How do I get the retainer off? I just spent an hour with one hand contorted through the gauge opening and the other under the dash and the damn thing won't budge. The housing on mine doesn't have cutouts like the diagram, just a single hole top and bottom.

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Thanks.

I believe # 5 in the diagram is a retainer ring. I removed my cigarette lighter and it wasn't easy. It took lots of prying with a screw driver and pliers to finally get it off.

Pain in the ass!

grab a hold of cigarette lighter housing from under the dash and push and wiggle the housing toward the car interior and it should slip free of the retaining ring. It is a trouble and does take some effort/force. No tools used just hands.
Gary

Thanks guys, I'll give it another go tomorrow.

I figured out how to do it, and it was remarkably easy.

I stuck a screwdriver into the open socket and levered it up and down and left and right until the retainer loosened and it slid out.

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