Hello all,
I am trying to remove the broken overhead console bracket and have removed everything but the three electrical connectors that slide on to three separate flat copper tabs. There is enough play in them that I can't help but think that there is a button on the connector which allows me to release it (as is on most electrical connectors), but I can't find it. I've searched the forum, but the closest I came was someone who just ended up breaking the taps off.

Thanks in advance.

 

Jap,

I've done this job a long time ago to fix a droppy overhead console and I don't remember any problems with the electrical connectors just sliding off the tabs "along" the mount. Maybe just a small shot of lubricant is needed to help release them. Is there any evidence that someone has been in there before and glued them?

 

Thanks for the reply David. No, there is no evidence of someone gluing them. There is a bit of play between the plastic and the metal tab which leads me to think I'm missing something about how to release them. Are you saying that they should just slide off and that they are not "clipped on" in some fashion?

 

Jap,

Sorry, I don't remember any sort of fixing clips for those electrical overhead connectors. Looking closely at your picture, I see a metal fixing just above it that looks screwed in. Are the connectors clipped into that or a plastic tabs on the main bracket?

If you're really worried, you can always cut the wires and leave the connectors insitu .... with enough length to re-solder them.

 

They just slide on/off. Had mine apart a few weeks ago, I just used a flat blade screwdriver to apply pressure in the direction I wanted them to slide.

 

Speculating here as I no longer have an XK8 to be able to go and see.

This looks like a slot (arrowed) in the lower half of the connector and if so, there's should be a raised section on the other half of the connector that engages with it to lock the halves together. Likely to be one on the opposite side too.




A small flat bladed screwdriver pushed into the right hand side should lift it clear and allow you to separate the halves.

Graham

 

The metal tabs that the connectors clip onto ( I believe they definitely clip somehow) appear to have some sort of rivet holding them to the console bracket. At first glance they look like screw heads, but they're not.

I think it may be a bit much to do all that soldering over head. I'm going to see if any of the local repair guys have any "free" advice about removing them.

Thanks again David. If I find out anything I'll post here.

 

I think you're on to something here Graham. This same slot is on both sides which makes it difficult to depress simultaneously. But if what you're thinking is true, then I suspect these yellow connectors stay on the bracket and the male group of wires unhooks allowing me to get the whole bracket out.

What complicates this further is that the 3rd connector (which I haven't photographed) has four of these slots! I shall have to organize a team of "tab depressors" to squeeze into the front seats of my coupe, press simultaneously while the 5th member of my team removes the connector.

Aren't I brilliant!?

 

So, as it turns out David and Darbysan were right. Although there is a little bump in the the yellow connector that fits into the copper tab, you basically just force it to slide off. This took enough force that I further broke my already damaged console bracket, but there was no "release" button which allowed me to just slide them off.

Thanks for your input everyone.