The ash tray cover on my 2003 works intermittently, so times.it won't close other times like now it won't open. Does anyone have a repair for this irritating little problem?

 

Quit smoking?


Might be that the catch is sticky. First thing to try would be to lubricate it and then exercising a bit to work it in. Or if it is really bad you might remove the mechanism from the car and spray it down with MAF cleaner, electrical contact cleaner or some other plastic safe solvent before lubricating thoroughly.

It happens to sit immediately under the useless cup holder so if it got filled up with soda / coffee / whatever it would not be too surprising.

 

I don't smoke so I can't quit, I just have this thing about "stuff" that should work but doesn't. The MAF cleaner idea is a good one which I'll try as the mechanism seems to work smoothly once you get it to move, so I don't think anything is broken.
Thanks for your suggestion.