how to take apart the tC's center console

[Stryker Trailwood]

I am not responsible for anything that might happen to go wrong, do this at your own risk. there will/may be scary noises while doing something in here, that doesnt outright mean you broke anything.

OK, heres what you start off with.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/gjpjr84/tC%20center%20console%20take%20apart/01Asembled.jpg

If your automatic, use your key to remove the shifter release cover. If your a manual unscrew your shift knob.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/gjpjr84/tC%20center%20console%20take%20apart/02shifterrelease.jpg

if you want to, take out the sig lighter. i do so it wont get in the way somehow

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/gjpjr84/tC%20center%20console%20take%20apart/03takeoutlighter.jpg

If your an automatic, push the shifter release button down and at the same time shift into neutral. Make sure your parking brake is engaged!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/gjpjr84/tC%20center%20console%20take%20apart/04shifttoneutral.jpg

now, pull up on the silver trim, its easiest to pull off the top and then pop out the bottom, pull towards the back of the car not directly up.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/gjpjr84/tC%20center%20console%20take%20apart/05pullonsilvertrim.jpg

remove the center panel

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/gjpjr84/tC%20center%20console%20take%20apart/06removecenterpanel.jpg

center panel removed, you can just leave it sorta hanging off to the driver side or unplug the sig lighter wires there.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/gjpjr84/tC%20center%20console%20take%20apart/07centerpanelremoved1.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/gjpjr84/tC%20center%20console%20take%20apart/08centerpanelremoved2.jpg

Now time to take out the HVAC/door assembly, pull out the bottom half and then work out the top half.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/gjpjr84/tC%20center%20console%20take%20apart/09removeHVAC.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/gjpjr84/tC%20center%20console%20take%20apart/10removeHVACtop.jpg

when you got the HVAC out you'll feel/see that there is a single plug attached on the bottom half, pull down on the tab (gray lip in the center) and pull out the plug.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/gjpjr84/tC%20center%20console%20take%20apart/11HVACplug.jpg

to remove the cup holder section, pull up on it like so. the lip for you to grab on the outside isnt the biggest but it can be done without too much difficulty, if you keep a lot of loose junk in the little pocket thing take that stuff out first.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/gjpjr84/tC%20center%20console%20take%20apart/13cupholdersection.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/gjpjr84/tC%20center%20console%20take%20apart/14popoffcupholdersection.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/gjpjr84/tC%20center%20console%20take%20apart/15removecupholdersection.jpg

you should have no problem taking the cup holder section out even with the parking brake engaged. if your like me then you'll have wires keeping the section from going too far unless you have a way of easily unplugging and plugging these wires back together so you can get it completely out of the way (which i do have since my cup holder lighting is worked off of the stock interior light upgrade)

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/gjpjr84/tC%20center%20console%20take%20apart/161cupholdersectionremoved.jpg



now to put it all back together

snap the cup holders back in

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/gjpjr84/tC%20center%20console%20take%20apart/17snapcupholdersbackon.jpg

PLUG THE HVAC CABLE BACK IN and then replace the HVAC, guide the top back in first, then snap the bottom in.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/gjpjr84/tC%20center%20console%20take%20apart/18replaceHVACtop.jpg

now replace the center panel, snap the top of it in first and then the bottom. if you have an automatic your gonna have to give an extra push to the top where the silver trim goes around the shifter cover like where my thumb is on the pic.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/gjpjr84/tC%20center%20console%20take%20apart/19replacecenterpanel.jpg

if your automatic, shift back into park and replace the little cover for the gear release

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/gjpjr84/tC%20center%20console%20take%20apart/20replacegearreleasecover.jpg

replace the lighter

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/gjpjr84/tC%20center%20console%20take%20apart/21replacelighter.jpg

check that everything works.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/gjpjr84/tC%20center%20console%20take%20apart/22checkeverything1.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/gjpjr84/tC%20center%20console%20take%20apart/23checkeverything2.jpg

set your time

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/gjpjr84/tC%20center%20console%20take%20apart/24settime.jpg

i believe that is all. good luck and don't break anything. remember, I am not responsible for anything that might happen to go wrong, do this at your own risk.

any suggestions or help to make this better is welcomed.

[crank_101]

sweet demo!!!!

[Stryker Trailwood]

thanks, i've done it so many times its just about second nature to me. took maybe 10 minutes if that long to do.

[crank_101]

sweet where do i get lights now lol can i just paint the ones that are there? any soldering have to be done?

[Stryker Trailwood]

well for the shifter light any normal #74 bulb should work. i get mine from superbrightLEDs.com. the led bulb they have though is too long and the tip has to be sanded down a little bit so it will fit in the plastic holder. but it works fine

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/gjpjr84/misc/74-wedge.jpg

[Krdshrk]

You know, it's better to turn the key to ON and shift to neutral than use the manual shifter override...

[Stryker Trailwood]

sure, but i have found that having the keys stuck in the ignition is very annoying when working with this area. but this is just me, and thats how i do it.

and if your gonna be wiring stuff then your supposed to have everything off right. :ponder: :p

[Stryker Trailwood]

the annoyance comes from the car beeping at you constantly wanting you to turn the car on

[Krdshrk]

That's if you have the car door open...

I shift back to Park after taking off the required pieces and turn the key off. :)

[Stryker Trailwood]

blah too many extra steps!

[20evlvntc09]

Great write up. I will be doing this when I paint the interior.

[RaidenKnight]

how do you remove the plastic cover around the shift knob (The one with the PRND32L on it)

[RaidenKnight]

how do you remove the plastic cover around the shift knob (The one with the PRND32L on it)
nvm i found your earlier post about it XD

[twizted tc]

awesome little write up...now how about the plastic pieces on the steering wheel? those are the ones that scare me XD

[sp1kez]

awesome little write up...now how about the plastic pieces on the steering wheel? those are the ones that scare me XD

Use a flat head screw driver and pop them from the side

or

Unplug battery, on the side of steering wheel is torx30 screw, unscre that, pop front panel off

[kruger_tc06]

You have to take the steering wheel apart... They are screwed in.


Sent from my iPhone4 using Tapatalk