I've broken it.....

[Shugmonkey]

Hi all,

in a recent fit of rage I slammed down the centre dashboard console lid and jammed a sweet packet in it.
I couldn't open it for love nor money so I forced the lid up and....bang....I broke the catch mechanism.

Anyone got any ideas how to fix the catch, replace the whole assemble or anything to stop SWMBO moaning at me as the lid is now permanantly in the up position.

thanks

Jason

 

[markandcath]

Funny you should start this thread, I just bought an Alhambra with a working but very tatty dash console. I have found, according to the dealer, that I must buy a whole console so I am currently trying to source one of a scrap Alhambra.

2 option will save us both money:

1) If you find a console I will buy yours of you because I have a working catch mech.
2) If I find one you can buy mine as the catch works so you can fix yours.

Seems to make more sense then both of us buying center consoles.

 

[roverlander]

Shugmonkey
There is currently one of these compartments on e bay under alhambra car parts. current price is £5.00 !

 

[engle]

A few years ago, one of my little darlings(!?) shut the earpiece cable for my mobile in the lid catch for the console, jamming it firmly shut.

I tried everything to try to ease it open, but had to concede defeat in the end. I ended up drilling a line of joined-up holes through the lid around the catch. This let me open it up to get the screws and roll pins out of the hinges to remove the lid and I could also then pull the phone cable out of the catch to release the little bit of lid I'd drilled off.

I seem to remember paying about £50 for a new lid, so £5 on ebay is a bargain. You CAN buy the lid rather than the whole box assembly from Seat - and also all the other bits like the roll pins, hinge arms etc as well - ask the parts department to go digging a little deeper and they'll find the list.

 

[markandcath]

Excellect news that we can get the individual components.

My dealer insist that "7M3 819 728 B" is the complete assy. and no individual parts are available. I have checked ETKA and it appears to say the same thing but if you could point us in the right direction it would be helpful.

Cheers.......

 

[engle]

I sold my Alhambra a couple of years ago (and still regret it in some ways, they're excellent cars) and all my receipts etc went with it, otherwise I could have given you the part numbers.

At the time, I looked through the parts system at my local dealer (in Chippenham, Wiltshire). Initially, they too claimed that the parts could only be bought as a complete assembly, but when I complained he asked that I leave it with him while he made a phone call or two. He obviously knew what he was doing!

If you can get the old one out, I think buying a replacement from a breakers may be just as simple an option as trying to get new parts, and cheaper too. Alternativley, try talking to your local VW dealer - the parts will be just the same and you may be more fortunate with the staff in their parts department.

I remember that the parts I bought (including the little roll pins) were individually packed in sealed bags and labelled with separate part numbers, so they can't have been split from a complete unit. I think the whole unit would have been just over £100 (this was maybe 4-5 years ago though).