So I took off my center console for the first time to do the DIY on the "door squeek" problem and when I put it back on, I noticed a fair sized gap between the dash and the console piece on the right side. It made a lot of noise when I pushed on it and no matter how many times I put the console back in, and no matter how many different ways, the gap persisted. I eventually "filled" the gap with electrical tape, just so the piece wouldn't move and wouldn't make any noise, but now it looks like crap. Any idea why I have this gap and how to fix it? Understand that the left side (driver) is flush like it should be and the right side (passenger) is the side with the gap. And no, I do not know if this gap existed previous to me taking the piece off.

 

Dunno without looking at it closely, but the clip probably is misaligned. I'd try pulling it out and sticking it in 1 more time

 

^^^ What he said. Or the clip is bent and is acting like a spacer in between the center and the dash.

 

i concur

 

Well I fiddled with it some more and I had no luck getting it to fit better.

I'm wondering if the magical 3M molding tape will hold it down...

 

Make sure all wiring/harnesses are out of the way.
Be sure to plug in the HVAC harness. That happened to me once.
Lastly, make sure you have the AC/Heater duct seated in center console properly.

 

Take it out and this time start with it tiltled slightly so the top part goes in first. Once the top is in or partially started, you can swing the rest of the console down and clip in place.

 

That's how I was doing it, socal. I was fitting in the top pieces first and there would be no gap. Then the middle pieces, then the bottom. And the gap would pop up. It's really frustrating.