How To: Remove Front Floor Console GEN 1 (03-08)

Technical info on the Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix including do-it-yourself info
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joatmon
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How To: Remove Front Floor Console GEN 1 (03-08)

Post by joatmon »

Redo of ragingfish's How To: Remove Front Floor Console, Automatic Transmission to provide some pics since his are lost. Narrative is slightly edited from his

TOOLS NEEDED:
* Phillips screwdriver
* Small flat screwdriver

STEP 1: REMOVE RADIO TRIM
* To remove the silver trim surrounding the radio, first, pull outward on the trim from the bottom, by sticking your hand up and under the lower side, above the climate controls.
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* Once the bottom comes loose, pull out and up
There are "hooks" on the top of the trim that hold it in place. Maneuver the trim loose and pull it free of the dash.
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* Unplug all harnesses from the trim piece.
* Remove the defrost mode deactivator cable by gently prying back the tabs that hold it in place.
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* Set the trim aside.
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joatmon
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How To: Remove Front Floor Console GEN 1 (03-08)

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STEP 2: REMOVE CLIMATE CONTROLS AND SHIFTER TRIM AND ASSOCIATED HARNESSES
* Engage the parking brake if it isn't already engaged. Turn the key to RUN. DO NOT START THE ENGINE. Apply the brake and shift to L.
* Pull the center knob of the climate controls off (Fan Speed knob). Use your phillips screwdriver to remove the screw there.
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* With the car still in RUN, shift to 2 or D.

If you have a manual transmission, unscrew the shift knob

* Use a flat blade screwdriver to gently pop up the trim surrounding the shifter. (Figure 4) When enough is pulled up, remove the remainder of the trim by hand to avoid damaging it with the screwdriver tip.
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* Once this is up, you will quickly learn the climate control trim, the 12V outlet / household outlet trim, and shifter trim are all interconnected. They don't get removed separately.
* When you have the entire trim piece out, maneuver it carefully over the shifter so you can turn it over. Shift to P, and turn the key to OFF>
* Unplug both harnesses from the 12V outlet (Figure 5). You have to remove the power harness (translucent yellow) before you can remove the light harness (gray). It just doesn't work the other way around. The power harness just pulls off, the light harness must be unclipped.
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Last edited by joatmon on Wed Mar 22, 2017 1:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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joatmon
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How To: Remove Front Floor Console GEN 1 (03-08)

Post by joatmon »

* The next task is to unplug the household outlet and switch. While not mandatory, it allows you to move the entire trim piece out of your way. I recommend doing it.
* If you look carefully at the top and bottom of the "box" built around these harnesses, you'll see 3 small tabs on the top, and 2 larger tabs on the bottom side. You need to push these inward with your screwdriver to allow the entire unit to separate.
You can push the three tabs along the top down through holes in the larger trim piece.
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The tab on the bottom right is a loop that has to be gently lifted over a post
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The tab on the bottom left has an extra length on it that can be pushed to disengage the catch.

* Unplug both harnesses.
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* Set aside the master trim piece, and the household outlet switch/outlet panel.
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joatmon
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How To: Remove Front Floor Console GEN 1 (03-08)

Post by joatmon »

STEP 3: REMOVE FRONT FLOOR CONSOLE
* Locate and remove the four phillips screws you just uncovered.
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* Remove the front floor storage bin by opening it, then pulling outward, and finally upward, to free it from it's hinge. Set aside.
* Locate the fifth screw hidden underneath the console.
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* Engage parking brake if it isn't already engaged.
* Turn the key to RUN. DO NOT START THE ENGINE.
* Shift into 2 or D.
* Remove the entire plastic trim by grasping the edges of the plastic, deep in the footwell, and pulling up and out to free it from it's holders. Maneuver it up and over the shifter.
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* Set trim aside. Shift to park. Turn key to OFF.

You now have removed the front floor console!

To reinstall, simply reverse these steps.
If you're like me and tend to not use the parking brake in a car with an auto tranny, then when its all put back together, remember to disengage parking brake before driving
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