I believe all you have to do is "pull" it out. I did mine a while ago, and I seem to remember it requiring a bit of effort, but it did come right out.
- Bill
- Bill
Rear Cup Holder
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
Theres an old saying: if it's stuck force it, if it breaks, it needed replacing anyway.
![]()
nuff said.
Okay, I realize this is a 5-year-old thread, but I just did my rear cupholder and I believe some more info on how to do it (in addition to what John mentioned) will help others, in case they find themselves in this situation.
Here you go:
1. For me, it was best to remove the whole armrest in order to be able to work with the cupholder comfortably. To do that, undo 2 outer and 2 inner screws (all torx 30). For the inner ones, you will need a low clearance mini ratchet (push away the sides of the back of the seats and fit it in!). In retrospective (i.e. knowing how the thing works), there is no need to remove the armrest.
2. Remove the rectangular surround trim by gently prying it out, as John said. The surround is secured by 4 plastic clips: 2 on the top and 2 on the bottom, around 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the sides. Preferably use a plastic pry tool and apply pressure at these points towards the center of the cup holder to release the clips (i.e. push down to release the top clips and push up to release the bottom clips).
3. Now you can manually pull the cup holder out. Use a flashlight to take a peak inside.
4. There are two metal clips on either side that retain the cupholder (the housing assembly cannot be removed), and a golden spring inside that provides the open/close function. The problem (usually) is that the spring has gone out of place.
5. Insert a thin metal blade (e.g. hacksaw or knife) in one side slot (from the outer side, in between the plastic and the metal clip). Push down until you hear a click, indicating the clip is released.
6. While keeping the first blade in place, insert a second blade into the other side slot and follow the same procedure.
7. Pull the cupholder out with one firm movement. If you don’t make it the first time, repeat.
8. Use mini long nose pliers (or your fingers if they fit) to seat the spring on the black plastic stud which is located at the bottom rear left corner (assuming you look at the assembly normally from the front). The short spring leg goes down, under a small lip at the side of the assembly, whereas the long leg goes up, and should be pushed behind the little central plastic movable stud (move the stud to the left with your fingers and then push the spring leg slightly up and behind the stud).
9. Notice on the rear right corner of the cupholder a plastic piece with a little hole in the middle and a small horizontal V-like protrusion. The hole is irrelevant, but the long spring leg needs to be fitted inside the V-like protrusion.
10. Slowly insert the cupholder into the assembly and make sure as you push it in that the long spring leg goes in between the V-like protrusion.
11. Push all the way to lock the cupholder. Test functionality.
12. Put back the surround trim carefully. Do one side (top/bottom) at a time. Position the 2 plastic clips and use a knife to squeeze the assembly towards the center so that you open up the holes a bit to allow for positioning the trim clips. Repeat for the other side. When all 4 clips are in place, push the surround trim to lock the clips.
13. Reattach the armrest if you took it out. Screw the outer screws first to provide support and then the inner ones.
14. There you have it: like new!
Cheers.
Here you go:
1. For me, it was best to remove the whole armrest in order to be able to work with the cupholder comfortably. To do that, undo 2 outer and 2 inner screws (all torx 30). For the inner ones, you will need a low clearance mini ratchet (push away the sides of the back of the seats and fit it in!). In retrospective (i.e. knowing how the thing works), there is no need to remove the armrest.
2. Remove the rectangular surround trim by gently prying it out, as John said. The surround is secured by 4 plastic clips: 2 on the top and 2 on the bottom, around 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the sides. Preferably use a plastic pry tool and apply pressure at these points towards the center of the cup holder to release the clips (i.e. push down to release the top clips and push up to release the bottom clips).
3. Now you can manually pull the cup holder out. Use a flashlight to take a peak inside.
4. There are two metal clips on either side that retain the cupholder (the housing assembly cannot be removed), and a golden spring inside that provides the open/close function. The problem (usually) is that the spring has gone out of place.
5. Insert a thin metal blade (e.g. hacksaw or knife) in one side slot (from the outer side, in between the plastic and the metal clip). Push down until you hear a click, indicating the clip is released.
6. While keeping the first blade in place, insert a second blade into the other side slot and follow the same procedure.
7. Pull the cupholder out with one firm movement. If you don’t make it the first time, repeat.
8. Use mini long nose pliers (or your fingers if they fit) to seat the spring on the black plastic stud which is located at the bottom rear left corner (assuming you look at the assembly normally from the front). The short spring leg goes down, under a small lip at the side of the assembly, whereas the long leg goes up, and should be pushed behind the little central plastic movable stud (move the stud to the left with your fingers and then push the spring leg slightly up and behind the stud).
9. Notice on the rear right corner of the cupholder a plastic piece with a little hole in the middle and a small horizontal V-like protrusion. The hole is irrelevant, but the long spring leg needs to be fitted inside the V-like protrusion.
10. Slowly insert the cupholder into the assembly and make sure as you push it in that the long spring leg goes in between the V-like protrusion.
11. Push all the way to lock the cupholder. Test functionality.
12. Put back the surround trim carefully. Do one side (top/bottom) at a time. Position the 2 plastic clips and use a knife to squeeze the assembly towards the center so that you open up the holes a bit to allow for positioning the trim clips. Repeat for the other side. When all 4 clips are in place, push the surround trim to lock the clips.
13. Reattach the armrest if you took it out. Screw the outer screws first to provide support and then the inner ones.
14. There you have it: like new!
Cheers.
Attachments
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
