Ashtray won't stay shut - help please

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I've had the dashboard in bits to fit a digital temperature gauge in the driver's cupholder position. I'm just putting it all back together again but now I can't get the ashtray to stay shut.

Has anyone had this before?

I can't see anything broken on either the ashtray drawer itself or the housing.

[suzublu]

Probably some wiring pushing it out. Double check behind
BTW, have you filed down the catch that locks it in place? If not, it'll be difficult to remove in future

[Blink]

The whole cupholder/ashtray/lighter housing unit is out of the car and the ashtray still won't stay shut. I can't see anything broken (e.g. plastic tabs, lugs, pins, etc).

No, I haven't filed down the locking catch yet - everything is stalled because of this stupid ashtray problem, which wouldn't have happened if they'd added 2" to the cigar lighter cables (what an idiotic design).

[Blink]

I've found the cause of it not staying shut.

There's a small plastic rod, about an inch long, which sits between the ashtray and the base of the cupholder/ashtray housing - it's a bit like a connecting rod on a steam locomotive. One end is anchored to the housing and the other end runs between a pair of guide ribs on the underside of the ashtray drawer.

When the ashtray is pushed in, an arrowhead lug on the free end of the rod is guided into a recessed 'vee' at the end of the guide ribs. This is what holds the drawer in the closed position. Next time you push the ashtray, the arrowhead moves out of the vee and the rod is free to slide back down the guide ribs, allowing the drawer to open.

Anyway, having spotted the guide ribs (which are greased) I decided there must be a missing piece to the puzzle and after 20mins searching with a torch I found the rod lurking down the side of the passenger seat! It had flown off when I was trying to reconnect the two lighter cables to the sockets on the rear of the lighter (the cables are too short!).

NB. The only way to see the rod (or the guide ribs) is to pull the ashtray drawer completely out of the housing. Without the rod, the drawer will not lock into the closed position.

[suzublu]

Dunno why you had to dismantle the dash to fit the gauge into the cupholder I've done 3 & never had any bother Radio out, find the wires, connect up, slide the holder back, easy peasy

[Blink]

I took it all apart looking for a K-bus wire. I didn't know there was one on the (easily accessible ) green radio connector because I didn't spot the virtually invisible yellow blob(s) on the wire.

Note to MGR: buy a brighter marker pen, much brighter!

https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...d.php?t=295297

[Blink]

Originally Posted by suzublu

..... BTW, have you filed down the catch that locks it in place?

I have now - works a treat.

Jack's fitting guides are excellent btw.

[suzublu]

Originally Posted by Blink

I have now - works a treat.

Jack's fitting guides are excellent btw.

So's this https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...ad.php?t=93462