How to repair the rear cup holders in a tiguan

**sama13** · 11-09-2009, 12:01 PM

Hello guys,

We had a problem with our kids, one of them stepped on the rear drink holder (the one that is on the middle console below the A/C Vents)and popped it off, I have tried to put it back in and it pops out, there seems to be some kinda trick, I feel really stupid not being able to re-install it.

Hope somebody can help us out!

**borbor1313** · 27-10-2009, 11:07 PM

Thanks to both poor flimsy VW design and also kids the rear cover for the cup holder is easily broken off when it is used as a ladder to climb into the rear seat

Good luck to those of you that get it repaired under warranty.I tried but was told I would have to pay A$295 for the replacement part.Ouch

If you find this helpful please feel free to post a thankyou as I like that

Reattaching is reasonably easy once you under the principle on how the cup holder works,hence the over complicated picture below

This is a close up side view of the mechanism

The yellow bit is a parallelogram , akin to a sketch-o-graph ( I think that was what it was called -- showing my age now)On opening it pivots around the point I have labelled in the photo,with the cup holder extending outwards(to the right in the picture) and the cover moving to the left.

When I was originally trying to reattach the cover i assumed the cover was a simple hinge joint pivoting around little nipples on part 6,and thus trying to find where these nipples would slot into proved impossible.They actually lie free in the overhanging shroud of the proximal part of the cup holder.

I also assumed the lowest part of the cover Part 7 would sit against the bottom part of the opening of the cup holder mechanism but on fitting
this part does not touching anything,the entire cover is just hanging from its attachment points Part 1 and Part 2. Only on closing the cover does the parallelogram shift and close this gap to make a snug fit.

Please note Gap marked 5. When fitting the cover this gap remains. I assumed I had to push the two pieces tigthly together leaving no gap but this results in a incorrect fitting as it would then make part 3 pop out.

Ok now for the fitting
I have only one photo as it is impossible to take photos whilst doing this.
step 1 locate tabs (Part 6) loosely in the rigth position
step 2 clip on part 1
step 3 clip on part 2

for steps 2+3 you have to wiggle the claw part of the cup holder left and right in the picture (forward and backwards)to move the parallelogram forward and backwards which then moves the clampy bits so they can attach to part 1 and 2. (yes very technical I Know)

Whilst doing this make sure part 3 is also clipped in.

Doing this still took me 5-10mins of wiggling so keep perservering. Goodluck

**Pullstarter** · 28-10-2009, 05:29 PM

Umm not being nasty or anything but drink holders were hardly designed to be, in your words, a "ladder" or indeed a step. They are meant to hold drinks up not people. I can empathise with the cost of the repair but I think you're being a bit harsh on VW there.

**T&M** · 28-10-2009, 05:35 PM

Well kids will be kids. Nothing else needs to be said.

However if my kids did that, they would be banished to the rubber-lined boot space!

Hmmm rubber!

**clip** · 28-10-2009, 06:55 PM

I'd be replacing it with a new one and the kids would be paying for it by washing the Tig for a month.

**Sanman** · 28-10-2009, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by Pullstarter

Umm not being nasty or anything but drink holders were hardly designed to be, in your words, a "ladder" or indeed a step. They are meant to hold drinks up not people. I can empathise with the cost of the repair but I think you're being a bit harsh on VW there.

When I reviewed the Tiguan, this was one of the negatives I identified - it clearly is a flimsy poorly designed afterthought that has no place in the back if a kiddy truckster.
Glad we have a repair guide - I'm horrified how much VW charge for a designed-to-break part

**borbor1313** · 28-10-2009, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by Pullstarter

Umm not being nasty or anything but drink holders were hardly designed to be, in your words, a "ladder" or indeed a step. They are meant to hold drinks up not people. I can empathise with the cost of the repair but I think you're being a bit harsh on VW there.

Not intentionally of course ,but they jump in knock the cover and it pops open,then in the processs of sitting down a foot will invariably put pressure on it and the cover snaps off.A not uncommon problem(see the thread on vwvortex - tiguan page).I of course dont expect it to take the weight of a child but used this description to paint a mental picture for everyone.

**borbor1313** · 28-10-2009, 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by clip

I'd be replacing it with a new one and the kids would be paying for it by washing the Tig for a month.

I'd be paying to be replacing the kids with a new one and would be washing the Tig for a month

**clip** · 28-10-2009, 09:43 PM

Originally Posted by borbor1313

I'd be paying to be replacing the kids with a new one and would be washing the Tig for a month

lol, that's an option I hadn't thought of.

**JimmyGS** · 02-08-2010, 09:01 PM

Hi borbor1313, do you still have the Pics to reassemble please as they are no longer on the forum? I have unfortunatley come across the same problem with our Tiguan's rear cupholders on first use. All I managed to place into it was two drinks bottles, no kids to use it for a ladder.