Greg5OH

I need to get access to the front cigarette tray. How do I go about getting to it? Im always afraid of taking trim pieces apart because they never seem to go back together quite as nice..

Also, the seatbacks-one or two clips is broken on the inside so I would like to remove and rapir them. Again-any tricks tog etting them off in 1 piece?

LScowboyLS

Taking apart trim requires finesse and experience.

At the Lexus dealership, we had "trim specialists", they have the "touch" which is the perfect balance of being quite gentle, yet simultaneously aggressive enough to get the trim apart, yet without breaking it.

I am getting better at it, but it took a lot of practice and a lot of broken pieces (and profanity) along the way, it helps once you learn the fastening systems Toyota uses and the Japanese fastening mentality in general, then you sort of get an "X-ray vision" and can predict where the hidden fasteners are and how they separate, even in blind areas.

I feel your pain!

Greg5OH

i saw online they had new clips for Gm, topyota and some otehr brand. fits all models 2000 and up. little buttons with a pin on the end. Any idea iof they work on a 2000 ls?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/20-Pcs-GM-88...-/360806626947

is it different/better than these?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/50-for-Toyot...-/281218388832

LScowboyLS

not sure, but the Lexus dealership will have them, though a small Lexus dealership may have to order them in for you, takes a day or two, usually - or you can order from an online Lexus dealership such as Sewell Lexus, Park Place, Lexus of South Atlanta, Lexus Parts Now, etc.

Greg5OH

Im all for using OEM where necessary (water pumps, idler bearings etc), really dont think there is much difference in using OEM clips vs these ones (whichever they are). Afterall, somebody makes them for Lexus.

My question was kind of silly, as really I should pull the panel off, then see what kind of clips it takes. Replace with new ones and it should fit back like original! I know the door cards where the child lock is needs some new clips for sure.

sha4000

iTrader: (1)

Those look like the same clips except the ones on my door are all red. I actually have every last panel inside my car as well as seats and carpet out of the car right now.

LScowboyLS

I would have to strongly disagree, there is a huge difference in cheap Chinese no-name trim clips and the factory Japanese clips! - Yes, Toyota does buy them from someone, some company in Japan that neither you nor I have any access to, and would be hard pressed to even discover the identity of.

- use the factory clips if you don't want additional headaches that you really don't need and didn't have to have! - They aren't very expensive in the whole scheme of things, how many did you break?

Trim is enough of a pain without asking for more problems than you already have, c'mon, man!

Kansas

What's a cigarette tray?

I put a PDF in the following thread on how to remove the radio from a 98-00 LS400 - maybe that will help: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/7653731-post10.html

The interiors of all vehicles made by Toyota whether they be branded Toyota, Scion or Lexus are held together with the same type of fasteners - easier to disassemble than other car brands I've had.