Thank you so much for all of your help.
*** UPDATE *** i have no solution replies to date! FYI: The pics IN MY THREAD are from Ebay ad with 2009 Explorer EB O/H panel 'exactly' like mine! Be advised that there are MANY MANY configurations of these OH consoles in these Gen 4 models! Mine has the clear map plastic cover in front. Behind that is the rear seat HVAC control knobs (2 ea) panel area. Behind that is the flip down sunglasses panel area. Behind that is the Homelink panel access area. I was able to remove the clear light lense. There are NO screws in that compartment securing the O/H console to roof. I pulled the knobs off the HVAC panel area. No fasteners there either. The next panel is sunglasses panel area and the latch is broken and it hangs down and why I need to remove the complete O/H console to gain the access to remove and replace it.! No fasteners in that area either! There were 2 tiny rubber plugs here, but I removed both and no hidden fasteners in those holes either. The last area is the Homelink panel area. Look close the pics of it. From the inside you can see it has 2 swing down hinges, BUT it does not have a release button (like the sunglasses panel) ON THE OUTSIDE, to allow you to release and drop it down! Look close again at the inside pic of it and you will see a tiny plastic piece that apparently click/locks and holds that panel up. I see no way to release it? Light screw driver pressure to 'open' the gap does not release it. How is this Homelink panel removed? Is it Before or After the entire O/H console is removed? Obviously there are several clips that attach to the main O/H console and clip it to the roof, but I cannot get them to budge with heavy force! ANY COMMENTS OR HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. MY NEXT MOVE IS TO GO TO A DEALER SERVCE DEPT AND SEE IT THEY HAVE A DETAILED REMOVAL INSTRUCTION. I CAN FIND NOTHING ON THE INTERNET DETAILING MY EXACT DESIGN. Apologies for getting so wordy! U.N.C.L.E.! ... HELP YA'LL!
If there is a screw it will be under the homelink cover. Use a flexable trim tool or old credit card in the center opposite the hinge where the clip is to get it to release (look at pictures 3 and 4 that you posted). As for the broken sunglass holder I am 98% sure that can be replaced without removing the ohc. Since the holder is broken try and get it out if you break it more who cares it has to be replaced anyway.
If you get the homelink cover down unplug it because from the looks of the pictures the is no screw. There looks to be a big metal spring clip and you will have to pull really hard to get it to release.
RC FLYER, thanks for your input! I give it another go today based on your suggestions. My sunglasses cover has good hinges and for the life of me, I have tried in vain to get it out w/o dropping the entire unit... impossible.! The release lever is what is broken!
My sunglass release also broke years ago and to fix it you have to replace the entire sunglass holder with hinges. I cant remember how i replaced it or if the ohc needed to be removed or not. I don't have the vehicle right now but when i get it back (maybe an hour or two from now) i will remove mine and let you know for sure if the ohc needs to be removed.
RC FLYER, I took your earlier advise and used a tiny flat blade to open the gap on HomeLink panel and it dropped down exposing the ONE screw that secures the REAR of main O/H console to the roof! Long story short, I was then able to pull the front end loose from the TWO clips securing it to the roof with minimal force.! Yes the console must come down to remove the sunglasses panel! This was BEFORE your last post confirming the entire O/H ASSY has to be dropped down to get the sunglasses panel! I found it when I cam in to update this post! ~~~ There will be several wiring harnesses/connectors suspending the O/H console, and you will have to disconnect some of them to get the access you need to drop that sunglasses panel out. HOT TIP: There are TWO tiny T10 torq screws holding the HVAC 2 knob control panel in place. It covers the hidden hinge section of the sunglasses panel. This HVAC section has to come loose/out to allow the hinges of the sunglasses panel to be released. When I removed the screws I was able to wiggle the HVAC section AND the sunglasses panel and the HVAC section all fell FREE! NOTE: In my original pics, if you look close at the entire O/H console from the inside view, you will see a quarter sized hole with a little black "X" plastic insert just forward of it. Mine does NOT have this, but this the the hole for that REAR SCREW! That other hole has nothing in it! This means the one I found on Ebay for pics is NOT exactly like mine .. mine is just one more version of what must be many of O/H consoles used from 2006 thru 2010!
