How to fix centre console latch.

[P1E]

My latch broke last week. I'll have to try this ASAP.

Do you have any safety pin tricks for my broken ash tray?

[thommo]

My latch broke last week. I'll have to try this ASAP.

Do you have any safety pin tricks for my broken ash tray?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

hey mate. how is the astray broken? doesn't stay shut??

[P1E]

My latch is now fixed.

Does your latch feel like new? My safety pin doesn't look as thick as yours and the latch doesn't feel as strong as before it broke.

The ash tray opens under heavy acceleration. I'm not sure exactly what's causing the problem. I haven't looked at it in months.

[Trust33]

Kewl worked a treat!!

[sindows]

You are a legend mate.

It works a treat, but when i was putting the safety pin in place (after i cut the sharp point of with plyers) i stabbed my finger with it, pissed out blood! I think i hit the bone cause it hurts like hell!!!

Once again thanks heeps for the guide, but mabey put a warning for beware of idoits like myself getting stabbed by the pin

Cheers

[axelmasok]

I laughed my head off when I read the title of this Howto. I can't beleive its that common. I have been pissed off for years by that latch too.

Well done I say

[EVL15H]

saw this post last night and just did it this morning. took me about 10 mins ( im still asleep ). best DIY ever!!

[i2icho]

Going to have to give this a shot. My latch has been Giving me the S!@#$ ever since i bought my R33. Seems like pretty common thing

[Mr Black R33]

I used a paper clip bent to shape works fine

[mad082]

now about these trained monkeys...

what else can they do?

[AllegraR33]

You're an absolute champion!! my console and i have had some aggressive altercations because the stupid thing won't close!!

i can't wait to fix it!!

[Link]

Top work mate

Just did it to mine and it work a treat!

Cheers

J

[Trooper]

MACGUYVER

Give me a safety pin and a hair clip and ill fix your car haha

SWEEET

[R338OY]

Ok it's an old thread, but bloody hell what a great idea!

I did this yesterday. It kept p!ssing me off when the console lid would unlatch and swing open

Is sooo easy to fix- Nissan should've put a spring in there to begin with...

Thanks for the ingenious threads- keep 'em coming

[Luciano]

agreed, f**king excellent! you are a champion!

mine broke the first day i owned my car, and has been pissing me off for over 5 fkn years, unlatching and flying open when i gas it!

[pro_sniper]

I took my console lid out of the car tonight to retrim it in alcantara, and while I had it out anyway I fixed the release thanks to your excellent DIY instructions.

MAJOR THANKS!

- JayKay

[seonho]

Amazing! i gotta same idea, some stuff of household use! but to use a save pin is really kewl!

thank you very much you are my champion!

cheers

Marcus

Edited February 21, 2008 by seonho

[Fanta R33GTR]

I had the same problem a while back.

I just cut off a 2cm long piece of standard garden hose and shoved it in the latch.

Works a treat and you don't even have to remove the lid to push it in.

[Scadtional]

Great tutorial!

Easy fix that works a treat!

[jasma1]

Hey all,

Anyone else got a broken centre console latch?

You know, the little button you press to open that compartment behind the hand brake that you rest your left elbow on??

I have found on both my R33's that these were broken and didn't realise how annoying it had been till I fixed them.

Here's how I did it -

WHAT YOU WILL NEED - All you will need is a medium sized safety pin, Phillips head screwdriver and a pair of pliers.

TIME – 10 minutes.

DIFFICULTY – Piss easy! I reckon I could teach a monkey to do this.

STEP 1.

Remove console lid by undoing the 3 screws that go down into the console.

This may require a little gentle jiggling to clear the hinge springs after the screws are removed.

You should have the lid as in pic console01.

STEP 2.

Remove hinge from lid (3 screws) and all the screws (8) holding the plastic underside of the lid in place.

This will allow you to take out the latch, removing the broken bits of plastic that have been rattling round in there.

Refer pic console02.

STEP 3.

Find a medium sized safety pin, make sure that the size of the hole part on the pin is a snug fit over the latch pivot (pic console05).

Cut the head and point of the pin off, and bend with the pliers as per pics console03 & console04.

STEP 4.

Place pin within the latch as shown in the rest of the pics, then trim the pins top arm to be close to flush with the face of the plastic (pic console06).

STEP 5.

Put everything back together.

You should now have a nice firm feeling, spring loaded latch.

Hope this helps!