i dropped off my TL at my mom's work to pick up her car and get it a new tire and oil change. anyways, she is a coffee loving woman and i recieved a call from her about an hour later and she tells me she spilled coffee all over the center shift console. now the auto-stick feels like it is stuck and i have to use more force to shift into reverse or drive. my question is: has anyone taken out the center console where the shift knob is located?? i want to clean it out because this bugs the hell out of me.

PS. acura said this wouldn't count as warranty work, because it is not a vehicle defect but self-inflicted. is that true?

 

Caution: the beverage you are about to spill all over your nice new car is very hot, cannot defy gravitational and other forces, and tends to stain.

 

There's no way you're gonna get that fixed under warranty.

You should be able to get it cleaned up at an automotive interiors shop for $200-300.

 

If that was my mom, i would have to stick her in the trunk for about 2 days to teach her a lesson...

 

Ouch....i feel you....sorry to hear that man....your best bet is to take it to a detail shop and have them clean it up...i had a problem similar to that in my girlfreinds 2001 TL and we got it cleaned up at the local detail center for $130. But it was coke, not coffee...but shouldn't make a difference

 

Ask your dealer and check with the SVC manual, you should be able to take apart the center console.





That box could be Audio system... ignore it. At least, the cover of console is removable.
I cut this pic from Neogeek's iPod installatin thread. Thanks.

 

thanks rets, do you have a link to that thread?

 

Funny!!!!

 

It's iPod though. There is no detailed how to remove it...

http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showthread.php?t=86881

 

looks like i have to try this myself then, thanks for all the info!

 

www.mazda3forums.com

they have a thread somewhere to take out their center console. I think it should be at least similar. the Mazda 3 center console comes apart into like 3 parts

 

Looking at the service manual, I can tell you that taking the console apart to get to the shift linkage is very complicated. I wish I could scan and put it in but I don't know how. There are others that do, but by the time I get through you may not be interested in doing it yourself.

!. You have to remove the aluminum trim on each side from the top near the A/C panel down to the console storage area. It says you have to detach 11 clips, then put a trim tool between the HVAC panel and the center console trim and pry it off.

2. Then you have to remove the rear console section. There are two screws under the mat in the bottom storage area, then you slide the section rearward. Then you lift it up and release the harness retainer clip from the air duct , and two electrical harness connectors.

3. Then you pull up on the trim ring around the gear knob.

4. Now you should be getting close to the area you need to clean up.

You are probably better off going to a body shop, or a Best Buy, Circuit City, or stereo installer, and let them take it apart and clean it up for you.

 

If it was McDonalds coffee...maybe you could sue them!! If one woman got millions because the coffee was too hot, they might pay you to settle out of court!!!! HAHAHA!!!! Good Luck!!!

 

i like the steering wheel except for that purple stitching...was that the only color available, or can it be ordered with different stitching?

 

oops...wrong thread...disregard my previous post...

 

I'd go with Acura removing/cleaning/replacing the console. One of my seat heater switches was jammed so they had to remove and replace and basically told me (in not so many words) never to do it myself.

You should also check to see whether coffee got into the seat heater switches.

-josh