mikemann

Did it last night...Really easy. Thanks so much for showing us this great trick! Came out wonderful.

STNC

iTrader: (1)

That looks really good, im not a fan of where they are placed, i think they should be like the tC, on the inside of the armrest.

bBlover

Looks nice. May I ask why you moved it??

mikemann

I moved it because I hated where it was stock. My ipod didn't really fit in that little storage hole, I didn't like the fact it was out and exposed. I also didn't like the way the wires were all exposed as well. This fixed all that. It's all tucked away neat in the glove box.

You don't need to mess with your ipod when it's connected...no reason for it to be out in my opinion.

matic

How do you take off the two plastic push bolts at the lower sides of the center console? I tried to get them off tonight, but I feel like I'm going to break or scratch something if I use too much force especially since I don't really know how it's supposed to come off.

tCtCtC

mikemann

the two plastic pop rivets were a little tricky till you figure them out...

just push in the center with the tip of a screwdriver. they will pop out.

puch them back to flush on re-install.

optikinescant

Any example photos of this installed in the arm rest?

trialsrider

would like to see pics in the armrest as well, although that space is a premium for me. still have to do my wifes xb. in my neck of the woods, if you leave the cable out, thieves see it and want to know what else is in there. that and i'm obsessive about hidden i.c.e.

timmer357

I wish I was just a bit closer to you trialsrider. Eugene to Seattle seems a little far for me to drive just because I am a mechanical moron. Let me know if you are going to be south anytime soon

Whispaz

niiice

matic

Thanks for the tip mikemann!

I plan to install the connectors into the center armrest compartment and in order to cut out the holes nicely, I want to completely remove the center console. However, I've removed all the bolts, screws and clips that need to be removed and the center console is completely loose, but the pigtail wires for the iPod and Aux connectors seem to be clipped and/or taped near the cubby hole which is preventing me from removing the console. I'm having trouble removing the clips to free the console. Does anyone know how to properly remove these wires from being clipped/taped onto the center console?

mikemann

The ipod connector and aux housing will just pop out. Take a small flat blde screwdriver and just lightly get under the little square housing, it will come out.

Then you can unplug the connectors from behind the receptacles and take the whole arm rest out.

Good luck trying to get the arm rest apart in peices though...My original plan was to do what you wanted, but I could not get into the interior of the center arm rest well enough from underneath. It didn't feel like I could get a dremel or hot knike to it well enough to make it clean looking.

matic

Thanks.

So you ended up putting the connectors in the glove box then?

mikemann

yeah there is 4 screws 2 on each side of the armrest but it still wouldn't separate. There are two more screws inside...still couldn't get it to separate.

So I sort of gave up on the idea of doing it in the armrest. Then I saw this post...I really like the glovebox better.

My opinion is you don't need to see or touch your ipod while it's connected to the stereo and since the armrest space is so small why give up any more of it. The glove box is huge and has plenty of space for it.

timmer357

Anyone take pics of the process yet? For those of us less than skilled in the custom shop, I would like to see some pics before attempting. Mainly just the removal of the console around the shifter and the center console. Thanks in advance

mikemann

search for a post from xbfred, he's got a ton of pics when he did his deadening in his xb. It helped me when I did my whole xb in second skin.

timmer357

Okay, found that thread and will review it if needed during the relocation. My questions are these:

1. Do you have to take the center console completely off to fish these parts out?
2. Pulling the shifter housing off, easy and no bolt, right?
3. Once things are somewhat gone, can I just fish (used twice now) the cord under the carpet to avoid screwing with it?

Thanks everyone for any help.

1tC2NV

Nice J.O.B.

mikemann

1.) I don't think you do. You can disconnect the ipod connectors from their housings fairly easy without having to remove the center console. You will have to pull up the cupholders.

but in the same regard. The center console is all of three bolts and two snap connectors. It's painless.

2.) The shifter housing top will come off. It's probably the hardest things of the bunch it took a little time because I went slow and did not want to snap anything.

The skirt around it underneath is held on by two bolts. I personally think this needs to come off to do this. You need to route the wire back this direction.

3.) Just route the cord back up through the shift console and over to the glovebox. It's a peice of cake.

Get out in your car, look under the glovebox, heck even pull it out. You will get a much better sense of what your doing and up against.


To me the wire part was nothing. I was more concerned abou making the cuts in the glove box. Measure 20 times, cut short if you need to, you can always cut more you can't add plastic back.