DonInBosto

Let me apologize first for being an idiot. I was fooling around with my 2000 Es300 cup holder on the console, looking for a place to hide a spare key (I know, how dumb are you?) and i set the key in the cup holder and closed it. Should I explain what happened next? You got it, it slipped into the underneath part of the console. Though I can get my fingers into the crease at the bottom of the console, no luck locating the key. I have removed the 4 screws on the side of the console and need assistance with how to remove the remaining screws if any. Any and all help is appreciated. Criticism is expected as long as you provide a solution

Lexucan

I would normally suggest doing a search on the topic but you just might be the first in CL history to hide a key in that particular location, so a search may come up cold.

Sorry - I just couldn't resist giving you a bit of a hard time

There are quite often hidden screws in locations such as the console and center stack. Hopefully, someone who owns a 3ES and is more familiar with that area will chime in and lend you some assistance.

One trick you might try is getting one of those magnets which is on the end of a long spring (most hardware stores sell them) and try probing around down at the bottom of that area where you fingers can't quite reach. You might come up lucky!

Good luck..and welcome to Club Lexus.

DonInBosto

Thanks for the reply. I managed to find the info to remove the console and it was necessary to find the key, along with various other odds and ends) that were victims of the old magic trick of the disappearing nickle. Small items left in the cup holder disappear as soon as you close it and apparently others didn't miss the items they lost..

imherenow

how did u do it. just in cae..

DonInBosto

It was quite simple. Removed the four (4) small screws from the sides, two (2) bolts inside the box, pried off the wood grain around the shift selector and removed the two (2) remaining screws. Slid the whole thing back a couple of inches so I didn't have to disconnect any wiring and the key + various debris was sitting in the middle just under the cup holder. Reversed the process and was done in a jiffy. While I was at it, I removed the shift selector bulb which needs replacement.

PFB

Sorry i didnt see your post sooner, but if you look closely at the inside front of the storage console, you will see a small pry-out access door. Once removed, you may have had easy access to your lost keys, and anything else that's in there.

No tools required, no need to dismantle anything.

Not sure what that little access opening is for, but maybe it's there specifically for dropped items. (lol)

DonInBosto

Will look into the suggestion before I lose anything again, Thanks!