Cupholder fell through console! Weird!!!

[Alwaysthinkin]

buy a new console

you can buy a secondhand console or try to fix it

Not sure what you are trying to say? Do you find it acceptable new vehicles are having this problem? Think most are frustrated with quality and are expressing concern at some of the "short cuts" or lack of quality control during manufacturing. Also, curious what your ride is?

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

This kind of quality is reminiscent of an early 2000s Kia.

 

[heavyduty]

Not sure what you are trying to say? Do you find it acceptable new vehicles are having this problem? Think most are frustrated with quality and are expressing concern at some of the "short cuts" or lack of quality control during manufacturing. Also, curious what your ride is?

I am saying that u can buy a used console for your car
its acceptable that new vehicles are having this problem because of low quality
its the same with my truck also

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

I am saying that u can buy a used console for your car
its acceptable that new vehicles are having this problem because of low quality
its the same with my truck also

I disagree 100%. The Expedition runs approximately $55-80K depending on trim level. Even at the bottom of that price range, no one should have to deal with interior quality so poor that the cupholder won't even do the one and only job it has.

 

[expeditiondriver]

Just happened to mine. Not at all acceptable.

First thought was to drive to Lexus and swap because why was I dumb enough to buy a Ford.

 

[Don Hall]

@rob4092xx or @aporthole

Can one of you post a picture of the failure so we can better understand it?

Yeah.....what's a cup holder?

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

Just happened to mine. Not at all acceptable.

First thought was to drive to Lexus and swap because why was I dumb enough to buy a Ford.

I've been feeling that way for years. I really like my Expedition, but it hasn't been good to me.

 

[Meeker]

Happened to me as well about 2 weeks ago. Brought it in yesterday. Tech didn't even try to disassemble the console or anything, just said "yeah it's broken - need to replace" and I now have a quote of $630 to fix (granted that's in Canadian Loonies, so a mere US$500). I haven't seen anyone answer 5280tunage when he asked how hard it is to fix... searching for videos I found exactly one that shows lifting the upper console piece off (but it's not the Expy console so hopefully it works on my 2018 XLT). I'd like to explore fixing it somehow before buying a new one that'll just do it again... anyone who has done this have any tips? Were these bottoms actually glued on originally, or were they clipped on somehow?

Oh, and yes, that is my last visit to that dealership for service. Long sad story about the rapid decline of a once-good company...
And I also agree with the statements about this being a very poor design.

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

JB Weld makes a structural epoxy that I have used in gym equipment repair with great success. I'd probably give that a shot if I was facing this problem.

 

[expeditiondriver]

Oh, and yes, that is my last visit to that dealership for service. Long sad story about the rapid decline of a once-good company...

I was relieved when my warranty finally ran out (mileage) because I don’t have to deal with the absolute idiots at the Ford dealer anymore. Great truck overall and I really enjoy it, but the Ford dealer service department is like visiting with some primitive tribe that hasn’t even discovered structured language yet. I could just keep writing and writing and writing about how terrible (stupid, rude, etc.) they are.

 

[expeditiondriver]

JB Weld makes a structural epoxy that I have used in gym equipment repair with great success. I'd probably give that a shot if I was facing this problem.

This is a good idea.

 

[rob4092xx]

Turns out to be an easy fix even though I didn't do it. The service writer at my dealership did it in the Service Entrance Lane. He pulled up the center console (only tabs hold it in), and put everything back in place, Took him less than five minutes and no tools. Try lifting your center console up (takes a few jerks to release the tabs) and look underneath. He said it is easy to see how to put it back together. Told me he has seen this many times on the Expy. BTW....warranty will not cover it!

 

[5280tunage]

Turns out to be an easy fix even though I didn't do it. The service writer at my dealership did it in the Service Entrance Lane. He pulled up the center console (only tabs hold it in), and put everything back in place, Took him less than five minutes and no tools. Try lifting your center console up (takes a few jerks to release the tabs) and look underneath. He said it is easy to see how to put it back together. Told me he has seen this many times on the Expy. BTW....warranty will not cover it!

Dang, wish you had some pics or videos. When you say pull up on the center console, the entire unit or the plastic that surrounds the cup holder (with the gear selector, etc on it)? Seems like some of us could really ***** some stuff up just pulling up on parts. There no way the entire assembly is just clamps, since I've already removed screws in the console to do the storage compartment work.

Also, same procedure for the platinum vs. say xlt? Can't recall if they both have the little door that hides the cup holders.

 

[DWs-TTEB]

Limited & Plti's have the door that hides the cup holders. XLTs have a slot & 2 exposed cup holders

 

[Trainmaster]

Hidden cup holders? As in secret? Wow!

 

[5280tunage]

Limited & Plti's have the door that hides the cup holders. XLTs have a slot & 2 exposed cup holders

Exactly, so I'm wondering if the repair process is any different.

 

[wakeboarder]

Turns out to be an easy fix even though I didn't do it. The service writer at my dealership did it in the Service Entrance Lane. He pulled up the center console (only tabs hold it in), and put everything back in place, Took him less than five minutes and no tools. Try lifting your center console up (takes a few jerks to release the tabs) and look underneath. He said it is easy to see how to put it back together. Told me he has seen this many times on the Expy. BTW....warranty will not cover it!

I think the bottom is held up by the 4 side fingers that hold the cups in place.

 

[rob4092xx]

He pulled up the entire panel that the gear selector switch, cup holders, etc., fits in.

 

[Meeker]

Turns out this is probably not the disaster you think. In my case, the damage was that all the plastic pins that hold the bases onto the two cup holders had broken, and the clear plastic "light guide" had broken in half.

I've repaired mine - mostly. 2 things might still go wrong for me:
- I used "Clear Gorilla Glue" which I now believe is the wrong product to glue ABS plastic. Find something specifically for ABS if you do this...
- The dealer seems to have removed the clear elastic band that holds the cup fingers in place (grrrrr). So I daisy-chained some standard elastics, but those deteriorate quickly. I ordered a 3.6mm/0.14" diameter surgical tubing to replace them when they break. https://www.amazon.ca/Emerald-Replacement-Shooting-Slingshot-Catapult/dp/B0725C4GQH

Here's the walkthrough for those who would rather not pay the dealer:
1) Open the console, and pull up on the rear of the front console cover at the bottom of the "leather". The clips are made to pull up fairly easily, so you shouldn't have to pull really hard. Once the clips let go, slide it backwards to get the front clear of the dash.
2) Disconnect the 5 (at least in my case) connectors (Gear Selector, Drive Mode, 2 x LEDs for cup holders, and the secret key compartment thing).
3) Carry it (and all the loose pieces) to a convenient spot, and remove the 6 screws holding the cup holder assembly to the console cover.

4) Might as well clean everything at this point.
5) Arrange the light guides and the cup holders - ensure the secret key thing is going to end up in the front cup holder. There is a foam block on one side of the cup holder assembly (seems to hold the elastic in place) - on my console it was on the centre side of the cup holders when installed, as opposed to the passenger side edge. I test fit everything to make sure I wasn't ******** up.
6) Glue the bottoms to the cup holder assembly on the side tabs. I used paper clips and clamps to apply pressure and let them sit 4 hours.
(Photo taken before I added the paper clips to clamp the side tabs together)
7) Run the elastic(s) through all the guides so that the fingers are in the right place.

8) ***** the assembly back on the cover.

9) Plug everything back in and slide it under the dash, and push down on the back to reseat the clips.
10) Forbid everyone from forcing large heavy water bottles into the cup holders...

 

[Meeker]

Dang, wish you had some pics or videos. When you say pull up on the center console, the entire unit or the plastic that surrounds the cup holder (with the gear selector, etc on it)? Seems like some of us could really ***** some stuff up just pulling up on parts. There no way the entire assembly is just clamps, since I've already removed screws in the console to do the storage compartment work.

Also, same procedure for the platinum vs. say xlt? Can't recall if they both have the little door that hides the cup holders.

This is what the cover looks like from the top - I believe it's functionally the same for all the trim levels (i.e. you remove it the same way).

No screws holding it in place!