I can only open the cupholder on my 97 RL about 2/3rds of the way as a pen fell in and is blocking it. I haven't figured how to remove the cupholder, clear, and replace. Anyone out there know how to remove the cupholder?

 

+1
I think I have the same problem, but don't see anything blocking the door

 

I just had the same problem with my 98 RL. A pen had fallen behind the cover while open and kept the lid from opening all the way. It was easy to fix once I found out how.

you need to follow a certain disassembly order:

1. remove the select lever garnish. it is held by clips only.
2. remove the wooden panel console around the A/T lever. it's held by clips only.
3. remove the cup holder. it is held by two screws in the front and supported by some kind of hooks in the rear. but no clips there!
4. remove the rear heating vent. it has only two clips in the rear.
5. now you can remove the whole console. it is held by 4 screws in the front and two screws in the back. watch out while removing for the hooks in the front, where the console is hooked up with the front console. don't forget also all the electrical connectors!

reassembling in reverse order. good luck.

 

I just had the same problem with my 98 RL. A pen had fallen behind the cover while open and kept the lid from opening all the way. It was easy to fix once I found out how.

you need to follow a certain disassembly order:

1. remove the select lever garnish. it is held by clips only.
2. remove the wooden panel console around the A/T lever. it's held by clips only.
3. remove the cup holder. it is held by two screws in the front and supported by some kind of hooks in the rear. but no clips there!

reassembling in reverse order. good luck.

 

awesome - thanks very much! I'll give it a try.