Want to replace the cig lighter assembly this weekend and hope someone here can provide guidance on the best way to remove the console to do this job. I have an '82 Collector Edition.

 

I'm not too familiar with the '82 lay out but are you sure the console needs to be removed? You might want to purchase a GM shop manual for your year. It will pay you back many times over. Try the for sale forum here or EBay for used, or Helm, Inc for new. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

 

take the side panels off (screws in front, middle, and back).
take out mounting screws on side (1 in front, 1 in the rear)
take out 2 screws in back (attach EB console to center console)
lift off center console being careful about things plugged in (heater, etc). That's all there is to it.

 

You may be able to get replace the lighter, without completely removing the console.

To start with, you need to remove the carpeted console side panels. They are held on with 3 screws on each side. You'll have to play around a little, to find the screws, as they're buried in the carpet, one near the front, one about half way back, and one near the back of the panel. The seat can make getting to the rear one fun.

Once you have the side panels off, you might be able to unscrew the lighter retainer from the housing, and remove lighter housing. I don't recall just how much room you have to work under there, with the panels off.

If you have to remove the console, the next thing you'll have to remove are the console screws. There are two hex head screws going into the outer edges of the parking brakes console, two more that go into the center gauge bezel, and one on each side of the console. Next, you'll need to unplug the power window switches, and the heater controls. It's been a while since I've pulled one of these apart, but I think I use to removed the heater control (3 screws) from the console, and leave it in place.

The last thing to remove is your shifter ball. If you have an automatic, unscrew the chrome button, and then unscrew the ball, being careful not to lose the spring. If you have a 4 speed, unscrew the ball, pull the "T" handle out, and again, be careful not to lose the spring. Make sure nothing else is still plugged into the console, and then you should be able to lift the console out over the shifter.

 

taking off the left side panel may be easier if you take out the drivers seat.that is not hard four nuts or bolts and it comes right out .unplug seat if power.the side panel has 3 or four Philip head screws holding it on.

 

Disconnect the battery or pull the fuse before doing this because the cigarette lighter is always on a hot lead.

 

Thank you very much; just what i needed to know.