I want to splice some wiring into my cigarette lighter, as well as fish a microphone wire from the driver's visor area underneath the console to the cupholder area.

Anybody know how to remove the console top, or the console itself, to permit access to the lighter area?

 

I know how to get the tectured alum. cover off...that should give you a little more access than what you have to start with...

 

Um, and how would you do this, benzy? I have wood on my console, but I assume the procedure would be the same for wood as aluminum.

 

Lift up with your fingers on the front edge of the shifter surround. It is held in place by friction clips. That also allows you access to the clips that hold the ashtray housing assembly in place.
My experience was with my 6-speed coupe model. Autos and sedans may be different, but I doubt it.

 

Lift up on the shifter indicator. Be careful, the clips are easy to break. Unplug the two connectors and remove the knob by lifting the boot over the shifter knob, and twisting the plastic piece at the bottom of the knob counter-clockwise 1/4 turn. then the knob/boot/indicator assembly comes off. Next, remove the wood surround of the shifter by pulling up at the front. Then, remove the rubber piece at the bottom of the cupholder compartment. Next, take the cupholder itself out by rotating it clockwise, rear-end first. That part is a little tricky too. After all that, the cigarette lighter section unclips and pivots rearward, allowing you easy access to the wires.

 

Benzy, Red, Dave... thanks for the help. I assume this procedure you describe works for both stick shift and automatics. I have an automatic. I'll try it this weekend, weather permitting.

Thanks, again.

 

MB-Bob:
FYI--- You may want to provide a low current fuse protection if you use the high current (lighter) connection. I know it is a VERY remote chance that a fire could start, but my wife did have a car totaled due to a low current wire connected to the lighter circuit becoming a red hot heating element and igniting the plastic heater ductwork. Good luck and tell us your results. (PS I got my Co-Pilot today)

 

Thanks for the advice. Funny you mention getting your Co-Pilot. That is the reason why I want to get under the console. I want to hardwire the Compass, too! If there is some other wiring in there I could use other than the cig. lighter, I might try that, too. I agree we don't want any fires.

While in there, I'm going to run a microphone wire from the dash to my hands-free cell phone unit that uses the cig. lighter. (There's a hole underneath the coin holder that will permit an exit for the mic connector, without need for any drilling.)

Man, not being a smoker opens up all manner of possibilities for that ashtray and lighter!

 

Thought this may help...

 

Ok, just so I don't break anything when I get around to fixing my shift boot, when you say "grab the front of the trim" do you mean the front end of it, or the front of the hole that the boot goes into? Don't want to grab the wrong front, and with my He-Man strength , break it like I did the plastic around the boot.

TIA.

 

Grab the front of the trim piece just behind the ashtray. Pull up firmly. Get a good grip because if your fingers slip, you can rip off your fingernails unless they are very short. Also, keep an eye out to see where the clips fly of to. Oh, and it really helps to open the ashtray first.:p

 

Open the ashtray and grab the very front of the trim piece. Pull it up firmly. Get a good grip on it or you can rip off your fingernails if you slip. Just in case, have some tissues nearby, so you don't bleed on the leather. Also watch to see where the metal clips go when the fly away. I've pulled up that piece three times and at least one of the clips takes a trip every time.

 

Thanks, everyone for these great tips. I just wanted to get to the cigarette lighter for a switched power source for my new computer so I didn't have to go as far as removing the cup holder. After the console deck is removed there are three wires along the left side of the shift lever: brown, black/yellow, and grey/blue. The 12v wire is the black/yellow.