Arkay

!!! FLASH! TNX to CorvetteForum postings there is a happy end to this story

See my final posting


I really screwed up this moning in the parking lot. I had the roof off and
wanted to put the parking lot RFID tag out of sight. I usually keep it in
the visor. The RFID is about he size of a credit card so I put it in the ash
tray (or the space between the ash try lid and the outside lid).

When I got ready to leave the parking lot, the spring loaded inside ash
tray lid pushed the RFID tag under the outside lid and it went into the
crack between the two lids. Getting to the back side of the ash tray area
is going to be a real pain and it may be cheaper to just pay the parking
lot for a replacement RFID tag.

It was not fun when the other people were honking at the dumb Corvette
driver to flash his RFID tag and get out of the parking lot line. I had to
call the attendent over and pay to get the gate opened.

My question is how the heck can I remove the ash tray lid to get the
dumb RFID tag?

Dick

C5 Lesson Learned: Don't EVER store a credit card in the dumb C5 ash tray area :(


[Modified by Dick Kriss, 6:51 PM 10/1/2001]


[Modified by Dick Kriss, 3:52 PM 10/2/2001]

Mag Red Monster

:eek: Dick I had to run out to the garage just to see where it was you card went :lol: Looks to me like you'll have to remove the console. May be easier to just pay for another card.

Arkay

Mag Red: I just spent too much time trying to get my hand in between the driver
side panel and looking with a flash light. God only knows where the tag went to
after it was sucked up. It did not fall right behind the ash tray door. I could get
my hand to that locationl

I also just read the install column lock bypass Tip Sheet and it said something
about removing the carpet panel. I am 100% clueless on how to get the panel
out or how to re-install once it has been removed. No way to get into the right
side even for a quick look.

Looks like I will be buying a new RFID tag for the parking lot. Removing the console
looks like a big job. I have no idea what the two screws do in the ash tray
compartment. I removed them and NOTHING moved.

The parking lot RFID tag is gone forever! :(


[Modified by Dick Kriss, 7:28 PM 10/1/2001]


[Modified by Dick Kriss, 7:56 PM 10/1/2001]

MySea6

Removing the console is no big deal. Check tech tips for the instructions
on a shifter install. He!!, slap in a Ripper while you're there.

Here is another good set of instructions>
http://www.2phast.com/default.htm

Now that you mention it, I installed the CLB at the same time
as my Ripper.


[Modified by MySea5, 7:29 PM 10/1/2001]

Arkay

MySea5: I just toured the Rich Johnson page
at http://www.2phast.com/b&m.htm and the
pictures show it is a big deal to get behind the
ash tray. I looked at the page on installing the
B&M Short shifter.

After reviewing the cool pictures, I
wil buy a new RFID tag.

Thanks for the link

intel55

It is really really easy. You just need a torx screwdriver and I think a 10mm socket. Three torx screws I believe (one behind the interior temp gauge, two in ash tray). Then two lil bolts under the t/c or a/h plate, and voila.

OHSIXX

I thought things like that only happen to me.

My advice is take the easy course - buy a new card.

Mag Red Monster

Don't you mean Walah!? ;)

intel55

either that or WILLAAA!! :lol:

Humy

I 've removed the center console to paint it silver and it was very very easy. There are two nuts (10mm) in the center glove box/arm rest - towards the back of it-, two under the traction control piece between the center glove box/arm rest and the great shifter. Just pop up the traction control piece (the one you use to turn off the traction control) with a screw driver and the two bolts will be exposed. So there are those 4 bolts, then there's one to the left of your car's cigarette lighter, then one behind the ashtray. Also you'll need to pop off the little vent looking piece to the left of your ignintion (where you put in the key) , and unscrew the 7mm nut. Then put your car in gear, because the center console while get hooked ont he gear shifter.. The whole piece will come out and you can look for your card. It's really easy.

Be careful not to scratch anything.

Hope that helps :seeya


:flag

Arkay

Humy: You guys make it sound easy. I may give it a try tonight. With my luck
I will get it apart then get into big time trouble putting Humpty-Dumpty back
together again.

I need to pull the console to run some ham radio related wires at the same
time.

Dick

wamara

Dick, sorry for your aggravation. I can commiserate with your sentiments about these repairs - beware Murphy's Law!! Either that or some of these handy folks are simply more talented/braver/foolhardy than we are :D

Arkay

Humy: I just checked the Rick Johnson page again (http://www.2phast.com/b&m.htm) and have a question about the rubber band. Something tells me the rubber band
is important and has to be re-installed? Can I just get things loose without having to remove the whole console? I need to just get enough room to be able to see and
get a hand behind the ash tray area.

Rick Johnson's "....Under the active handling panel is another two 10 mm nuts that need to be removed. First carefully unplug the active handling harness, air bag LED (if equipped) and harness for the F45 suspension (if you have it, I do not). In the next picture you can see the infamous rubber band that holds the stock linkage in place while the factory workers put it together. It is safe to remove. Now you can remove the two 10 mm nuts."

Looks like three screws and four nuts.

Corvette SSX

Dick,

Bring the car to Houston. We'll have the console out and back in 30 minutes tops. It's not a big deal at all.

Humy

:confused: I don't remeber seeing a rubber band when she went under the knife (a couple of times), but I have a 97 - no active handling or air bag control on that piece - so I only had to disconnect the trac. control wire which was a piece of cake. Maybe the newer ones have some kind of rubber band under there - maybe you are talking about the - piece that moves and holds the ashtray lid up and down - but on my 97 i had a spring there that was exclusive to 97s. Sorry I don't know about the rubber band -

but that's another thing - the first time i took it off, I lost the spring that made my ash tray lid go up and down and that was very irritating, because for a measlly $2.50 part I had to go through the whole process again.

Just be careful - Good Luck - take a mental picture as it is coming apart

:seeya


:flag


[Modified by Humy, 1:15 PM 10/2/2001]

Humy

I just thought of something else - the ash tray lid is held in by little baby push pins/screws . If you have really good eye sight and a flash light - take a THIN flat head screw driver and gently work and take the pins out. Then take the other part out and the lid should come lose enough to manipulate it around, keep in mind there's a spring back there that allows it to go up and down - if that comes off you have to go in there and reattach it.

:seeya Don't loose those little ****** (push pins) they are hard to find
Later


:flag

Arkay

The problem is history and the lost RFID parking card has been recovered. Like several
formum members said it is easy to remove the console. I had it apart and back together
again in about 30 minutes.

The rubber band pictured at (http://www.2phast.com/b&m.htm) was there but it
was already trashed. Someting melted it and it was useless. The only hard part
was getting everything to line up right.

Thanks to the comments and pictures on this forum I saved the $25 for replacement
RFID card and learned something in the process. Removing the console is no big deal.

DO NOT put credit cards or anything that even looks like a credit card in the dumb
ash tray.

End of Posting and the car will get a fresh Zanio job.


[Modified by Dick Kriss, 4:00 PM 10/2/2001]

Mag Red Monster

:cheers: Dick..........Glad you were able to tackle the console removal! I've almost had the whole interior apart last winter..........I was bored! :D

Arkay

===========
The rubber band pictured at (http://www.2phast.com/b&m.htm) was there but it
was already trashed. Someting melted it and it was useless. The only hard part
was getting everything to line up right.
===========

Anybody know the purpose of the rubber band? The heat from the exhaust melted
the rubber band installed at the factor.

MySea6

I can not remember the exact parts but the rubber band is used to hold
a sub-assembly together for final assembly. Seems like a line worker in
Boling Green said they left it in for additional cure time of somthing or
another but after we would get our hands on the car it was ok to
remove and throw away.
Glad all worked out.