i was wondering if anyone knew how to take off the cigarette lighter door that is in the center dash on the bottom cubby. it says 12 volts on it....i hate that little door...it seems to get in the way of everything....and it actually pisses me off....when i try to plug something in....its very hard...because i can't....i have to use both hands and spend like 5 minutes trying to put something in....can someone help me and guide me thru taking this off without breaking it off?

 

It won't be easy. I just broke mine off too see how hard it would be, and it was hard. Ruined the whole console.

To do it right though you would have to take the compartment out, which means removing the entire console and the dash, so that's not a good option. And it looks like it is very sturdy so breaking it off might not work either. If it really bothers you, you could consider drilling a hole in the little door and a hole in the side and screwing it to the side so it stays open. But then it might stick out just enough to make it hard to insert the power plug.

 

i don't think drilling a hole would work.....i think it would be easier to just cut it off or something...but does anyone have any pics or some type of step by step? how hard would this be...because it REALLY bothers me....i feel like its pointless to have 2 doors to cover this little cigg lighter....(center push down door and spring door)

 

you need to remove the entire console to get to it. i don't have any pics, but it's the only way. it's held in by a metal rod, that can be pushed out from the side

 

did u do this??

am i the only one that is bothered by this?

 

never really noticed it...

but now that you've brought it up Im sure I will look every time.

 

its not that it bothers me ahestetically....it just bothers me because if i want to put something in while im driving...i can't...because u have to gold open the door and insert something...for all of u that have the ESCORT PASSPORT 8500 x50....u know wut i mean...i ended up hardwiring mine...but it still annoys me....

 

Isnt there an "ashtray" option that you could get and insert in there...I think it is a heatproof tray and an open socket with a lighter element...and I thought it replaced the whole unit, so no more door...

anyone know for sure???

 

it is the cigarette option....ashtray is just a bucket in your cup holder....

 

One way of making it easier on your radar detector is to get a longer power connector for it in the first place. Everytime I have to remove the power connector, I have to shift the car back to N or D. It's annoying, but not very much since I just leave it closed.

Oh, and you don't want to dremel a hole in it because if you were taking out the power connector and it catches on the door, you may not be able to get it free easily as there's not even more leverage on the connector due to friction around the thing.

 

Just got my Passport 8500 (blue of course) and it's a bitch! It has to actually go sideways to fit. But I'll just live with it. Going to give the TL and the Passport their first LONG trip- St Louis for Thanksgiving.

 

I was bothered by it and ripped it off with a pliers. No real damage, except that the door will not go back on again.

 

did u just rip it out? without care? or did u rip it out in a certain way...this thing is REALLY starting to bother me....

 

Pretty much without care. I used both hands on the pliers. The little door is really the only thing that will come off--I think it's hard to break anything else. It comes off very cleanly--no irregular edges or anything. I use it mostly for my iPod Mini, and that door was really getting to me.

 

I'm surprised you guys aren't bothered with the other power outlet in the center bin under your arm. It's a pain in the ass to pull out my power connector for the cell phone now and then. Thank god I mostly leave it there and don't touch it.

 

i let my phone IPOD charge in the center console bin with the ICARPLAY always on the same station always playing on random...so ill always have my own personal radio station but then i have my phone that charges in the center dash...its....fantabulous...

 

i hate that little door too. i dever thought of taking it off, but ill look into it and try to get pics if it will help.