[oskerb]

REFERNECE'S
http://www.escape-city.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=1120
http://www.escape-city.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=484
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3329314/3

(EXCUSE THE DETAIL SEQUENCE OF PICS, I WROTE THE WRITE UP AFTER THE PICS WHERE DONE SO I WROTE THIS TO BEST SUITE THE READER)
This is the write up for the center console and center cluster exchange.
1) Is to pull out the CENTER A/C vents. No trick to this, you that must be done is to get a good grip and pull straight out; this allows exposure to the upper bolt on the radio bezel.

2) Remove the power station (where the cigarette lighter is) same process as the AC VENTS. Get a good grip and then pull straight out. The trick here is slip your left thump in the socket and get a good grip with the other hand and pull straight out. This exposes the bolt bolts for the radio bezel.

3) Remove the bolts from the bezel and remove.
a. There will be connectors located on the back of the bezel that control the AC Remove those. The big one is the hardest and takes a big of muscle to pull out so be careful. The other is not so hard and requires a flip of a little handle located on it.

b. Make the switch from one bezel to the other.

4) Removing the ring from the shifter can be a little sketchy but look at the pic and be careful not to scratch the center console.

[

a. There are 4 tabs that hold it in try to pull on those sides to ensure a safe removal

5) Open the center console compartment and remove the center console bucket. This will allow for the center console to be removed. I placed myself on the driver side and got a good grip and pull straight up

6) Make the switch with the other console. By simply popping back in place.

7) While I had this open and don't have pics of; are the cables that are to run my sub and amp. Which I have ran but not yet found a place to secure the amp. But am currently enjoying.

8) Run everything backwards to reassemble

I have been trying to change or black out everything on the center console to piano black. But have been running into a lot of impedance. Being that I had to turn to spray painting the radio bezel, door handles and if I don't find the CENTER AC VENTS I will spray paint that as well. But the AC VENTS have a lot of curves and a lot of angles. SO this makes it harder to spray paint and give it an even coat. In order to give it the piano black look, one must give a generous coat of paint. Too much and then dripping occurs and uneven settling especially in the corners where it pits. It would make a small puddle.

 

[mentalcase]

Where did you get all the parts and how much did they cost you? I want to do this so bad to my the exterior of my car.

 

[oskerb]

Where did you get all the parts and how much did they cost you? I want to do this so bad to my the exterior of my car.

Haha I quess you meant interior, if so the cost for all that was explained, was in total $80. $35 for the center console on eBay, $30 for radio dash kit which came in flat black from crutchfield when i bought my stereo, $15 for 3 cans of good glossy spray paint, and the time that it will take you to make it happen.

The reason I bought a new console from ebay was for the fact that the console takes a beating from day to day. And to spray paint it wouldnt be able to take the abuse of everyday use so well.

 

[mentalcase]

I meant to say match my exterior. Man I just took a look on ebay and one place is selling the whole center console not just the center piece. I could probably just take all the pieces to an auto body shop too. Probably wouldn't cost me too much.

 

[oskerb]

I meant to say match my exterior. Man I just took a look on ebay and one place is selling the whole center console not just the center piece. I could probably just take all the pieces to an auto body shop too. Probably wouldn't cost me too much.

http://www.escape-city.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=4926

If you take a look at this post you can see the part # that were given to me by OPICHURIS im mean TANG. Go to the dealership and see if thats an option if not then yeah take it to a auot body and have then paint it for you. Dont know what it would it would cost.

 

[herbie hancock]

Hey buddy. What kind of paint did you use to get the glossy piano black look. Just regular old high gloss spray paint or somthing special?? Im going to have to do the same thing to my dash kit as i just got my escape with the SAP and im putting in a double din radio.

thanks

 

[oskerb]

Hey Pal I used RUSTOLEUM UNIVERSAL ADVANCED FORMULA of course in glossy black. Honestly I think there might be a better product out there, but I went to LOWES (hardware store) and bought the most expensive product they had. The end product was great, nothing to complain about. As long as one knows how to spray paint it will be fine.

 

[mentalcase]

Did you ever get this finished? I just got the center console piece from tang and I cant wait to paint everything else. Im wondering if i could use a clear coat to give it a nice finish.

 

[oskerb]

As a matter of fact i am almost done. I painted the ac Vents and just need to give it one more coat and intall it. I also bought clear coat but i am gonna test it on the door handles first, before i go for the center pieces.

Did you install yours

 

[mentalcase]

Na. I just received the center console, but my car has been in the shop since monday getting its tranny rebuilt. So im stuck staring at the piece on my couch. Did you paint everything or did you buy some of the pieces?

 

[tang]

Na. I just received the center console, but my car has been in the shop since monday getting its tranny rebuilt. So im stuck staring at the piece on my couch. Did you paint everything or did you buy some of the pieces?

a TRANSMISSION REBUILD? How did you manage that?

 

[oskerb]

I just bought the center console and painted the bezel, ac vents, cigarette outlet, and door handles.

 

[mentalcase]

Na. I just received the center console, but my car has been in the shop since monday getting its tranny rebuilt. So im stuck staring at the piece on my couch. Did you paint everything or did you buy some of the pieces?

a TRANSMISSION REBUILD? How did you manage that?

Don't even get me started. Car was running rough and stalling at idle. Brought it into the dealer and they said it was a sensor inside the transmission which to get at they would have to essentially rebuild it. I was supposed to get it back thursday. Here we are saturday and I should maybe get it back monday. ughhhh.

Oskerb: Do do you have any updated pictures? I'm interested to see how the ac vents came out.

 

[tang]

I'm surprised they just didn't, you know, put a new one in there.

 

[oskerb]

I just got back to town, but I just noticed that i have to give one part on the AC trim another coat as I found a paint bubble. BUt I will post pics as soon as possible , probably mid week.

 

[oskerb]

I know I said I would have pics up but turns out that part of the ends of the AC vent that I painted wrinkled during drying so have to sand and repaint the whole thing again.

 

[oskerb]

Finally got to it and have everything spray painted and installed. Minus any cleat coat. I will get to clear coat the door handles soon and the rest of the console, if and only if the clear coat on the door handles are looking good. Here is a pic of the center console area I will post more pics soon this week, to include the door handles and a better pic of the center console.

 

[Colleen]

Osker, it looks fantastic!! :thumb: :clap: :clap:

 

[US MARINER 1]

WOW! it looks great. How long did it take to dry up?

 

[YouKnowMyName]

Thank you, I just bought the Scoshe dask trim and it doesn't match the Piano Black, Was goign to attempt this my self on that piece. Glad to know it can turn out so well.