where does the hole in the avensis ashtray go?

[rachnz]

Odd question but this morning my daughter put some valuable earrings in the ashtray compartment in my 2012 Avensis. When she went to retrieve them she noticed they had slipped through a small hole and I can't see an obvious way to remove the unit so question is where does the hole lead too? The motor or a small compartment behind the ashtray.

[alan333]

IIRC the ashtray has a plastic liner which pulls out to empty it.

[FROSTYBALLS]

Moved to the Avensis club.

[Konrad C]

Hopefully the compartment just behind the ashtray. I had to remove the ashtray unit to replace the bulb. If you have good memory, patience and tools, you can remove the ashtray from the facia, then retrieve the earrings.   

First using a flat bladed tool - I have plastic trim removal tools which are designed not to mark or scratch remove the centre console border trim by lifting.

Also remove the side trims by pulling towards yourself.

Lever and lift the part with the cup holder and gear lever. Twist to one side, if you don't want to totally remove.

 

Pull the ashtray housing away. Be carefully not to pull too far due to cable connections at rear. 

Carefully unplug the connections by pressing tags to release plugs

I removed the ashtray unit since I was replacing the illumination bulb. The earings should be in there.

If the earings had fallen out of the ashtray unit, they will fall into this void -

The void also contains the gear lever linkage. 

The whole job should take no more than 20 minutes.

Good luck.