Quick question. Does the ash tray in the console just pry out? I started to do that but found some resistance and didn't want to break it.

 

I did not think so and did not want to break it either.
It was a major pain to get out.
When I put the factory heated seats in my '00 I had to remove it. That is where the switches go.
I ended up removing the console and could still not get it out.
So here is a shot of what it looks like from the bottom.

See the lip just under the hole I drilled?
When in that clips in the bottom of that slot. Remember that you are looking at the bottom.
Cause it is so stiff there is no play to push in the tabs to pull it out.
And me trying to push on that tab on one side just resulted in my slipping off it every time.
Part of that could have been me. My hands don't work as well as I would like these days. LOL.
My dumb idea was to drill that 5/32" hole.
Then push my 5/32" punch into the hole. Cause the punch is tapered it only goes so far.
At that point it starts pushing in on the tab and I was able to clear the slot.
And cause of the hole I did not have to worry about slipping off it like I was when trying before I drilled the hole.

And by the way that is really not an ashtray. Unless you have the ashtray insert that goes in there.
That just pulls right out.

 

Thanks Ralph! I just wanted to put a 1/4" green led pilot light in the lip between the cup holder and the ashtray so I'd have a target to shoot for in the dark for my coffee cup! Now I'll just snake the wires around the ashtray to splice it into the shifter lamp. Storage space for incidentals in my XJ is so limited I've taken the top of the console glove box off to use it like a bin. Loosing the ashtray would be not a good thing.