Center console removal on convertible

[dixie600mhz]

I'm having a hard time removing the center console on my wifes 2006 new beetle convertible. I've followed the factory manual but I can't get the plastic console to clear the ebrake handle. The goal is to fix the tiptronic magnets. I have the problem where all of the gears are illuminated under the speedo. It seems like its a common problem for the shifter magnets to move and need to be glued. In order to do that I need to remove the center console and its not co-operating. My best guess is that I need to really slacken the ebrake to get the handle high enough to slip the console over it?

Any advice would be appreciated.

[Deserion]

Are you referring to the plastic cover or the actual metal handle?

[dixie600mhz]

I am actually trying to remove the whole center console (the 2 1/2 foot long plastic piece) but can't get it off past the ebrake lever. I can successfully get the plastic handle removed from the ebrake handle but I still can't get enough clearance to pull the center console over the remaining metal part of the handle. I need to work on the shifter so the whole plastic center console needs to come out of the car. My best guess is that I need to adjust the ebrake handle loose enough so that its pretty much straight up when engaged. That should allow the console to slide up over it.

[boogety boogety]

Have you removed the armrest? IIRC, the side panels on each side, the ones with the round part that hides the armrest hinge, pop out, with the help of a screwdriver or some other flat persuader: then (and you seem to be pretty handy, so I have no fear you'll foul this up), you can puzzle out the various attachments to remove it from the rear. I put in a hidden double power plug inside my armrest (for my cell phones recharging) and had to engineer a solution to the power cord not binding or chafing with armrest up/down movement, but it's been three-four years since I did it... but it wasn't difficult at all.

[oceanjoe89]

let me know how you get on with this...

i, too, have the whole magnet saga and have been putting off getting it fixed.

keep us posted!

[dixie600mhz]

It just turned out that you need to really slacken off the ebrake adjustment nut at the rear of the console so that the handle comes up at a steep enough angle to let the console lift over it. The nut is at the base of the handle and needs a 10mm wrench. My tiptronic magnets had unclipped just like the tech bulletin suggested. I pushed the self locking plastic magnet holder back into position once I had access to it. Now the lights on the dash are gone.

[hake0305]

Hello,

Was the issue with your tiptronic magnets causing the car to not go into the select shift mode?

I am currently having that issue, sometimes it goes to select shift, other times it doesn't. Would correcting this magnet issue in the center console potentially fix this issue?

Also, what dash light was on that this correction fixed?

Thanks for any help you can give!

[wycheguy]

All,
I know I'm coming in this late, but I just encountered the same problem. Could you take pictures of all of the mount points or create a tutorial?

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Got to know the console you have. At least three. You haven't indicated your year and model through your User CP. Sorry, but you may not know that, and we're not mind readers.

MORAV

[TimG]

Thanks for the heads up on the ebrake issue.I'm goin to work on this same problem this weekend.
I just repaired the seatbelt switch last weekend,
the front window regulator last month.