I have a 2006 Lexus ES 330. I am trying to install the armrest lid on the center console. The original is heavily worn, and I purchased a salvage to replace it. I thought this would be simple. But after taking off the original, I don't see how to reinstall it. The original and the one I purchased are identical. If I had known it was this much trouble I would have been a lot more careful to to examine it before removing it and taken some pictures before removing it. Am I missing something obvious about this? I can't find any how-to videos anywhere. Any help would be appreciated. Even a picture from a properly installed lid showing the hinge portion inside the armrest of the lid with it open might be useful. Thanks in advance.

 

Is this what you bought?

http://vi.raptor.ebaydesc.com/ws/eBa...=1572569215753

You don’t remember how you took it off? Do you have any screws or empty screw holes you can go by?

 

Yeah, that's what it looks like.

 

Rob, take a closer look at it. I just changed mine as well and here's what I think may be throwing you off: Did you pull the part yourself or order it? If you didn't pull it yourself keep in mind that the part showing in the picture has the actual hinge still connected, which means it was disconnected from the center console part.
For example.. I just needed the lid because it was in better shape, so didn't need the whole assembly. I simply unscrewed both my old lid and the new one from where it attached to the hinge. Once removed, the hinge/connection point is just sticking up from the rear of the center console, awaiting only the lid. Maybe that is where you took your part off as well, but then when looking at a console lid with the whole hinge assembly attached it doesn't make visual sense because now you're looking at two hinges, one of which you don't need?

 

Here is a picture of the hinge. You can see the holes for the screws (only 4 screws). The hinge is attached to the center console.

This is an overhead picture of the hinge. You can see the metal bar is straight across and even with the screw holes.

Here is a picture of the original lid. You can see the screw holes are actually recessed into the lid. So what happens is the metal bar prevents the lid from seating into the hinge.

Thanks for the response, turtlepeas. Hopefully these pictures illustrate the problem. The holes in the hinge for the screws are straight across, but the holes in the lid are recessed. I don't see how to get the lid and the hinge to marry-up since the straight metal bar on the hinge does not allow the hinge holes to recess into the lid.

 

Lift the black backing away from the armrest padding and insert the hinge into the space. The new lid shows screw head marks and I see threads under there in your lid picture, so the hinge piece goes underneath the lid backing and your screws go through the visible lid backing, through the hinge and into the threaded holes inside the lid.

 

Thank you, Richardsr!. You are exactly right. For some reason I could just not see it. Ah! So the hinge goes under the lining. And I do see the screw head marks on the outer side of the lining. I did just as you described and was able to install the armrest lid! Hurray! So glad to have that done. I could not have done it without your kind help.

 

You’re welcome.

The screw head marks gave it away and then I “exploded” your picture and saw the female threads under there and it came together.

Cheers