How do you install the leather traction control switch surround?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,890
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From: FL
How do you install the leather traction control switch surround?
I know it may sound dumb but my interior panels are painted and stuffing this thing in there won't work the traction control panel wont pop pack into place. How exactly do you install it? How much do you leave hanging out and which way is front and back if it matters.
I never thought I'd need help with this too haha
I never thought I'd need help with this too haha
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,195
Likes: 2
From: ATL
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Open the center console and pop up the traction control panel from the back.
Lay the leather strip in and work the panel back down.
It might take you a couple of tries before you get it like you want it.
I don't think the direction of the welt will matter one way or the other.
Best of luck.
Lay the leather strip in and work the panel back down.
It might take you a couple of tries before you get it like you want it.
I don't think the direction of the welt will matter one way or the other.
Best of luck.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Lynn Haven, FL Sunshine State
St. Jude Donor '08
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St. Jude Donor '05, '12-'13, '15-'16, '21
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Anchorage Alaska
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
I had trouble with mine too. In fact, it's still not installed. I sat there for an hour, trying every which way to put the strip in place. Forwards, backwards, shifted one way or the other, folded, unfolded, you name it. In no circumstance did my TC unit ever stay in place. It would sure look nice, if only I could get the thing to stay put!
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Michael S. Palmer
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,816
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From: Anchorage Alaska
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
Where did you get the strip from? I've seen a big variation in design... VE seems to have a very thin strip, but what I have was included in a free package when I ordered my leather seats. It's huge! THe leather flap is almost 1.5" wide and keeps bunching up and preventing the TC panel from seating. It also has grooves cut into it, presumably to go around the clasp areas, but they don't line up either. Maybe I just got a mis-formed piece.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: The line waiting to see Santa Claus stretched all the way back to Terre Haute, and I was at the end, Indiana
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18
It's funny, but what looks like the simplest thing to put in is one of the most infuriating. I've put them in both my C5s (wife's 01 most recently),
and it just took a while of fiddling around to finally get it to stay in place long enough to get the painted traction control panel to snap in.
Looked great when it was done.
Good luck.
and it just took a while of fiddling around to finally get it to stay in place long enough to get the painted traction control panel to snap in.
Looked great when it was done.
Good luck.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 855
Likes: 1
From: Huntsville AL
Where did you get the strip from? I've seen a big variation in design... VE seems to have a very thin strip, but what I have was included in a free package when I ordered my leather seats. It's huge! THe leather flap is almost 1.5" wide and keeps bunching up and preventing the TC panel from seating. It also has grooves cut into it, presumably to go around the clasp areas, but they don't line up either. Maybe I just got a mis-formed piece.
. and then snap my cover back down. Maybe you should trim it down a little widths wise.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,890
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From: FL
I can get it to stay if I close the center console door over everything but once I lift that up it comes undone, my tc piece doesnt want to clip down any more. I think the piece is just too thick.
Maybe having it stay forced down with the center console door for a week will thin it enough to stay on its own
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I had similar problems at first when I had the console covered in leather. 
that it just takes some time. If you can get it to hold initially, the leather will compress a little and then it'll get easier for the clips to engage.
that it just takes some time. If you can get it to hold initially, the leather will compress a little and then it'll get easier for the clips to engage.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,987
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From: DuBois PA
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Where did you get the strip from? I've seen a big variation in design... VE seems to have a very thin strip, but what I have was included in a free package when I ordered my leather seats. It's huge! THe leather flap is almost 1.5" wide and keeps bunching up and preventing the TC panel from seating. It also has grooves cut into it, presumably to go around the clasp areas, but they don't line up either. Maybe I just got a mis-formed piece.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,718
Likes: 13
From: Katy TX
St. Jude Donor '12
It's funny, but what looks like the simplest thing to put in is one of the most infuriating. I've put them in both my C5s (wife's 01 most recently),
and it just took a while of fiddling around to finally get it to stay in place long enough to get the painted traction control panel to snap in.
and it just took a while of fiddling around to finally get it to stay in place long enough to get the painted traction control panel to snap in.
It started out simple and was a pain in the rear. Maybe trim some of the bottom of yours like suggested above to try and get the lid to snap down.Even more difficult is the one I have that goes around the radio bezel. I ultimately had to tape it down to get it to stay. Still one corner gets tucked under, but it was in the right place for the pic!
chris
