[Leannekaz]

Hi,
My husband used my car yesterday and has some how broken the lid at the front of the console on my car. It won’t shut anymore. Is this an easy fix or do I need to go to the dealership? I am on maternity leave so could do without this expense. So annoyed with him.

 

[Wayne]

We had a coin bounce into the hinged side under the cover. I had to fish it out in order to allow the cover to close again. That was almost 5 years ago. I forget how I freed it now. But that might be something to look into.

 

[gbarringer]

Like Wayne said check if something is stuck in the lid.

 

[Leannekaz]

Like Wayne said check if something is stuck in the lid.

I have had a look but can’t see anything. I have no idea what he has done 🤷‍♀️

 

[Nick]

May not have been hubby. The ratchets for the locking mechanism is in the hinges on either side. Sometimes dirt, crumbs, or stuff gets spilled in there and makes them stick.
Try a good strong vacuum first, if that doesn’t work, get a can of plastic-safe, quick evaporating electronics/contact cleaner like this and spray it in the hinges.

 

[gbarringer]

Looking more at the second picture I wonder if the lid has someway slide on the hinged frame for the lid. There is a large gap at the back and the front looks like it is going under the front. There should be an even gap between the lid and all sides going around the lid. The lid is not in the center of the opening. Also, there are notches showing on the fame near the backside of the lid that might be detents to hold the lid father back on the frame. I would easly try to push the lid back and see if it will snap over these detents.

 

[Christine_S]

I think it is so cool that we have moved to a Time where people refer to that as the center console and not an ashtray!!!

Nothing against smokers (I quit in 1997 and it was **** hard), but we really don't need built-in ashtrays in cars and airplanes anymore!!!

 

[Leannekaz]

Looking more at the second picture I wonder if the lid has someway slide on the hinged frame for the lid. There is a large gap at the back and the front looks like it is going under the front. There should be an even gap between the lid and all sides going around the lid. The lid is not in the center of the opening. Also, there are notches showing on the fame near the backside of the lid that might be detents to hold the lid father back on the frame. I would easly try to push the lid back and see if it will snap over these detents.

View attachment 27002

I think this is whats happened. I have tried to push it back but it’s not working. So annoying. Will keep trying.
Thanks

 

[gbarringer]

I think this is whats happened. I have tried to push it back but it’s not working. So annoying. Will keep trying.
Thanks

Maybe try spraying something like WD40 to let it slide more easily. If it works just dry it off as much as you can. Maybe also use something real thin as try sliding in between the lid and the frame near the detents to slightly raise the lid to slide to help to slide over the detents.

 

[Christine_S]

Oh, and tell the hubby we said good luck in fixing this for you! 😂

 

[Jodieem]

Hi,
My husband used my car yesterday and has some how broken the lid at the front of the console on my car. It won’t shut anymore. Is this an easy fix or do I need to go to the dealership? I am on maternity leave so could do without this expense. So annoyed with him.
View attachment 26989 View attachment 26990

Hi did you ever manage to fix this? I’m having the same problem with mine and wondered if you had any idea of the cost if you take it to the dealership?

 

[Akr]

Same problem in mine as well. Lid doesn't close

 

[Christine_S]

I replaced mine when I had the center console out, because the light wasn't working and I found a whole unit on ebay for $35. So, I have the old one out of the car and took some pictures in case seeing what it's like underneath helps. I see that there are plastic gears in the mechanism on both sides. It seems to me that if something got jammed in those gears, the only way you're fixing it is to get the whole thing out and clean it. I hope my photos help.

 

[RamaGLA]

Last time I had the console out I played around with that mechanism. Try taking the console apart (very easy, few clips. Lots of YouTube videos) and clean+lubricate the mechanism if you haven’t fixed the problem already. Maybe something got stuck in there and it will be easier to realign parts when you can see the whole thing.