My cigarette lighter and horn are not working. I'm pretty sure they're on the same fuse. I've checked my horn and it's wiring and it all looks ok. I think my cigarette wiring is shorted somewhere. The problem is I cannot get behind the lighter. I can get the center console (plastic piece around the shifter) off quite easily, but not the lighter/CD holder piece that is below the radio. I have '93 so it may be a little different.

How do I get this piece off to access the wiring back there? Thanks.

 

Either take out the entire console (three large bolts), or you can take a flathead screwdriver and pop out the rectangular panel that holds the cigarette lighter. The "panel" method would be the quickest, but removing the whole console would give you PLENTY of room to check the wiring...

 

So that small flat panel that holds the lighter pops out with a screw driver, that should help a lot. I was thinking of popping it off, but I was afraid of breaking it.

Is there any place online that can guide me through taking the whole console out, including around the guages. I also have to install a new fog light switch and this is all new to me.

 

Just be careful, there's like 4 little tabs that could be easily broken if you force it. As far as how to remove the whole thing:

There are 3 bolts holding the console in the car: 2 are inside the console, underneath the console lid; The 3rd bolt is in the space next to your cigarette lighter, where the car was supposedly designed to hold cassettes or some junk. Anyways, after removing those bolts, remove the shifter plate and shifter handle, if necessary. If it's an M6, you just twist the shifter ball of; if it's an A4, I'm pretty sure there's a retainer clip that you can pull out & allows you to remove the leather-wrapped handle. After you've got that completely off, pull your e-brake up, then just work the console up, down, back & forth until it slowly slips out. Wah-lah! Center console is gone! Installation is reverse of removal...

 

That tape cassete holder is attached to the main center console, right?

 

Yes.

 

Thank you. I got it all out, replaced the lighter with a new one and everything is fine.

Now I need to figure out how to replace the fogloight switch. Do I start by removing the 2 screws that hold the lower half of the dash around the steering wheel? It looks like if I remove the lower piece I'll be able to remove the upper half and get to the switch. Correct?

 

What's wrong with the switch?Is it broken?

 

Yes it is broken, it still flips up and down and the little light on the switch works, but no fog lights. The switch feels like a broken window switch, loose and not springy. So I think I just need to replace the switch, that worked for the windows in the past.

 

This might be a stupid reply. make sure your highbeam switch is not on high beam. if it is your little fog light switch light won't be on until you switch to low beam.

 

Definately not the high beams. I've replaced the bulbs, checked the fuses and wiring to no avail. The switch doesn't have the same action it used to. I just order a new switch today...a specialty order since it's discontinued. I guess they have to stop making them sooner or later.