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[guncharmer]

Hello,i plugged one of those little electric tyre inflators/compressors  into the cigarette lighter socket in the large ashtray in the bottom of the centre console,applied too much pressure and messed up the mechanism(went extremely stiff afterwards).Not to be beaten i wiggled and pushed until i heard what sounded like something snapping.Bottom line is it travels smoothly but wont lock into place closed. The question is do i need to remove it to inspect the mechanism and if so how do i do it?This is spoiling my very fine car,if it needs the whole unit it will get one.

[waspy]

For the mean time (until you fix or get a new one).
Fold up some paper & shove it in the gap, keeps it closed for now & it doesn't look an eye sore.
Blue tac is also good 

[guncharmer]

First thing i felt i must do,so when i get in now it annoys me i cant just prod it and make it pop out!
If i was tackling it without advice it seemed maybe i had to remove the radio etc.,so i thought whoah,ask the experts!

[joshwyatt]

Take out the insert thing that you would put ash in, and you'll see a screw at the back...take that out and the ashtray will come out. You'll need to buy a replacement, unclip the front cover as yours will be the silver effect one and transfer that one to the new ashtray you get.

[mudflap]

For the mean time (until you fix or get a new one).
Fold up some paper & shove it in the gap, keeps it closed for now & it doesn't look an eye sore.
Blue tac is also good 

funny they still have ash trays in cars as one could technically be done for DWDCAA ...can  any PC's confirm this?   The "cigar lighter" still has  many uses of course, including sat nav power.

CD Pete i miss your "peach" avatar...petition needed to restore it!   

[unlucky mark mv6]

Hello,i plugged one of those little electric tyre inflators/compressors  into the cigarette lighter socket in the large ashtray in the bottom of the centre console,applied too much pressure and messed up the mechanism(went extremely stiff afterwards).Not to be beaten i wiggled and pushed until i heard what sounded like something snapping.Bottom line is it travels smoothly but wont lock into place closed. The question is do i need to remove it to inspect the mechanism and if so how do i do it?This is spoiling my very fine car,if it needs the whole unit it will get one.

Ive got a spare grey one here mate off a pre face,but not sure if they are the same though if interested.

[Merlindriver]

Take out the insert thing that you would put ash in, and you'll see a screw at the back...take that out and the ashtray will come out. You'll need to buy a replacement, unclip the front cover as yours will be the silver effect one and transfer that one to the new ashtray you get.

Not necessarily as it depends where it's broken.  It's most likely to be the little arm at the side and you can't just superglue it because it won't be strong enough.  However, it might be possible to glue it and once set add a reinforcing piece of plastic or strong wire superglued to the side.  Mine is still going strong after 3 years.

The problem is some of those adaptors are so damned tight - I run a lead from the back 12 socket under the console to a 4-way 12 adaptor screwed to the fuse cover under the steering wheel.

[guncharmer]

Many thanks for your replies,removed it this morning by finding the screw(thank you joshwyatt).  The silver  pin at the back that hooks into the retaining mechanism is broken out of its mountings and i have broken  bit of plastic that may well be the little arm that Merlindriver referred to. I have removed the MV6 facia from it and have declared the mechanism FUBAR. The mechanisms changed sometime in 2000 so am seeking another from 2000 onwards,thanks again for your help,regards.

[guncharmer]

Fixed! Found one on ebay(just the innards) for £24.99 plus £3.75 p+p and thought bloody hell!
Soldering iron out,plastic welded the silver retaining pin back in place,mechanism still stiff so specs on and found where the plastic arm/thing was from(it controls the lighter socket up and down motion),welded that back in place and it all wanted to work properly then.Tested loads of times before refitting and no problem,refitted and its gliding in and out like a good un.Reckon its probably worth another 5-10 H.P. Job sorted and thanks again for your help.