Update, still stuck

They still can't get the center diff out to check the motor. He said they got it 3/4 the way, but don't want to force it as Mazda doesn't carry that part anymore. He's gonna check with the tech today, but thinks that they need to crack open the transmission to go further, and that's $600, and much more than I wanted to pay. He said we'll talk tomorrow once he talks to the tech.