The ashtray on my 98 no longer pops out. I have to pry it out in order for it to open. I know I know that I'm an *sshole for smokin in my car, but I just need help gettin this fixed.
From all the responses on the forums I know how to take off the tranny cover and I know about the screw and clips. My question is what is keeping the thing from opening up? Is there a track or something that it glides over? Is there a wheel of some kind? What would stop it from opening?

 

hey i know it is late now almost a month, you probably already fixed you car. but I will tell you any way.

my car has the same problem (I don't smoke, but I like to open and close, just for fun)

in order to remove the ashtray (without braking it) you need to remove the whole dash, from air vent on top all the way down. All you will need it is one eletrical screw drive (makes things very fast) and one flat screw drive (if you have haynes manual you can use as a guideline.
first use the flat screw drive to pop the top part of the dash (emergency lights,defrost and air vent), then use the screw drive to pull the the two top screws and the two bottom one, that hold the whole mid section of the dash, (unplug all the connectors, I had no problems on my car when I did this, so I think it is safe to unplug any cables). then remove the two screws drom the ashtray (one or two screws I'm not sure) The ashtray has two clippers on the back that I think you have to press each one of the to remove them. I broke two clippers from mine (I think that is why the ashtray wasn't opening anymore) so I bought I new one to replace)(go to a junkyard and look for a good one if you really want one).

well I think that may help you...

 

no, no, no, no, no. for future reference, in case this thread gets brought back from the dead again, you do not need to tear apart the whole dash to take out the ashtray. all you need to do is pop the gearshift cover off, and you can get right to the ashtray.