Does anyone know how to remove the panel above the cubby hole below the environment/heated seats etc controls? The "iPod" USB socket that I plug my Pixel in to for Android Auto seems to be rather flaky, in that any nudge or knock to the cable near the socket - sometimes nothing more than the gear shifter brushing against the cable - sees Android Auto disconnecting. I'd like to get the panel off and see if I can repair or replace what I think is the source of this rather annoying problem.

Before taking anything apart, have you checked for fluff/debris in the USB socket and the cable end? It doesn't take much to cause an unstable connection, a pin or paperclip end should do the job, i use a straw to blow anything I dislodge out, worth a try first

Edited 8 March8 Mar by Stevejd58

Thanks for the suggestions. There's nothing wrong with the USB plug - I've checked it for connectivity to other devices via their USB sockets and it works just fine. There is also no debris inside the socket - I've verified that visually, and given it a good going over with a vacuum cleaner using the crevice tool.

The socket is very wobbly, as if it has become partially detached behind the panel. That could very easily have been down to something careless that I or one of the other users of the car have done in the past e.g. pulling the plug out without due care and attention. My suspicion is that, however this wobbliness was caused, it has also damaged one or more of the connections from the socket to the wiring loom, hence the repeated disconnects from Android Auto at the slightest disturbance of the cable.

It appears, judging by the attached photo of the cubbyhole assembly I found online, that the panel with the USB and aux audio sockets is of one piece with the cubbyhole itself. There seem to be some large tabs at the lower front of the cubbyhole by which it is held in place. My question is: how much disassembly of other things would I need to do in order to be able to remove that assembly and attempt a repair, and is there any guidance available online or elsewhere as to how best to go about it?

Given that the part seems to retail for anything up to £100, I'm a little reluctant to hand the job over to a dealer to fix.

Might be an idea to look around your local FB pages, it shouldn't be out of the realms of asking if a local computer/mobile phone repairer could take a look at it. after all it probably just needs a replacement socket soldering in place.

If that's not yours in the picture it's just a matter of 2 screws by the look of it, if not then here's how

used one on ebay for £12

Edited 10 March10 Mar by Stevejd58