Need help removing dash trim piece

Can't for the life of me get this piece out. It's the little trim piece directly to the passenger side of the e-brake handle.

As you can see there was a screw at the top and a bolt that went through both the trim piece under the steering column and this one. If I put my hand behind that piece (and the black trim piece that surrounds the stereo et al) I don't feel anything. Yet it is really in there.

I don't want to force it too much because that black trim is a $95 piece of plastic and I'd imagine this little stuck bastid is expensive too.

Has anyone removed that and remember how they did?

 

I quickly scanned this article. It looks like it has what you need...

http://www.customtacos.com/tech/index.php?article=77

 

Thanks for the help but that does not go into how to remove the piece I want out.

Looking at the parts list, it doesn't show how to remove it either.

(page 18, right column, part 19 in the diagram)

 

Shoot sorry man! Thought it was step 8. If I were you, I'd remove the radio surround to poke around to see if there's any extra screws or hidden clips.

What are you trying to access?

 

Lose the stereo plate and you'll be able to remove it....

 

Trying to remove it to paint it.

Crap, I was hoping that wasn't the case. For some reason I'm not psyched to remove that $95 piece of plastic.

 

It easy... About 4-8 screws and pop of ya don't have to pull it all the way off just lose it on the driver side a bit...

 

In my 1998 do I have to remove the fan and climate temp switch/knobs?

In that CT write up it also says I have to remove the AC button.

I'm scuuurred

 

Knobs yes... They pull right out.

Edit: Yes you need to pull AC button. Ugh getting confused with years.

 

Got it.

Just removed the climate control face plate. Popped the driver's side screw out, removed the screw under the ashtray and was able to pull the driver's side of the stereo face plate out far enough to remove that trim piece (which has two retainer clips shown below)

Thanks guys!

 

Dont be scared man. It's really simple. Just take your time and pull from the clip areas to give you the most leverage.

 

Nice!

 

While I was at it, I just pulled the whole stereo plate out and fixed my cigarette lighter.

Every time I pulled an 12v plug out of it, my entire cigarette lighter would come out. There is a sleeve that clips onto the back of it. Just put it back in place.

That was only 13 years in the making.