Page 1 of 1

Console switch blank removal

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 3:25 pm
by RDCE
Hi everyone, I have a '07 Pathy that is "new to me" with a switch blank that the previous owner had a light or toggle switch in. Now the blank has a 1/4" hole in it. I ordered a new blank but can't figure out how to remove the old one. I tried a little prying with a flat head with no success. Any tips or do I have to figure out how to pull the console panels off to access the tabs from behind the panel? Searched this but all I got was convo's about the replacement switches and not the blank removal. Sorry if this is a duplicate.

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 4:39 pm
by skinny2
If it's to the left of the steering wheel, I have that same blank panel with a hole! I had my driving lights switched there before going with different lights. You should be able to reach up under the dash and pop it out. There are little tabs that hold it in. Since you're not worried about damaging it you could also just use a butter knife and pop it from the front. Butter knives are perfect because they won't damage the dash trim.

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 5:04 pm
by RDCE
Ok, figured it out thanks to this guy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwALGobz4cc

And, these blanks have to be removed from the back. They won't pull forward! Don't use a butter knife.

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 6:49 pm
by skinny2
RDCE wrote: Don't use a butter knife.
Much easier than squeezing it from the back. I decided to pop mine out while I was thinking about it. Here ya go:

http://sendvid.com/z4yd0mkv

Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:26 am
by RDCE
Hmmm, interesting. I didn't think that method would work as I even had a bit of a challenge getting the blank out from the back. Because I was after the middle console blank I would have lost it into the innards of the console doing it that way. The new one also needs to be placed into the frame from the back so I guess learning how to take the console apart was worth it.