Gen III loose map light console

I have been reading all the posts about map light consoles for the Gen III and did not get a good feel how mine in particular was removed. I find that the version I have is not the one with the circular looking controls but just a slide switch.

Anyhow, the front cover piece is only attached with two snaps and the main overhead console has 4 snaps so really all that needed to be done to remove it is to get a hold of the console with your finger (around the edges) and pull down hard. Feels like you might break something but you just have to apply enough force to get it removed. As a precaution, I removed the plastic map light lenses (the ones where the covers act as the push switches).

Now the main question. I did this to get to a ground point while installing a HomeLink/autodimming mirror. When I put the clips back into position and pushed the console back in place, I now find that there is a visible gap between the head liner and the back portion of the console. Is this a common result for all such installations? I took it apart again and find that the clips mount into a metal flange that is only secured on the front forward facing section. The back half of the flange is free floating and has two little rubber bumpers mounted to the floating two corners so it does not contact the sheet metal which I assume is the metal roof of the car. I think when one pulls down on the console to release the clips from the metal flange, it bends it down so that it distorts it and in my case, I see at least a 1/8 gap between plastic lip of the console and headliner.

Looks really poor fit finish now. Anyone have a solution??

 

Thanks 32k.

Geez, that is a bit disappointing to hear. I thought about putting some super glue on the rubber bumper and on another foam piece that seems to rest on the edge and middle of the floating end of the metal flange. I can tell there is a gap in these two places and if they were snug against the metal flange, it would take up the slack. Also one other thought was to somehow adjust/reduce the height of the snaps..., hmmm.

If anyone else has any suggestions or solution, please chime in.

 

Well, I went to the dealer today and ordered a few of the replacement snaps. I thought the ones in the kick panel were shorter than those found on the map light console but they appear to have the same part number. Funny that they are blue in color instead of the opaque white. Will give it a try and see what happens. Maybe with the new ones, I can afford to mod the old ones and make them shorter?

Will give you an update from what I find. Any other takers out there? Still please chime in if you have any good ideas.

Thanks.