2004 Mercury Sable, Want access to antenna plug in back of radio

I'm sorry that this isn't working for you. The diameter of the wire doesn't really need to be any specific size, I suppose big enough and solid enough to fit into the holes and not be weak. If you can think of anything else that would work, or that you want to try, that should probably be okay too. I've only done this twice, the first time by myself with coat hangers, and the second time with a couple of picks and a couple of long, really skinny screwdrivers. However, I was doing it for a friend on his car, and he was holding two of the instruments himself, because I don't have four hands.Because it was extremely cramped in there with both of us trying to do this with absolutely no room to work with, it was indeed more difficult than the first time. The biggest problem with the whole operation is the ability to use whatever tools your trying to do this with as handles, because like you mentioned, there's really no place to put your hands. You just have to get the knack of pushing outwards (or sideways) once you feel the clips release. But it's certainly much easier to accomplish using hangers or whatever bent into U-Shapes than individual instruments. The time I did this with the coat hangers, it took four or five tries before I was able to successfully release the clips and keep a good hold onto the handles at the same time. And it certainly doesn't want to come out if it's cocked by very much. As far as my actually knowing how the clips are shaped or work, I don't really know because on the first time, the problem wasn't really the clips or anything as much as just me struggling with the handles. The second time the biggest problem was two different people with no room to move our arms trying to get it together at the same time. But on both times, once I was able to figure out what I needed to do, it went rather smoothly. There's supposed to be a set of Ford Radio Removal Tools that are available at auto parts stores, but when I tried to find a store with them onhand, I had no luck whatsoever. In fact, it was the guy behind the parts counter who told me about the coat hanger trick. If you can't figure out how to make it work, or find something better than a coat hanger, I imagine you could always contact the dealer, and purchase a set through them. About the only other thing I can say is keep trying to get better with your manipultion technique, and be patient. I'm sorry you're having trouble, and I hope you can figure it out. I'm sorry that this isn't working for you. The diameter of the wire doesn't really need to be any specific size, I suppose big enough and solid enough to fit into the holes and not be weak. If you can think of anything else that would work, or that you want to try, that should probably be okay too. I've only done this twice, the first time by myself with coat hangers, and the second time with a couple of picks and a couple of long, really skinny screwdrivers. However, I was doing it for a friend on his car, and he was holding two of the instruments himself, because I don't have four hands.Because it was extremely cramped in there with both of us trying to do this with absolutely no room to work with, it was indeed more difficult than the first time. The biggest problem with the whole operation is the ability to use whatever tools your trying to do this with as handles, because like you mentioned, there's really no place to put your hands. You just have to get the knack of pushing outwards (or sideways) once you feel the clips release. But it's certainly much easier to accomplish using hangers or whatever bent into U-Shapes than individual instruments. The time I did this with the coat hangers, it took four or five tries before I was able to successfully release the clips and keep a good hold onto the handles at the same time. And it certainly doesn't want to come out if it's cocked by very much. As far as my actually knowing how the clips are shaped or work, I don't really know because on the first time, the problem wasn't really the clips or anything as much as just me struggling with the handles. The second time the biggest problem was two different people with no room to move our arms trying to get it together at the same time. But on both times, once I was able to figure out what I needed to do, it went rather smoothly. There's supposed to be a set of Ford Radio Removal Tools that are available at auto parts stores, but when I tried to find a store with them onhand, I had no luck whatsoever. In fact, it was the guy behind the parts counter who told me about the coat hanger trick. If you can't figure out how to make it work, or find something better than a coat hanger, I imagine you could always contact the dealer, and purchase a set through them. About the only other thing I can say is keep trying to get better with your manipultion technique, and be patient. I'm sorry you're having trouble, and I hope you can figure it out.