Center Console Removal & Refitting

Important: The Center console may be brittle due to age, and exposure to hot and cold temperatures, so when applying force or pressure of any kind on it, you should be careful. It can flex out of shape or worse - break.
If working with electrical components such as the head unit - The cradle is earthed to the head unit. You should disconnect the battery before carrying out any electrical work to prevent damage to electrical components.

Remove the ashtray & unscrew the 2 phillips screws.
Starting from the lower half of the console, gently prise away the clips that are holding it to the frame side by side at a time, work upward then across. You will find it easier if you lower the steering wheel adjuster to the lowest setting. And finally prise around the air vent. You should now be able to lift the console upward and away from the frame. Note that there are electrical terminals attached to this, so do not pull it away yet.
Most of the clips can be removed by hand, with a bit of force and care. The most awkward one is the air temperature, which may be easier to unscrew it from the console using a Stubby Phillips Screw Driver. Also remove the large rubber pipe from the console.

Now it is ready to be lifted out, which is done in a diagonal upward motion because you need it to come out of the heater vents. Once its out, put it in a safe place.

Refitting is the opposite to removal.

In a diagonal downward motion, align the air vent pipes on the console to cover the vent pipes on the frame, re connect all the appropriate plugs, and the breather pipe (re attaching the clip if it was unscrewed), align as many of the clips as accurately as possible and carefully push the clips in from centre of the console working outwards a little at a time. Align the 2 Phillips Screws and screw them in, fit ashtray.