2. Remove the cargo net retaining knobs. 3. Remove the bolt that retains the seat belt upper guide to the body. 4. Remove the rear upper quarter trim panel from the vehicle. 5. Remove the cargo shade/cover. 6. Remove the inflator access panel. 7. Remove the right rear quarter upper trim panel. 8. Remove the liftgate sill plate. 9. Remove the right rear door sill panel. 10. Remove the lower seat belt anchor bolt. 11. Release the retaining clips that retain the trim panel to the body. 12. Partially remove the trim panel in order to remove the inflator switch from the inflator bezel. 13. Remove the auxiliary air outlet washer and retaining nut. 14. Feed the auxiliary air outlet through the inflator bezel. 15. Remove the inflator bezel from the trim panel. 16. Disconnect the the 12-volt power supply electrical connector. 17. Remove the 12-volt power supply. . 18. Remove the trim panel from the vehicle. 19. Disconnect the electrical connectors from the radio speaker amplifier. 20. Remove the 4 bolts that retain the radio speaker amplifier to the body. 21. Remove the radio speaker amplifier from the body.

from autozone.com:

Removal & Installation

1. Disconnect and isolate the negative battery cable.
2. Remove the right quarter trim panel as follows:
   1. Remove first rear seat. Remove the second rear seat, if equipped.
   2. Remove the sliding door sill plate.
   3. Remove the quarter trim bolster.
   4. Remove the upper C-pillar trim and D-pillar trim panel.
   5. Remove the first and second rear seat belt anchors.
   6. Remove the screws securing the quarter trim to quarter panel from the bolster area.
   7. Remove the screws securing the rear edge of the quarter trim to the support bracket.
   8. Carefully disengage the hidden clips securing the front of the quarter trim to the quarter panel just rearward of the sliding door opening.

   
   

Fig. Removing the trim panel to access the rear blower motor

i. Disconnect the wiring harness connector from the accessory power outlet, if equipped.

j. On long wheelbase wagons only, remove the quarter trim from the quarter panel and pull second rear seat belt through access hole.

k. Pull first rear seat belt through the access hole.

l. Remove the quarter trim panel from the vehicle.

3. Remove the 5 screws mounting the A/C-heater blower motor housing to the rear HVAC unit (one mounting screw located on evaporator cover).

4. Twist the blower motor out of scroll housing.

5. Disconnect the blower motor wiring connector.

6. Remove the blower motor from vehicle.


Fig. The rear blower motor is held in place by four screws
To install:

1. Install the blower motor unit into the vehicle.
2. Reconnect the blower motor wiring connector.
3. Secure the blower motor into scroll housing.
4. Install and tighten the 5 screws mounting the A/C-heater blower motor housing to the rear HVAC unit (one mounting screw located on evaporator cover).
5. Install the right quarter trim panel as follows:
   1. Install the quarter trim panel in position in the vehicle.
   2. Insert and pull the first rear seat belt through the access hole in quarter trim panel.
   3. On long wheelbase wagons only, insert and pull the second rear seat belt through access hole in quarter trim panel.
   4. Reconnect the wiring harness connector to the accessory power outlet, if equipped.
   5. Engage the hidden clips to secure the front of quarter trim to quarter panel rearward of sliding door opening.
   6. Install the retaining screws that secure the rear edge of quarter trim to support bracket.
   7. Install the retaining screws that secure the quarter trim to the quarter panel in bolster area.
   8. Install the second rear seat belt anchor (if equipped), and the first rear seat belt anchor.
   9. Install the D-pillar trim panel and upper C-pillar trim.
   10. Install the quarter trim bolster.
   11. Install the sliding door sill plate.
   12. Install the second rear seat, if equipped, and install the first rear seat.
       
6. Reconnect the negative battery cable. Check blower motor operation.

Removal & Installation

1. Disconnect and isolate the negative battery cable.
2. Remove the right quarter trim panel as follows:
   1. Remove first rear seat. Remove the second rear seat, if equipped.
   2. Remove the sliding door sill plate.
   3. Remove the quarter trim bolster.
   4. Remove the upper C-pillar trim and D-pillar trim panel.
   5. Remove the first and second rear seat belt anchors.
   6. Remove the screws securing the quarter trim to quarter panel from the bolster area.
   7. Remove the screws securing the rear edge of the quarter trim to the support bracket.
   8. Carefully disengage the hidden clips securing the front of the quarter trim to the quarter panel just rearward of the sliding door opening.
      
      
      

      Fig. Removing the trim panel to access the rear blower motor
      

   9. Disconnect the wiring harness connector from the accessory power outlet, if equipped.
   10. On long wheelbase wagons only, remove the quarter trim from the quarter panel and pull second rear seat belt through access hole.
   11. Pull first rear seat belt through the access hole.
   12. Remove the quarter trim panel from the vehicle.
       
3. Remove the 5 screws mounting the A/C-heater blower motor housing to the rear HVAC unit (one mounting screw located on evaporator cover).
4. Twist the blower motor out of scroll housing.
5. Disconnect the blower motor wiring connector.
6. Remove the blower motor from vehicle.
   
   
   

   Fig. The rear blower motor is held in place by four screws
   

To install:

1. Install the blower motor unit into the vehicle.
2. Reconnect the blower motor wiring connector.
3. Secure the blower motor into scroll housing.
4. Install and tighten the 5 screws mounting the A/C-heater blower motor housing to the rear HVAC unit (one mounting screw located on evaporator cover).
5. Install the right quarter trim panel as follows:
   1. Install the quarter trim panel in position in the vehicle.
   2. Insert and pull the first rear seat belt through the access hole in quarter trim panel.
   3. On long wheelbase wagons only, insert and pull the second rear seat belt through access hole in quarter trim panel.
   4. Reconnect the wiring harness connector to the accessory power outlet, if equipped.
   5. Engage the hidden clips to secure the front of quarter trim to quarter panel rearward of sliding door opening.
   6. Install the retaining screws that secure the rear edge of quarter trim to support bracket.
   7. Install the retaining screws that secure the quarter trim to the quarter panel in bolster area.
   8. Install the second rear seat belt anchor (if equipped), and the first rear seat belt anchor.
   9. Install the D-pillar trim panel and upper C-pillar trim.
   10. Install the quarter trim bolster.
   11. Install the sliding door sill plate.
   12. Install the second rear seat, if equipped, and install the first rear seat.
       
6. Reconnect the negative battery cable. Check blower motor operation.

Hope helps (remember to rate this).

1. Remove sun visors and visor hooks
2. Remove overhead assist handle.
3. Remove coat hook.
4. Remove overhead console, if equipped..
5. Remove A-pillar moldings.
6. Remove quarter trim panels.
7. Remove dome lamp.
8. Separate headliner from roof panel.
9. Extract headliner through door opening

You have to pull the inside trim off to get access to the nuts that hold the 1/4 glass in place.

I better way of attacking your problem is to tape off the molding and paint it still attached to the car. I have done this several times with very good results.