Fit of despair

[omnio]

Hello Everyone,

Endless apologies if I have started a thread that had already been addressed but I haven't found a satisfying answer to my problem yet. I have a 2004 A4 convertible 1.8T and I love this car to the max. I've picked her up not too long ago and she has some minor flaws I need to mend to make her perfect. One of those is a broken cupholder. I got ahold of a new one already but I can't, for the sake of my life find out how to remove that plastic trim right above in order to remove the broken cupholder.

Here's a pic:

http://kepfeltoltes.hu/view/160113/I...toltes.hu_.jpg

I tried to pry it open but didn't work. During my researches I have gathered that a special Audi tool must be used in order to remove it but others reported that it can be taken off without that tool. Anyhow, I hope someone reads this who faced the similar problem and can give me a clue how to do it. Also, I could use some info about that Audi tool as well.

Thank You very much in advance!

Piece,

Peter

[customa4]

Click

[omnio]

Click

That was the main reason I have decided to start a new thread. Let me quote from the aforementioned post:

"gently remove the surround with a putty knife..then you will see the holder". Now, I don't have a surround. The A4 convertible is different in a way that it has a panel ABOVE the cupholder not surrounding it. Here is an example for the surrounding version used in most Audi models:

http://kepfeltoltes.hu/view/160113/m...toltes.hu_.jpg

Mine is different as it can be seen on the pic I took:

http://kepfeltoltes.hu/view/160113/m...toltes.hu_.jpg

I have found numerous walkthroughs on how to change a cup holder with the >>surrounding<< panel, but I couldn't apply those tips on my model's different layout.

Your answer customa4 is appreciated though!!

[customa4]

So you're saying if you try to pry that upper panel off it doesn't come off?

[omnio]

Quite frankly, no. I mean I have tried to a point I started to worry breaking that panel. I have a hard plastic prying tool designed for such operations and it didn't work. I've tried a flathead as well with the same results. I can certainly bend the plastic a little bit (and a bit more around the sides) but it seems this panel is fixed. I wouldn't venture to exert more power when prying b/c I don't want to break that plastic panel. I'm sure there's a trick to remove it though. Audi is great to use those tricks so if you want to get something done you have to take the car to the garage.

[SlickFix]

Start watching this video at the 1:42 mark. He shows to how to pop that panel off.

[deyrag]

Slick, I think the OP's problem is that he has a cabriolet and that panel does not exist. The cab dash is completely different if you look at the link in his first post.

[customa4]

Slick, I think the OP's problem is that he has a cabriolet and that panel does not exist. The cab dash is completely different if you look at the link in his first post.

Exactly^^

[omnio]

Yeah that's why I'm asking if anyone knows how to remove that panel...

[SlickFix]

Does this help?

[omnio]

Does this help?

Great! Can you just please display the A680287 illustration for positioning those scrapers?

Thank You again!!

[customa4]

Does this help?

You're the man Slick! Good ol' Bentley strikes again.

Great! Can you just please display the A680287 illustration for positioning those scrapers?

Thank You again!!

Here ya go.







Looks like the tabs on that cover work the same way the cupholder tabs do. Just have to slide something in there to push the tabs up and it will slide out.

[omnio]

Guys, I really appreciate! Will report back as soon as I can do the fix!

[customa4]

Not a problem, Slick gets the credit here, I just Google searched the number he posted. Here's the write up from the workshop manual. Click Bookmark that webpage for the future, pretty much the factory manual for free. It's just a bit annoying to navigate but there's a lot of info there.

[SlickFix]

Not a problem, Slick gets the credit here, I just Google searched the number he posted. Here's the write up from the workshop manual. Click Bookmark that webpage for the future, pretty much the factory manual for free. It's just a bit annoying to navigate but there's a lot of info there.

You are too kind, sir. I just used my online Bentley manual, which is in beta. But it has a lot of good stuff. Anyone who purchases the DVD of the Bentley manual can sign up for the online beta.

[omnio]

Bunch of useful info and helpful folks. Love this forum :D

Guess it has to do with the fact we all own and love Audis, haha.

[customa4]

You are too kind, sir. I just used my online Bentley manual, which is in beta. But it has a lot of good stuff. Anyone who purchases the DVD of the Bentley manual can sign up for the online beta.

Hmm, first I've heard of an online beta, gonna have to look into that.

[omnio]

Ok, I had been spending my day off to remove that darn panel but I could NOT find any tabs to be pushed in. First I've tried to feel them out based on the picture displayed here then, as the sun'd set it illuminated the whole dashboard from the back so I could see in there and there were no visible tabs. I'm puzzled! :(

Any idea anyone?

Piece,

Peter

[SlickFix]

I'm afraid that we're going to have to hope that a Cab driver shows up to save the day. I don't think there are really tabs, per se. It looks like you shove the spacers in and gently pull out. Is it not moving at all?

[omnio]

Nope it doesn't move at all. The Plastic bends, though, so I could peek underneath a little bit. This, combined with the sun light from the back allowed me to see that there's no tabs there. The scrapers can be shoved deep into that gap though. The images you were kind enough to post are pretty straightforward but following those steps that panel remain up in its place.

[omnio]

Well, maybe those are not tabs, but there's something there on the A67-0287 image; something on both sides, located symmetrically. I'm sure I have to reach those with the scrapers. But I was unable to find anything on either sides.

[walky_talky20]

Maybe this will help. I think you can see the clips that hold this bugger in there:

[omnio]

So that's how this bad boy looks like. I assume I have to find those two "tabs" I have circled on the pic...

http://postimg.org/image/k9cg9s3e5/

...will try again this morning!

Thank you

[omnio]

That's it, I guess I give up now! :(

[walky_talky20]

What are you using to push down the clips? I think you need to use something "L" shaped. Like little hockey sticks. That way you push the clips down from the rear, which might be easier. I've taken the liberty of marking up the photo to show what I mean:

[omnio]

I will give it a try walkytalky! I've read somewhere about a special audi tool that gets the job done. anyone knows anything about it?

[customa4]

I find it hard to believe a special tool is necessary or it would be mentioned in the Bentley manual.