Need help removing center console from 2000 X Sport - pics inside...

[quad]

Hi guys,

I've decided to install new carpet in my X because the old carpet is a mess! I bought it on Ebay and got a great deal so I don't mind spending a little to get the car looking good again.

So far I've removed the front and rear seats and have managed to partially remove the center console. However, I can't get the darn thing to slide back so I can yank it out of the car. It is stuck at the front where the vents join. I've followed the instructions as explained in the Haynes Manual but it won't budge (just a little). Does anyone know where I've gone wrong? I need to get this thing fixed soon before the snow comes!

Any help is appreciated. Here are some pics that illustrate my problem.

Thanks!

Quad

 

[RiverRat]

In pic #1 you don't have to remove the front screws.

In pic #2 you don't h have to remove any screws.

In pic #3 did you remove the bolts/nuts(forget which) that hold the metal part of the center console to the dash?

The console fits pretty tight. IIRC there are 2 retainers in the middle of the console and 2 in the front. Once you get those out give it a good whack with a rubber hammer and it should pop backward.

 

[quad]

In pic #1 you don't have to remove the front screws.

In pic #2 you don't h have to remove any screws.

In pic #3 did you remove the bolts/nuts(forget which) that hold the metal part of the center console to the dash?

The console fits pretty tight. IIRC there are 2 retainers in the middle of the console and 2 in the front. Once you get those out give it a good whack with a rubber hammer and it should pop backward.

Thanks for your advice! I've tried to bang it out with a hammer but can't get it to budge. Of course I could wack it REAL HARD! But then it might break.

Here again are some pictures that show which bolts I've removed. I just can't figure out why it is stuck like this. Could the track on which the console slides be rusted up? I'm guessing my only option now is to dismantle the whole thing piece by piece.

PS, what does IIRC mean?

 

[jasonb]

911 forum is for emergencies only so this post has been moved to general. you are new but don't forget to read the rules. the first pic has the F word in it, which the filter won't catch. we don't allow that. you can remove it an re-upload the picture if you want, but it is gone for now.

btw.. welcome to the site.

IIRC = "if i recall correctly"

 

[Jefe]

Hehe. . you took way too much of it apart . . .course I did the same thing the first time.

The trick is the third 'mount' location, which is at the back of it. It is simply a friction fit. From the back seat, look just below where the 'floor' vent comes out. I use an S shaped pry bar, hook one end to the metal frame of the console right there, and on the other end of the pry bar, towards the back of the vehicle. Should come out with a couple of good whacks.

oh, and you may want to put the three bolts from the pic looking down back in before you take the console out. They hold the blower to the console. . without them the blower may fall out the bottom when you go to take it out.

 

[quad]

Hehe. . you took way too much of it apart . . .course I did the same thing the first time.

The trick is the third 'mount' location, which is at the back of it. It is simply a friction fit. From the back seat, look just below where the 'floor' vent comes out. I use an S shaped pry bar, hook one end to the metal frame of the console right there, and on the other end of the pry bar, towards the back of the vehicle. Should come out with a couple of good whacks.

oh, and you may want to put the three bolts from the pic looking down back in before you take the console out. They hold the blower to the console. . without them the blower may fall out the bottom when you go to take it out.

Much appreciated! I do realize that I removed more than was necessary - after the fact

I will try your pry bar trick and put back the 4 bolts (not 3, I actually removed 4 bolts!) before I slide it out.

 

[quad]

911 forum is for emergencies only so this post has been moved to general. you are new but don't forget to read the rules. the first pic has the F word in it, which the filter won't catch. we don't allow that. you can remove it an re-upload the picture if you want, but it is gone for now.

btw.. welcome to the site.

IIRC = "if i recall correctly"

Ok, my bad! I was a little frustrated when I posted that pic

Thanks for the welcoming.

 

[Jefe]

Much appreciated! I do realize that I removed more than was necessary - after the fact

I will try your pry bar trick and put back the 4 bolts (not 3, I actually removed 4 bolts!) before I slide it out.

No problem.

Four? The blower is held in by three, and theres only three arrows on the pic. Well, just make sure that the two at the front going forward, and the two about mid-way, down low are out, or hammering it wont get you anywhere.

 

[draft]

I took this out a few months ago.. there's about a dozen screws to remove to do it, including some EXTREMELY hard to get to. You also need to drill out/pry the rivets running along the inside of the side panels. You need to be patient because taking this part out took me near an hour, if not more. Keep tugging piece by piece, working your way to the other side and drilling/unscrewing anything and everything.

Don't worry about drilling things out - spend 4 bucks on a tube of 2min fast drying epoxy and dab that stuff on it when you put everything back together, the hold is just as good.

Good luck.

 

[Jefe]

I took this out a few months ago.. there's about a dozen screws to remove to do it, including some EXTREMELY hard to get to. You also need to drill out/pry the rivets running along the inside of the side panels. You need to be patient because taking this part out took me near an hour, if not more. Keep tugging piece by piece, working your way to the other side and drilling/unscrewing anything and everything.

Don't worry about drilling things out - spend 4 bucks on a tube of 2min fast drying epoxy and dab that stuff on it when you put everything back together, the hold is just as good.

Good luck.

You took the whole thing apart to get it out It all comes out as a complete assembly if you follow my directions.

 

[draft]

lol are you serious? well, that's another ####-up on the board

it came out and when back in, so it's all good. what makes it worse, is that I took them out to glass them up, and i ended up not having time so I just put them back in. :roll:

 

[quad]

Jefe,

Thanks to your advice I was able to get it out tonight! I went to Home Depot and got a nail puller and was able to yank it out from the back as you said! Thanks man! Now I can order my molded carpet and install it.