How Do I Remove The Center Storage Console In 06 Gx470

[daubin]

I'm sure my license & credit card slipped between the lid & enclosure for the console between driver & psgr armrests. That storage compartment won't close now...

How do I take that out to find all the stuff I've lost to it?! It's like the Bermuda Triangle!

[IVAces]

You have to remove the entire rear console, which is held in place by 4 bolts, and flip it over to get your goodies out. :cries: Had it happen to me a couple of years ago, and it'll take you an hour or more, depending on your skill level. So, grab a coffee and.....

You'll need a putty-knife, clean rag, and a 10mm socket.

1. Begin by removing the two trim pieces flanking the upper panel of the forward console [where your gear-shift lever is] with a putty knife wrapped with a rag so you don't scratch your trim. These 2 pieces are simply clipped into the console.

2. Unscrew both shift knobs and unzip the hand brake boot. The forward console is in two pieces-an upper and lower. [The boot for the gear shift knob clips to the knob via the plastic ring at the top of the boot, so pulling down on that boot before unscrewing the knob (or separating the two gently with a flat screwdriver) may be easier. You don't want to break that clip, as it's an integral part of the boot, which is an integral part of the main piece, which is probably expensive to replace.]

3. Remove the upper portion of the forward console with the putty knife by gently prying upward at it from just behind the hand brake, where it meets the forward portion of the rear console, then working around it's perimeter. It's clipped to the bottom piece with no screws. [The upper portion of the forward console was the hardest piece to come off because it has about 11 clips on it, and I was a bit reluctant to put enough upward pressure on the piece to pry it loose. Once it started coming up, it went pretty easy though. It slides up under the piece in front of it just a bit, so you have to go at it starting from behind the hand brake. You don't have to attempt to separate the wooden trim piece from this part (seems to be glued on), nor do you need to remove the gear-selection plate-they both come off with the major piece that they're attached to. Actually, you may not even have to disconnect the harness or pull the piece completely off if you can reposition the piece to get at those two forward bolts. (I took mine off and cleaned everything before reinstalling.)]

4. Disconnect the wiring harness attached to it and pull it off. Once it's off, you'll see the two forward bolts holding the rear console in place, but don't remove them yet.

5. There is a rubber mat on the bottom of the trap-door storage area of the rear console [where your goodies are hiding]-remove it with your hand, and you'll see the two bolts holding down the rear of the console, but don't remove them yet.

6. The rear console is in two pieces, forward and rear. Remove the rear end sub-assembly from the forward portion by carefully prying it from the console with the putty knife, and disconnect it's wiring harness.

7. Now remove the aforementioned 4 bolts, and remove the portion of the rear console that contains the trap-door storage bin. Hopefully, your cards will come unlodged by turning this piece upside down and gently shaking it.

8. Reinstall in the reverse order, and don't forget to hook up your harnesses at each step.

Note: I don't have the DVD option in mine, but it's probably just another harness to disconnect prior to removing the rear-most console half, if you do.

GOOD LUCK!!! :)

[anglertoo]

I had a similar problem on my 2003 GX (lost drivers license and credit card in the black hole). Lexus mechanic suggested that I "fish" for them by forcing in a flexible fishing tool ( four spring loaded flat wire claws in a stiff metal spring sleeve). Available at auto parts stores next to the magnetic fishing tools.

Two hours of swearing yielded both.

Good luck!

[pj8708]

I had a similar problem on my 2003 GX (lost drivers license and credit card in the black hole). Lexus mechanic suggested that I "fish" for them by forcing in a flexible fishing tool ( four spring loaded flat wire claws in a stiff metal spring sleeve). Available at auto parts stores next to the magnetic fishing tools.

Two hours of swearing yielded both.

Good luck!

Great suggestion. Thanks for the idea, and welcome to the LOC!

Be sure and post some more.

Paul

[HeyYou]

You have to remove the entire rear console, which is held in place by 4 bolts, and flip it over to get your goodies out. :cries: Had it happen to me a couple of years ago, and it'll take you an hour or more, depending on your skill level. So, grab a coffee and.....

You'll need a putty-knife, clean rag, and a 10mm socket.

1. Begin by removing the two trim pieces flanking the upper panel of the forward console [where your gear-shift lever is] with a putty knife wrapped with a rag so you don't scratch your trim. These 2 pieces are simply clipped into the console.

2. Unscrew both shift knobs and unzip the hand brake boot. The forward console is in two pieces-an upper and lower. [The boot for the gear shift knob clips to the knob via the plastic ring at the top of the boot, so pulling down on that boot before unscrewing the knob (or separating the two gently with a flat screwdriver) may be easier. You don't want to break that clip, as it's an integral part of the boot, which is an integral part of the main piece, which is probably expensive to replace.]

3. Remove the upper portion of the forward console with the putty knife by gently prying upward at it from just behind the hand brake, where it meets the forward portion of the rear console, then working around it's perimeter. It's clipped to the bottom piece with no screws. [The upper portion of the forward console was the hardest piece to come off because it has about 11 clips on it, and I was a bit reluctant to put enough upward pressure on the piece to pry it loose. Once it started coming up, it went pretty easy though. It slides up under the piece in front of it just a bit, so you have to go at it starting from behind the hand brake. You don't have to attempt to separate the wooden trim piece from this part (seems to be glued on), nor do you need to remove the gear-selection plate-they both come off with the major piece that they're attached to. Actually, you may not even have to disconnect the harness or pull the piece completely off if you can reposition the piece to get at those two forward bolts. (I took mine off and cleaned everything before reinstalling.)]

4. Disconnect the wiring harness attached to it and pull it off. Once it's off, you'll see the two forward bolts holding the rear console in place, but don't remove them yet.

5. There is a rubber mat on the bottom of the trap-door storage area of the rear console [where your goodies are hiding]-remove it with your hand, and you'll see the two bolts holding down the rear of the console, but don't remove them yet.

6. The rear console is in two pieces, forward and rear. Remove the rear end sub-assembly from the forward portion by carefully prying it from the console with the putty knife, and disconnect it's wiring harness.

7. Now remove the aforementioned 4 bolts, and remove the portion of the rear console that contains the trap-door storage bin. Hopefully, your cards will come unlodged by turning this piece upside down and gently shaking it.

8. Reinstall in the reverse order, and don't forget to hook up your harnesses at each step.

Note: I don't have the DVD option in mine, but it's probably just another harness to disconnect prior to removing the rear-most console half, if you do.

GOOD LUCK!!!

Thanks for the detailed instructions. Took me over an hour,but I couldn't have done it w/o this post!

[equin]

Just wanted to say thanks for the detailed instructions on this thread. My work badge got stuck in the trap door of the center console on my wife's 2007 GX 470. While doing an online search on how to address it, I came across this thread. Followed the directions and had it all fixed and back together in about an hour, including time needed to tend to a crying toddler. Figured I'd sign up on here to say thanks as my first post! Sorry if bringing up this old thread is frowned upon.

[Jon2016]

Holy hell.

My iPod is stuck in there.  I can feel it and slide it forward and backward but there just isn't enough room to get it out. 

I don't know if I have the stomach to take apart the console myself either.

[equin]

I say go for it, Jon2016. It's actually fairly easy. Just go slow and use a small putty knife as IVAces suggests. I wish I would have had one at the time, but instead used a flat-head screw driver and left some small scratches that probably wouldn't be there had I used a small putty knife. Good luck!