Has anyone ever had to replace the spring loaded cupholder/ashtray in the dash under the radio on F-150? Mine is no longer spring loaded and is very difficult to get it to "pop out."

 

yea i had to have mine changed when i bought my truck and it was around $80 bucks, I didnt have to pay it since the dealer fixed it for me at no extra charge. You get the ashtray ( or change holder) with it as well.

 

Easy fix...the factory spring (single length of bent spring steel) attached to back of cupholder/ashtray has fallen off, remove the unit (pull out, then push up stop tab above it to release)...you'll find the spring (not a coil) down on floor in opening...drill two small tap holes in back of cupholder unit where it was once held on by plastic pins, re-attach spring with two small screws...done.

 

WAS INTO FORD DEALER TODAY CUP HOLDER IS 142 BUCKS, BACK TO EBAY

 

try another dealer, and ask them if they will wholesale it to you. They are so hard up for money right now they will usually do it.

 

this dealer didn't have one in stock but he told me who had one so I will be in the area of that dealer this week so will try that. YHANKS

 

Can the later cup holder with the ash tray be used to replace the earlier one without?

 

well after you start to know what has to be done you will wonder why you didnt go to home depot to just buy a ****, drill a hole and mount it directly in place of replacing the assembly. with mine and i am a dealer tech, is dissambly of the dash frontal area, you will use a torx driver with bits ALOT!!!also dont forget the 8 mm socket. good luck

 

I am on my third one. All from a salvage yard...like 10.00 bucks for the whole thing. I always break the little plastic tabs that stop it from falling out and also lock it in an open position. I broke this one also, but this time I took a small piece of metal and bent it 90*. Drilled a small hole in it and in the plastic, took a small bolt and nut and bolted it on. Small dab of grease on it, and it works great. These thing are so fragile that one little bump from the side breaks the tab(s).

 

Mine broke the same way. Every truck at the salvage yard I find is missing the cup holder, or the one in it is trashed from cigarette smoke.
I have an idea to reinforce the next one I find. I'll post up if it works out.

 

So I have successfully (and carefully) taken out the cupholder/ashtray from my 2004 F150, and I have all the pieces including the spring. I have no idea where the spring goes to make it spring back again!! Please help if anyone has any idea where to attach the spring I would appreciate any help. $175 for a brand new assembly!! Forget that!!!

 

Sorry for butting in, but with all these replacements..does anyone have an extra ashtray they want to get rid of. Mine was missing when I bought the truck and can't see spending a 100 bucks to replace the whole thing.

 

Looks like these units are prone to breaking and some guys have replaced multiple times. Mine just broke but I got 15 years and 300K out of it so I don't have anything really to complain about. Thanks for all the repair tips.

 

I just used gorilla glue

 

a lot of times they can be fixed pretty easily, if not, junk yards are full of them, the ashtray ones will work in place of the non ashtray ones.
you can also use the ones from Expeditions.