Somehow some coins have fallen behind the change holder and now the things won't close shut completely. I can't reach behind it to remove the coins so I am wondering how the hell do I remove the tray so that I can get the damned coins out of it? thx

 

Had you done a search on "change holder" you'd have found a message like this...

if wiggling the coin holder up and down does drop the coins then you can remove coin holder by unscrewing shift knob, remove two screws from inside bottom center armrest, pull off both plastic wood trim, remove screws securing armrest and gear shift console and you should be able to retrieve the lost change.

or

i had the same problem and the first time it happened i took it to the dealer and they did it for me, but the second time i was able to use a paper clip and duck tape to get it out, just bend the paper clip to be able to get it back there and wrap the duck tape around the paper clip and slip it back there and try to attach the coin onto the duck tape and gently get it out, it's like playing operation you have to be careful not to touch the sides or the coin could fall down again!!
good luck

I read about this problem here on AZ which is why I don't use the change holder. It's a bad design.

 

theres about $1000 stuck behind mine.

 

I don't know which model year this started, but my 02 has a hinged "top" piece with a spring so that the coins aren't able to get back there so easy. I did a similar thing on my 00 and just pushed up the top piece and it worked pretty well. Hard to describe, but here is a bad picture of the coin holder cross section:
___
\_______/

"break" it so it's kind like this:
./
/
\_______/

 

good idea

 

never put coins in the coin tray.

 

i had this happen on my 02 with a quarter a little after i bought it, will breaking that really work and it wont cause any additional problems?

 

where is the change holder?

is this the tray between the seat warmers, where the obd-II plug is? (behind a plastic cover)

 

Yes

 

yes its teh lid that comes down to reveal teh cig lighter. there is a red tray that says NOT an Ashtray. thats the coin holder

 

how long have u had ur car???

 

lol

it's not really a change holder then, its just a place to put shit... i thought there was some mythical spring loaded coin thing i had yet to see...

ive had my car since 10/2003, and i've have the entire interior gutted before... so i was wondering if i've missed something...

 

i was just messin witcha lol

 

i dont know!

what is change?

 

i just tried this, i hope it works

 

If you have an 02 it should already be "spring loaded", which is apparently not perfect but it seems to help. I haven't had any issues with my 02 so far. I didn't have any issues after I modified my 00 as described either, but I'm sure it is still possible to get some change caught up back there if you're lucky

 

i've had that similar problem in my 99' tl. but its really an easy and annoying fix.
first you have to remove your center console(arm rest).
there should be 2 or srcews in there if my memory serves me right.
once that is removed, you have to remove the cup holders, and the shift tray. once all that is off, you can easily recover all of the lost treasure. mechanical fingers is the best way i found to really get deep in there.
good luck!

 

This just happened on my '99 TL and after searching the forums I realized an overloaded change holder was jam-up waiting to happen. Anyway, I was able to take 1/4 x 3 x 1/16" piece of soft metal with a 90 degree bend 1/4" from the end, hook the OBD cover and pull it out, and exposing the errant coins. I then folded up a piece of paper to catch the change as I worked it all out with a piece of coat hanger wire. A total of 72 cents later I was back in business.