I'm trying to remove the center console and related items from a '99 Max.

I have the transmission surround out and I've removed the one screw that holds the ashtray unit on the left side. It's loose, but the ashtray still doesn't want to come out. Are there clips I need to release to get it out? Or should it just slide back out now?

Also, how do I remove the trim that is just below the instrument cluster (the part that gets factory woodgrain on it) ?

 

Pics would help greatly. The ashtray just pulls out, it's in there pretty good so pull hard.

As far as the rest of it goes, your climate control needs to come out and it's held in by 2 screws behind the top air vents. Once those are out there are 2 screws above the stereo/behind the climate control that need to come out. Then 2 screws under the trap door slot need to come out and he whole stereo assembly comes out in one big block.

 

Search around on how to remove the radio...you'll find out what needs to be removed, where. But the poster above me got it right.

the trim below the intrument cluster? pop the buttons / switches off, undo the two screws on the top, and it comes right out...

 

OK... I will try pulling harder.

Photo of the other piece coming a little later.

 

Thanks, looks like our posts crossed in the mail. I did read some old threads but it really seemed in there pretty good and I didn't want to break it, so I thought I'd ask before making a mistake.

I didn't see any screws for that trim, but I will look again. Does the cluster have to be out to see them?

 

no, the screws are on the top portion of the surround of the trim, that goes around the gauge cluster face.

 

be sure to "open" the ashtray when you are trying to pull it out.

As for the other trim; The AC vent just pops out and you will need to unclip the connectors for the clock and the hazard and defrost switches.

To remove the radio surround you will need to pull the radio/acc unit out, this is done by removing the 4 screws that hold it in place (two at the top, two at the bottom). Once that is done, pull the unit out and radio trim is screwed into the brackets with 4 screws.

hope this helps

 

OK, so far so good... got everything out.

On the back of the climate control unit there is a corrugated plastic tube about 1/2" in diameter with a couple yellow wires along side that hooks into the unit in back.

How does it disconnect? I looked for the usual "push this tab in" like on the electrical connectors but I didn't see one anywhere obvious.

 

the tube just pulls out of the ACC

the wires do have a connector, it can be hard to see though. Look on the wires for a "foamy" looking piece. The connector is actually right there, you will need to scrape a little bit of the foam away with your finger to find the "button" to disconnect the connector

 

Thanks, I will give it a shot in the morning... dark and snowy here now. The tube seemed to be in there fairly tight, but I didn't want to break anything by pulling to hard (broken too much stuff before :-(

 

grasp the tube where it mounts to the ACC unit and in a twisting motion pull it off of the outlet

 

Does just the tube come off, or does the square connector on there come with it?

 

Just the tube. Pulls right off; no clip.