Center Compartment Latch Repair

Squid · Mar 16, 2012

Mine just broke. I guess i wll try this. Crappy design pisses me off though.

2k6750 · Apr 19, 2012

I put this off for way too long. It was way too easy! Thanks for the write-up. Had mine done in about 10 min. Now the g/f won't complain anymore (about that anyway) haha. I love this site!

Squid · Apr 19, 2012

They don't even sell the latch alone. So I had them replace the whole lid under the warranty.

Cortland · May 22, 2012

subbed

mroy5050 · Jul 10, 2012

Just fixed the console latch on my '08 in 5 min thanks to you guys. Much appreciated.

jimmyjoe1975 · Jul 12, 2012

So for those of us who have not button...

Crom · Aug 8, 2012

I'm going to try this tonight. Mine broke spring disappeared...

firewrench · Aug 18, 2012

Just fixed mine today, but lost the spring. So for all who have the same problem, just use the spring from a click pen. Some are have close spirals and some are farther spead. Use the spring that's farther spead.

olgidni04 · Aug 21, 2012

Thanks for the instructions. I just repaired the latch and it was so simple - the pictures helped a lot. The hot Arizona sun and heat take a tremendous toll on the plastic parts on my 06 Tacoma.

Crom · Sep 1, 2012

After mine being broke for three weeks I finally found the time to fix it. I used a nail which I cut down with bolt cutters and a bench grinder to put a point on the cut down nail. It went in there good, so hopefully it stays in.

This being broken was driving me nuts.

Thanks to the OP and the gent, who posted pics.

Crom · Oct 10, 2012

Just to add to the knowledge base here I used nails. No time to go to the store to buy set screws and nails are free. I finally got the pictures online to share. The guy who used stiff wire gave me the idea. I cut the nails down to size with a bolt cutter. It worked perfectly and took about 5 minutes to do.

lilgerber · Oct 11, 2012

THANK YOU!!!!!!

TacoTurd · Mar 1, 2013

And yet another way: Hard drive mounting screws:

cooleronline · Jun 30, 2013

Thanks for post and the pics! The dealer wanted over $300 for the replacement part. Instead I spent $12.26 and 20 minutes on this repair. Works great.

Nixinus · Jun 30, 2013

Sub'd

duffman825 · Jul 24, 2013

Thanks for the help! Drilled 2 holes and used some stiff wire I had around and the latch is back in business. Love the free fixes!

DWreck · Aug 21, 2013

Well that was friggin easy. Did just as OP. thanks!

Khaos · Aug 29, 2013

This thread saved me a lot of frustration. Nothing more annoying than a center console that decides to open at random.

I used the stiff wire method, as I had some lying around. Spare spring was stolen from a bic mechanical pencil.

aztaco05 · Oct 26, 2013

proformance[OP] initial post: ↑

After having this latch fail on me (button falls out along with the spring), and going to the dealer only to find out I will be required to purchase a complete console for approx $250, I resolved the problem with no more than two 4-40 x 3/8" set screws. The cause of the failure is poor design. There are two very small plastic catch tangs on the top side of the latch button, which are molded into the button. These two tangs are intended to prevent the button from popping out. The catch tangs mate to two slots in the latch outer housing. As the button moves in and out, the tangs slide with in the mating slots. When these tangs wear down, they will no longer retain the button and the button pops out. To repair, you need to replace the tangs on the top side of the button with two set screw (one per tang).

How to fix:
Remove the interior (underside) of the center compartment lid. This will allow you access to the two screws that hold the latch housing in place. Remove the latch housing from the lid. With a scribe, scribe a line from one catch tang to the other (on center) on the top side of the button. This scribe line will be used later for locating holes. Now, scribe two perpendicular lines (on center to the tangs). This should provide you with the exact location of both tangs. Place the button back into the housing and verify your scribe line locations. They should be on center with the slots in the housing. (Re-scribe if they are not in the correct location) With a very smooth file (or sharp knife), remove the two catch tangs on the top side of the button. Do not file off the three scribe lines. Once the tangs are removed. Use your three scribe lines and re-mark the original tang locations.

Now, use an all (or snap punch) and create a center for your drill bit, so the drill bit will not walk off center as you begin to drill. Use a #47 drill bit (.078") and drill through the two tang locations. (Drill through the outer portion of the top of the button only.) Be sure to drill at a very slow speed so as not to auger out any additional material. Use a 4-40 tap and tap part way through the whole. Caution, DO NOT tap all the way through. We only want proper threads about 2/3rd of the way through the whole. Not tapping all the way through will allow the 4-40 set screw to have enough wall tension to not come loose in the future. Install the two 4-40 x 3/8" set screws into the tapped hole in the button. Because the #47 drill is undersized, and also because you did not tap all the way through, there will be significant wall tension which will cause material to will bulge up around the set screw holes as the screws are installed, this is good. Now, remove the set screws and gently file the off bulge. Fit the button back into the housing (without the set screws) to check fit. It must slide freely in and out. If it does not be sure you fully removed all bulging material around the set screw holes. Place the spring back in place over the center post, slide the button into the housing and re-install the set screws through the slots and into the button. Again, the set screws should have enough wall tension so as not to freely screw in and out. Screw the set screws in only as far as necessary, so as to have the top of the set screw flush with outer edge of the housing. If it is discovered during final assembly that the screws do not properly line up with the slots in the housing, causing the button to stick, disassemble and file open the width of the slots to allow the button to move in and out smoothly (remove only a minimal amount of material in this process). A little bit of friction is OK as the screws will eventually create their own clearance post several operations of the latch.
Note: If you have lost the compression spring, most hardware stores will have a selection. The spring fits over the center post inside the button and is very soft. Almost any soft spring will work provided it will compress far enough without coil bind and fits around the center post. The spring length can be cut to fit if it is to long.

Reinstall the latch (assembled) into the armrest lid with the two original retaining screws. Caution not over tighten as the lid is made from plastic and may strip the treads very easily. Reinstall the inside cover and check latch operation prior to closing the center compartment. If the latch does not operate freely, you have something assembled improperly. Disassemble, identify the problem, fix and reinstall.

Mine has worked great since I repaired it. It has seen several hundred opening and closings with no ill effects.

Good Luck
Click to expand...

I did this fix 6 months ago and its still working great, thank you Proformance. Took me an 1.5 hours to complete with no major issues.

howzitjoe · Dec 4, 2013

I just used the little nibs that were left for the location of where to drill the holes. I had a couple of small threaded hooks that I used after I had snipped off the hook part. Worked great, thanks to all the photos and posts by everyone to lead me in the right direction.

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Center Compartment Latch Repair

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#21
Squid Swollen Member

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Cortland THIS IS AMERICA!!!

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