Wouldn't you know it, but I only had the car for about 7 days before the damned ashtray cover broke. The drivers side hinge pin just plain fell out. Even dropped by the service department to see about getting a new part. They said they ordered it. 4 weeks later (Aug 27) they still didn't have it in, I bet they won't for another 3 months either, so I got busy, and pulled the console apart, chopped up a folder clip, with the big metal fold back type clips, and glued it into the ashtray door.

The worse thing is that I don't even smoke. I was keeping the keycard for my apartment complex in there. There was never any force on the cover. The pin just fell out!

To finish off, it looks like there never was a problem. Only took about 30 minutes to pull the console apart, and make a new hinge pin, and pop everything back together. It sure does take a lot of force to pull up the the cover around the shift lever..

This was a lot simplier than I thought it would be. If this happens to you consider fixing it yourself.. I think the pin was either too small, or not glued in completely.

OverLOAD

 

that sucks.... but good info, glad you fixed it

 

Also, you should look into storing your keycard in the ticket slot located in your sunvisor - it is on the right side of the solid, center bulge. Much handier there.

 

and nearly invisible, too
________
PRILOSEC SIDE EFFECT

 

cool, never noticed that

 

Never noticed it... good find!

 

Ticket holder? Neat, I'll have to try it. I've been keeping it in the cup-holders since I fixed it.

I also tried putting it in the change holder just below the DSC / Dimmer buttons, but the card was just a little too big for that.

Even to fit it in the ashtray, I had to pull out the ash-box and put it in the bigger opening..

Alas, I will try the 'ticket holder'!

Also, Did a whole bunch of poking around, and picture taking to see what I could find. I'll have to post those in a new thread.

The most interesting thing I found, just below the steering column, was a large multi-pin connector/harness. About 14-20 pins (didn't count em), grey, and kind of the overall shape of a printer cable. I recon that it's a diagnostics plug... anyone who knows for sure?

 

In the UK where the RX8 is not yet available, I saw one of the few demo cars in a showroom. The ashtray cover was broken! Is this a coincidence or will lots of RX8 owners be reporting this problem in the months ahead?

 

I got my car back from the shop (don't ask it is a completely different thread) anyway the same thing is now broken same side- will have to try and fix it when weather gets warm- the crappy thing is, I think I opened this thing maybe twice? had to open it from the shop since they put my other vehicles keys in there

 

I think that I cut a pin from a large metal angle type paperclip.. It's still holding up quite well..

OverLOAD