centre console removal. How?

[rolling_thunder]

Sorry guys, can someone give me a little guidance please? I am new to TVR's....

My gearshift is a little stiff on my 98 Chim (so it has a T5 box), i have checked the clutch fluid and that is full and a forum post says to take a look at the gear shift linkage under the centre console and grease that...

So thats what i am trying to do..
I think i can see a screw at the front bottom corners of the console but i cant see any fixings at the rear. I dont want to start levering out bits of trim without knowign where to look so its safer to ask "how do i remove it please?"

Thanks

RT

[T_Pot]

At the rear you have a small pocket for storage, lift the floor of that up and you will see 2 more screws mate.


I did reply a little while ago, but it got lost somehow

[S7Paul]

If you lift out the base of the little storage tray in the back of the console, you'll find another couple of screws. Then you'll need to remove the door opener knob, which is held on with a very small grub screw located low down in the front. This can only be done by feel using a small allen key, and about a quarter turn at a time (very fiddly). You then need to unscrew the gear knob, and pull off the handbrake grip. THEN you get to the bit that I found most tricky. If this area was properly designed, the console should at this point just lift off. However, there is a U-shaped bracket attached to the underside of the console, through which the door opening cables run. It is possible to remove this by lifting the console up far enough to get a 1/4" drive socket onto the nuts, but if I were doing it again, I would try to reach under the console, pull the small piece of clear plastic sheet up & over the door knob shaft, and then poke a screwdriver through the door knob gaiter and undo the three screws holding the door cable mechanism onto the top of the tunnel. Be warned that the mechanism is stood on 3 loose nuts, which I would advise you to superglue to the underside of the plate before re-assembly. I also found that one of the modules for the alarm system is stuck (though not very well) inside the centre section of the console, so be prepared for this to come adrift and need re-attaching too. Finally, don't forget to disconnect the wiring to the window switches. Good luck, and I'd be interested to hear from anyone that's found an easier way of doing it.

[thenick]

Not much different but a little easier:

When I took mine off, I removed the two front and two rear screws as normal, then just moved the centre console forwards and up, pushing the gaiter over the gearstick (without removing the cover or slackening it off), then pushing the other gaiter over the door opener ball (carefully!). It will slide off but is a tight fit. Then simply unplug the window switches and undo the three bolts holding the door knob down so the side bits can be slid out.

[S7Paul]

Mine must either be a different design or assembled incorrectly. On mine, the U bracket will only allow the console to slide forwards a small amount before it hits the door mechanism. The plastic cable adjusters pretty much sit directly above the bracket, so it hardly allows any movement before you're starting to put stress on the cable adjusters. I did try re-assembling without the bracket, as it would make life easier, and I couldn't really see what it did. However, without it, the side bolsters seemed too loose, so it went back on again.

[rolling_thunder]

many thanks people i didnt want to pry up the base of the storage tray on the offchance it held some screws...

All the other tips are usefull too.

Excellent. Thank you

RT