Removing the 2nd row console

goblue

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Can the 2nd row console be removed creating a pass through to the third row? Anyone have any pictures?
 
My dealer said the console can be removed with just a socket...Have not tried however.
 
I asked the dealer to remove mine prior to purchase and there are two pins that remain sticking up in the walk-thru space about 2 1/2 - 3 inches tall. Nice trip feature and not easily covered by a floor mat, so I had them put it back in.
 
good to know. test drove one yesterday and the dealer swore that a lot of people do it and it is absolutely flat minus the couple screw holes in the carpet (and the step up from the seats). further investigation is needed, but justafew seems to have good info.
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Carbuff22, you are my new best friend!! The dealer said the brackets couldn't be removed (and I didn't notice all four of them), but I never looked closely enough at them to see what you discovered. I know what I'm doing this weekend!!! Thanks so much for the very detailed, informative post.
 
Worked like a charm! My kids thank carbuff22 as it's much easier for them to get into the back w/o either removing car seats or crawling over the console.
 
can someone post how to remove the center console in the 2011 qx56.
the previous link won't open.
thanks
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I believe it is just four bolts holding securing it to the straps in the floor. Then each post has a bolt holding it to the floor of the vehicle. So remove all 8 bolts and you are done. I saw pics of this being done in another thread somewhere. It was a good one. Good enough even I could perform this removal by memory of the pic by pic removal. Good luck!!
 
Yes, I removed the center console last Summer for a trip to FL. Actually, the dealer in CA removed it for me (I live in STL), but left the brackets in (claimed liability wouldn't allow them to remove the brackets since they were affixed to the car) which cut one of my sons legs the first time he got in...but, here's what you can do:

1) Remove the center console by unscrewing the 4 screws (2 on each side) at the base of the console - easy.
2) You'll be left with 2 brackets bolted to the floor. Unfortunately, the brackets are sharp and covered by the carpet. Perhaps others can post a different/better method, but I simply cut a line down the carpet between the brackets to provide a little room to lift the brackets out after they were unscrewed. I then used carpet tape to affix to the floor again. Really can barely see the cut in the carpet (black int).

I only remove the center console for big trips (1 or 2 per year), so the cut is rarely seen and barely noticeable when the console is removed. This way, though, I can easily install/reinstall. Like I said, perhaps more savvy folks have a way to remove the brackets without cutting the carpet, but at least this is one option.
 
I wish the everythinghong link above still worked- would love to see pictures with the brackets removed.
 
I'll see if I can get pictures up, but might take a few days. Removing the console was easy, but leave in place two brackets which are sharp and a hazard. The brackets unbolt easily enough, but getting them out from under the carpet is a royal PITA. The rear bracket was not bad, but the front bracket took a lot of work. I was able to do it with some stretching of the carpet, I really did not need to cut it. The whole job took probably 30 - 45 minutes but most of it was wrestling with the brackets.

With the brackets removed, you do have 4 slits in the carpet, but otherwise it's pretty clean. I had the guys at CanvasBack custom make a cover for me for me that covers up the carpet were the console was. Pretty nifty solution.
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New member here. I love the car and found the site specifically to trouble shoot this issue. I have a 2012 QX and when I bought the car, the sales guy told me it would be easy to take out the center console. I'm taking it in to the dealership tomorrow morning to have them to it (it looked more complicated than something I'd want to take on). Reading this string, it sounds like these "brackets" may be a bit of an issue. So I have a couple of questions:

- can anyone reproduce the instructions that was previously on the everythinghong site by memory? I know it was a year a go it was posted but thought it worth asking.

- does anyone know whether - once you remove these brackets - we will be able to reinstall the console later? If it takes 45 mins to get the brackets out... are they re-installable?

We have two kids in the 2nd row captains chairs and sometimes have a need to get into the 3rd row without having to tumble the 2nd row seats forward. I'm sure this is a common scenario. But once my older grows into a booster, we won't need the walk through and will want to put the console back.

I do wish they made this as easy as the old Armadas or the Toyota Highlanders.
 
The console and brackets are easy to remove. I did it myself (although my dealer offered to do it) and it took me about 15 minutes to get it done. I assume a dealer could do it in about 5 to 10. There are 2 brackets that go under the carpet, it would probably take me about 30 minutes or less to get them screwed back in. It does leave 4 small holes in the carpet, which i just left alone. If the holes bother you, you can probably get a floor mat and place it over the holes.
 
Thanks trosenth. You're right - it was easier than I thought, although I didn't do the work. I was able to take my car into the dealer today and they were happy to get it done for me. Funny enough, it was the first time they'd removed it for a customer but quickly figured it out after I told them I'd read online that the brackets were removable.

They flipped the captains chairs forward, un-bolted the console and removed it. Then they were able to get into the holes in the carpet with an L-shape ratchet/wrench (I couldn't quite see to know what tool they used) to unbolt the bracket. I thought there were 4 short brackets but there actually two long brackets that look like this --> [ but flipped so the two short pieces stick up vertically up out of the carpet. After they got one set of brackets out, they realized they actually could pull the carpeting up from the floor for easier access to the bolts holding the brackets down - carpet affixed by Velcro!

Once brackets were removed, they put the carpet back into place and offered to re-install the console whenever I want it back in. I'm covering the space with a blanket for now - not to cover the holes but to keep the carpet there from getting dirty while I figure out a long term plan. The space is perfect for the box of books I like to keep in the car for the kids so I'm not too worried about it.

This was the first time I'd taken the car back to the dealership since I purchased it (just 700 miles on it now). I was impressed by how friendly and service-friendly they were. I really liked the service department at the Acura dealership before and these guys seem even better. I hope they keep meeting that expectation!
 
First post here and not sure if people are still curious about this, but I did this on our just-purchased 2011 QX56.

It's a fairly simple process, took me about 30 minutes total.

1. Unscrew the four bolts located at the corners of the console box. The bolts are not standard phillips or flathead and require a "star" pattern bit (sorry, don't know the technical term for this).
2. Once the bolts are unscrewed, you can remove the console.
3. Next, you'll see the brackets that have to be removed. The two brackets run L-R (as opposed to front-back in relation to the car). The easiest way to do this is to separate the two pieces of carpeting in front of the 3rd row seats. It is affixed with velcro strips and you can see the seam where the two pieces come together if you don't have the 3rd row floor mat in place.
4. Lift the carpeting until you have the rear bracket exposed. Don't worry about pulling the carpeting out from the plastic trim, it will go back easily. Remove the bolts (and bracket) using either a standard hex bolt torque wrench or phillips head screwdriver.
5. You can now gain access to the front bracket by lifting further up on the carpet. Alternatively, lifting the carpet also improves access to the bolts through the carpet slots from above. Whatever works best for the tools you have on hand. Remove bolts/bracket.
6. Put carpeting back in place (be sure to tuck into the plastic trim along the sides).
7. You're good to go. There are 4 relatively large slits in the carpet where the bracket heads used to stick out. If this affects your aesthetic sensibilities, I've seen an OEM center mat that will cover this area: http://infiniti.sewellparts.com/accessories-catalog/Accessories/QX-2011/5355.html

I hope this helps.

Chris
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