955/957 Cayenne DIY: Opening a stuck front ashtray
 

Hi All,

I need a bit of assistance. The mrs has put her keys and a load of other 'stuff' in the ashtray, closed it and now it won't open!

I'm pretty sure it's not broken, just full of 'stuff'.

Any suggestions how I can open it? Does the radio and climate control buttons need to come out?

I've attached a photo to show the tray I'm talking about.

Thanks
Jon

Sent using Forum Runner

Stolen from renntech:

http://www.renntech.org/forums/topic...n-smoker-tray/

Remove the trim around the outside of the central stack. It is the bezel (black matte plastic in Cayenne and Cayenne S, matte silver on Cayenne Turbo). You pry from one end, it's just held in with clips.

Remove the climate controls-- these are held in with two metal spring clips, one per side. You have to use a small screwdriver to lever up and release the clips

Note to remove the climate controls, you will need the car in Drive or at least not in Park

Below this, you will find two torx screws holding in the ash tray. Remove these. The ash tray slides out. Behind is a connector to supply power to the ash tray, unhook this.

The non-smokers tray replaces the ash tray and goes in with the same two torx screws.

Push back in the environment controls until the clips snap in.

Replace the bezel.

Total time: maybe 30 minutes tops!

I've been trying for 30 minutes but can't seem to get the spring clips holding the climate control to release. I've pushed hard and tried to lever but nothing seems to work.

I just had to do this this weekend. The clips are a pain, but stick with it. I used a medium flat head screw driver. It helped to be down low to see where the clip was. You need to get behind it, and apply a bunch of force towards the center of the unit. If you get one side out, put something behind it so it does not pop back in when you go after the other side.

Yep, the climate control removal was a complete pain (I too had a broken ashtray and decided to DIY the replacement) use a small torch to shine in the holes at the side of the climate unit and you should see the spring clips.... it's hard to vocalise but they weren't where I expected them to be and I wasted a good 10 minutes before getting the torch!

mine sticks also

take a butter knife and pry it a little and it should open (mine does)

This thread helped me on my first DIY on the 09 GTS.

I had the center ash tray not catching to stay closed as well. While driving I though I could dislodge the coin or mechanism to start catching when closed. Well in the process I got it to snap closed but the tray was opening so fast it could launch coins into the back seat.

I knew it was some spring or resistance that would allow the tray to open slow and smooth but did not know what I was getting into.

Anyway did the search, fought the AC spring clips till I used two flat head screw driver on the same side to work the catch loose one one side. Then as others said I left a screw driver in the disengaged side while I worked on the other.

Got the tray out and it took a little studding of the mechanics until I noticed the teeth for no reason and figured something was still in the car. I looked and felt all around with no luck ...Then got a flash light and looked real slow on the driver side of the ash tray location. Bam I saw it and it was easy to retrieve...

Snapped it all back together and now it is 100% working!!

Ashtray Insert Re-assembly?
 

How does the insert go back together? I have no idea how the spring(broken?) re-orients itself:
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...pskgnv4coo.jpg

I always appreciate more pictures and just went through this myself.

Had to remove an offending quarter that was preventing the ashtray from closing on an 04 CTT.

I hope this saves someone time realizing how far they need to push in AC spring clips on each side to remove. I also found it impossible to do both sides at once and in the end did not need to.


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...db74644552.jpg


Shows the angle of the spring clip on an 04


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...c16a9ba6d8.jpg


Only two screws to unscrew-visible only when AC is removed

Almost OOOps
 

I was just trying to get the center bezel off of my 2006 Cayenne S Titanium Edition (has the extra aluminum trim on the bezel as does the turbo) and I almost damaged that bezel because I was prying at the wrong place. I hope these pictures of the attachment points will aid in prying well.


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...5a1793f0b6.jpg

The white arrow shows the main metal clip that was the hardest to release.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...b4c14b781a.jpg

If you dont pry right at this point, and the clip is a little stuck, you could bend the trim.

"torch"?

:nono:

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...e2dec9ea60.jpg


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...e4bcd93c66.jpg

Porsche Cayenne Ash Tray Ashtray Spring Closeup
 

What the English call a flashlight.

Thanks for the great read and pics. Took about 45 minutes to complete, one third of the time looking for light and tools.

Excellent thread - moving it to the DIY forum since it's clear instructions and photos are worthy of being a DIY.. hang on..