Stanley
1st Gear Poster
Is there a video or image guide to removing the 1997 Thunderbird cup holder? Mine is making an incredibly annoying squeak and I want to get under there to see about solving it, without damaging the precious thing.
Console top removal
- Thread starter Stanley
- Start date
There are two phillips head screws behind the top that are visible when you open the lid, with those removed it's simply snapped into the console. Use your fingers and slide them back to front under the seams and the clips will pop one by one as you reach the dash, there's two on each side. From there it comes out, you have to move the shifter back too.
I've found the coin holders are a little noisy, but it also helps to line the edges of the console where they contact (only where it wont be visible) with felt tape.
Stanley
1st Gear Poster
That did the trick. Thanks!
Grog6
Moderator
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2023
- Messages
- 1,756
- Location
- Harriman, TN
- Vehicle Details
- 2x 1996 Cougars, 1997 Tbird 4.6's all.
I have a97 one, that's going into the red cougar, but I haven't installed it yet. There's a tube to the heater vents on the back of the console that is unique to the 97, the 96 one won't fit under it.
1997ThunderbirdLXV6
Seasoned Veteran Poster
That's why any junkyards crawlers should always pick up the duct if they pick up the cupholder.
Alternatively, some folks just cut a piece out of the pre-97 duct. Those vents only work in "FLOOR" if I remember correctly, and very little air comes out of there anyway.
Those 97 ducts are pretty easy to find.
xlitefighter
Newbie
So is it really possible to cut down the air tube and have it still function at a reduced capacity when changing to the cupholder top on an earlier model?
Sure, it's basically just a notch you'd have to cut into it, then to keep airflow from pouring into the console just cover/shape it with duct tape. Not pretty, but it's out of sight out of mind
1997ThunderbirdLXV6
Seasoned Veteran Poster
True, but...the '97 ducts are easy find and easy to install.
Relative... You have way more MN12's showing up to be scavenged than I do in my area.
Yeah but if you bought a top online and didn't get the airtube with it it's a perfectly acceptable way to make it work. They're not easy to find around here anymore, I found 2 MN12s in the greater Chicago area junkyards this year!
(ironically both 97s I more ironically specifically pulled consoles from, but that's beside the point lol)
Especially on an actual duct!
