Posted on 4th May 2010 @ 4:39 PM

How-To Remove the Center Console

By: www.caradvanced.com

Reason: The center console houses the head unit of the Mazda 6, along with the climate control system. Repairing or replacing any of these components first requires removal of the console. Removing the console is also required to replace the top compartment space with an aftermarket part, such as a triple gauge pod.

Note: This article combines both a video and photographic How-To. Make sure to view the videos before attempting particular sections. (Right click the hyperlink and save as to your desktop)

Required Tools:

Phillips Screwdriver
10 mm Socket
Rachet Wrench with 6-inch Extension
Needle Nose Pliers

 

 

 

We begin with everything in place, looking like this. If you have an automatic the removal of the center console should be very similar. If you have seat heaters, make sure they're in the off position. Also, you're parking brake must be fully set.

 

 

 

Start by removing the shift knob. Simply twist it off counter-clockwise. Now comes the part that can be a little difficult the first time you do this. We need to remove the cupholder so we can remove the area around the shifter.

Sit in the passenger seat and grasp the side of the cupholder with both hands (I've never been able to do it with just one) by inserting your fingers behind the door. Your thumbs should be on the outside of the cupholder but still on the part that we're removing. Push in with your thumbs and lift up on the inside with your fingers.

Video: Removing the Cupholder

The passenger side of the cupholder should be free. The clips on the driver side should just lift free, but you might need to do the same maneuver on that side.

The cup holder is attached to the shift-gate area by two clips. They may or may not come free when you remove the cupholder. If they do not, the part of the clip you need to press to free it, is the side facing towards the engine. Pressing with one hand while lifting the cupholder will allow it to come free.

Here's another video of the entire removal of the cupholder. As you can see from the video, my cupholder always sticks to the shifter piece on the passenger side.

Video: Removing the Cupholder Part II

 

 

The piece around the shifter lifts off fairly easily. There are two wires connected to the back of the ashtray/lighter. The one leading to a small bulb can be removed with a pair of pliers. It will take a bit of force to remove. The other is the usualy automotive plug that is held into place with a difficult to press clip.

 

 

Immediately behind where the ashtray was there are 2 screws holding the console into place. Remove those. Now we need to move on to the glove box. It needs to be removed because there's a single screw behind the console that we need to remove.

 

 

 

 

Open the Glove Box and remove the contents. On the left side there is a piece of string connected to a clip. Simply remove the string from the clip. Press in the sides of the glove box and it should fall down. It will hang low, which is good enough for our purposes. If you look inside the glove box and to the left, you will see the radio components. A single brass screw should be very obvious.

 

 

 

The screw is 10mm and you'll need a ratchet with a 6-inch extension on it similar to this one.

Once you get that removed we get to move on to the fun part -- removing the entire Radio/HVAC assembly. This is very easy, but probably not for the faint of heart. Just to forewarn you, it will take some force and make some loud popping sounds when you do it. But I can't think of any way you could possibly break anything, so there's no need to worry.

Before you move on, cover the bare shifter rod. I'd recommend something relatively thick and soft. An old towel is ideal. Be forewarned, that the linkages are covered in a lubricant and it may get on your towel, so don't use one of your wife's good ones.

Alright, after covering the shifter, grasp the area right beneath the 2 screws you removed earlier. Give a good pull on that, directing as much force out, rather than up, as possible. It should give about 1/4 inch, which then allows you to slip your fingers under it and get a much better grip. Another pull or two and the bottom two clips should pop free. A little pull down and out should pop the top 2 clips free.

Again, I've included a video of the removal that may help you:

Video: Removing the Radio/HVAC Assembly

If whatever project you're doing requires, you can remove all the wires behind the console. For this particular project, that's not necessary so I will just leave the console slid out a bit so I can get access to the upper compartment.

 

 

 

Now, if you've gotten this far, you might be surprised to see that the upper compartment and the LED screen are built into one another.

Just as on the bottom of the console, there are 2 screws holding this piece into the dash. In the below picture they are circled in red. After removing those, the compartment and LED remove just by giving them a good pull straight out.

The green circles I have in the above picture just show the primary wiring routes out of the upper compartment -- 2 channels between the vents. The left channel is used by the LED screen leaving the right channel for whatever electronic device you choose to wire into the upper compartment.

 

 

The back of the LED screen has a single automotive plug. At least in my case, it was extremely difficult to get off. A pair of pliers would probably come in very handy here. If you desire to seperate the compartment from the LED screen, there are 2 clips on either side that allow you to do so.

 

 

That hole you see branches off to both the right and the left. The left goes about 4 inches until it hits the gauge cluster, the right goes all the way to the door, only partly blocked by the passenger airbag.

Well, that's pretty much everything. Installing everything back again is straightforward. The only thing worth mentioning is that, when replacing the console place the bottom edge in place first then press the top into place. Pushing your thumbs along the edge is all it takes to push the clips back in.

Additional Note:

For people without the automatic climate control, there is an extra step in removing the center console. You will have to pull the rotary knobs off to access the screws behind them. This isn't necessary on the ACC console pictured above. The knobs just yank right off... grab and pull.