How to get this panel off?
 

Hi all:

When I swapped in the stock 6-CD changer, I chewed up the radiused-front lower console panel while the audio module was hanging half-in and half-out of the center console (damn those connectors). It's the panel your right knee touches if you're really, really relaxed. I have a replacement piece from Trussville, but it appears to interlock with the panels above and below it. Before I start taking the car off this part, I thought I'd ask if anyone has done it ahead of me and can give me some pointers.

All help appreciated...

I'm not sure whether it is the same panel, but there's been a lot of discussion about the secret gold bolt that must be removed to install audio equipment. If you are not familiar with it, see this thread:

MP3 Installer

and note the picture posted below.

Also, see this Technical Service Bulletin and note its discussion of the "hidden 10mm bolt":

Technical Service Bulletin: Dash Center Panel Removal Tip

.

I remember last summer I had most of those pieces taken apart at some point. They do interlock, through a sliding kinda motion, but the part you're looking at is somewhat flexible too, so you can manipulate it a bit to get it in.

Hey Mega - thanks for the effort, but not the same panel. It was during the operation to coerce the audio unit outta the console that my lower panel got chewed. That's what I get for letting my somewhat over-enthusiastic brother-in-law "help" me, and also a good reminder of why I usually work alone on my cars.

Jdaled, I can see that there are pin locators at the front of this piece, top and bottom, as well as a couple of fingers along the sides to locate it on what I presume to be the metal chassis of the console. What I'm trying to figure out is whether I need to take the whole trim set apart, starting with the bottom of the "stack", meaning the aluminum-look trim that runs along the top of the trans tunnel below the shifter. Or can I just r&r that one piece without having to disturb anything else?

This description is getting almost as complicated as the job itself.

Boothguy,

Pic 1 of 2

I personally haven’t taken these out assuming you are still trying to remove them. That’s gotta be about the only interior trim piece that I haven’t removed. However I do have a manual. Unfortunately, I don’t have a scanner. Fortunately I do have a camera. I’ll leave the pics large to hopefully aid in their reading.

Basically, the first page is similar to what you posted. It’s all about the console removal. You can see the console breaks into two pieces when it’s removed.

Pic 2 of 2
So in this pic it shows the pieces you are trying to remove I believe even if the pic is reversed. From what I can tell in the pic, you have to remove the two screws that attach these pieces to the front console after you remove the console.

Hope that helps.

Thanx, Whealy. I was sorta afraid I'd have to unstack the pyramid starting from the bottom, and that's obviously what's necessary.

Let this be a lesson to you guys working on the main audio unit. Protect those lower console pieces once you have the audio unit hanging half out of it's nest. The metal tabs on the bottom of the audio unit will make an ugly mess of your console while you're otherwise occupied wrestling with the electrical connectors.

Yup, you'll have to start with the piece just in front of the cup holders, just like when you took out the audio unit... and the ash tray... after a few times it doesn't seem nearly as complicated, :p

I can pull my stereo out in 3 minutes flat now.

Does that three minute claim include getting the electrical connectors undone and the whole shebang restingn in your two hands? I'd put a case of beer on that baby.

Replaced the panel tonight, and fortunately, it's not nearly as hairy as it looks. Probably 40 minutes start to finish.

I'm really impressed with the current state of the "snap-together car" technology as realized in the RX8. Relatively few screws - far more clips, but it all lines up really nicely and is very solid feeling with no rattles or squeaks. A huge improvement over my '94 RX7.