Liquid spill into console shift area

[GerryM]

I knew I shouldn't have done it but I let my 19 year old nephew borrow my 2012 Expedition Limited to go to the movies one night and he spilled a 20 oz soda on the center console in the area of the gear shift. I couldnt figure out how to get the console apart so we cleaned it up as best we could and now when I try to change gears you can tell the soda syrup is adhering to the plastic around the shift and sticks a bit.
Any suggestions on how to clean the remnants from the area. I didnt want to try anything that could damage the plastic so I figure I would post here and see if anyone had any ideas.

Best regards
GerryM

 

[VTfireftr]

The good news is that there are no special tools needed.

The bad news is it's soda.

All you have to do is remove the "chrome" surrounds by prying them up. Then just pry up the rest of the console after removing the screw under the rubber mat in the recessed area of the console.

Go to Havis.com. Follow the links to products, then to consoles, then to vehicle specific, and then find the Expedition installation instructions. These directions should help you out. Hopefully this link works: http://www.havis.com/data/1-Mountin...VS-1200-EXPD-1/C-VS-1200-EXPD-1_INST_6-09.pdf

Have fun.

 

[rexster314]

Use great caution prying the chrome trim up, especially around the cup holders. If you have or can get hold of some of the hard nylon tools designed for this, it will make the job easier.

 

[RI-Matt]

There is no reason to remove the chrome around the cupholders, it doesnt hold anything together.

You only need to remove the chrome around the shifter, the black rubber tray to access and remove the bolt, and then carefully pry up the bezel.

You can GENTLY pry the shifter shrouds off the handle, then there are 4 clips that hold the selector ( PRND321 ) bezel, careful removing that, then you will have access to the insides of the slide piece to clean out. You will have to unplug two connectors for the shift lighting and T/H switch also.

Matt