Member Since: 08 Mar 2014
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 45
Ashtray Quick Fix
Suffered the usual ashtray failure last night where the spring drops off and stops you closing the ash tray so looked into it here and saw the threads with the pics of dash in bits and thought to myself not likely !! So I disappeared into the garage returned with my cordless drill and a 25 mm holesaw in the end of it . Sent said saw through the back of the ashtray carrier ( after removing ashtray obviously ) and hey presto you have access to remove the spring with long nosed pliers / long thin screwdriver etc . Simply replace ashtray and return to armchair !
5th Oct 2016 6:48 pm
Crackers
Member Since: 18 Sep 2013
Location: Camberley, Surrey
Posts: 143
I took the same route to save time and avoid any collateral damage!
If you're not bothered about the assisted opening function of the ash tray, it's a simple job as shown in the pictures below:
1. Tools used: 3mm pilot drill, 6 mm clearance drill, 21mm hole cutter, electric drill, magnetic pick-up tool
I fitted the hole cutter with a short blunt 6m arbor bit cut down from an old screwdriver shaft - just to centre the hole cutter in the clearance hole and avoid damaging anything that might sit behind the ash tray carrier with the usual centre drill set-up. Probably not necessary, but rather safe than sorry!
Click image to enlarge
2. Drill the hole:
First, remove the ash tray from the carrier (pull it out as if emptying it). Pull the carrier out as far as it will go. It's helpful if a second pair of hands are available to hold it out whilst drilling.
Put the gear lever in 'Drive' to provide room for the drill. You'll only be drilling 2mm of soft plastic but I drilled a pilot hole in the centre of the back of the carrier, followed by clearance drill.
Then use the hole cutter (one intended for timber will work fine on plastic) to make the large hole, keeping it central as you go.
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
3. Remove the spring:
With the hole cut, simply fish the offending item out through the hole with a magnetic pick-up tool (or long nose pliers)
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
4. Voila!
Spring out!
Click image to enlarge
Another view of the spring
Click image to enlarge
5. Refit ash tray carrier - which now closes properly again
Click image to enlarge
Note: When you push the ash tray all the way in, it won't immediately open when you next pull it. This is because of the pin and gate system in the mechanism that was part of the assisted opening (sprung) design which 'locks' it shut (explained by Thartek in the post here http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic142948....p;start=15 )
Simply pull gently forward a few mm and then push the ash tray back in - it will now open all the way.
Thanks to gregj47 for original suggestion regarding this method
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