How to: Removing Bezel, Cup Holders, Center Console on 99+ Grand Am's

[RedGrandAm2003]

OK! Well, I scowered the boards today to desperatly find a thread as to how I can remove these things, and it drove me up the wall. So here's a How-To, in hopes of it being very useful to others.

First:
Remove the bolt covers along the sides of the center console by your feet with a flathead screwdriver. Pry it from the corner closest to the pedals. Use a 7mm socket, and remove them. They are picture here:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/829000-829999/829887_31.jpg (http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/829000-829999/829887_31_full.jpg)

Now along the side of the center console, remove the speed clips/bolts or whatever they're called. They didnt give me any problems. Take your flathead screwdriver, and pry at them, while pulling on the plastic piece. Go easy with it. Speed clips/bolts are pictured here:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/829000-829999/829887_32.jpg (http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/829000-829999/829887_32_full.jpg)

Now go and remove the 2 phillips head screws and completely remove them. You may have to use a flathead screwdriver to help you pull them out. (Yes... my cupholders are dirty because they use to have coins in both of them.) Cupholders with screws are pictured here:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/829000-829999/829887_34.jpg (http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/829000-829999/829887_34_full.jpg)

Now clean out your armest compartment thingy. I took out all my CD's and such, and then take the rubber mat thing out. Take out the 2 bolts in there, they are 10mm bolts. Pictured here:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/829000-829999/829887_33.jpg (http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/829000-829999/829887_33_full.jpg)

Now that you've completely unbolted the center console, go ahead and remove the Bezel around the cd player/ignition. What I did was put my fingers underneath the bezel, and pulled toward me, and it popped off one side, and the little round piece around the ignition hit me. Dont worry about that, just put it aside. now just work your way around the sides of the bezel and remove it. Dont pull it too much. There are 3 different plugs to remove. 1) The cigarette lighter (easy, just push down on the tab in the center) 2) The hazzard lights. (Easy aswell.. push down on the tab with a screwdriver.) 3) Traction Control (No tab to push down, use a flathead screwdriver and pull up on the green tab part and slide plug out) Here's a picture here:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/829000-829999/829887_35.jpg (http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/829000-829999/829887_35_full.jpg)

Now just pull the cupholder part out of there. Thats very easy. No need for pictures on this one.


Now there's 2 more bolts you will have to remove. I believe they are 7mm bolts, or else 10mm. They're right beside the plastic panel as pictured here:

<No Pictures Yet>

Now remove the little ring around the shifter. Use a flathead screwdriver and pull up, evenly, around all sides. there's 4 areas, and will make lots of clicking sounds as pulling up. Picture of it removed here:

<No Pictures Yet>

Now remove the center console! Turn the car on, put you foot on the brake and put into Drive so you can pull the center console off. You will also have to pull up on the E-brake, and before that, slide the E-brake boot over the handle. start pulling it out. Be VERY careful. Picture of the center console, bezel, and cup holders removed here:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/829000-829999/829887_36.jpg (http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/829000-829999/829887_36_full.jpg)

Now, your done. Good job :) Go paint/remove more stuff... whatever it is, that you wanted to have that removed. And yes... I did vacuum my car!

*Will update pictures after*