I am running some new wire from my head unit to the trunk of the car. I removed the plastic panel directly underneath the steering wheel, and the rubber piece in the picture fell out. It almost looks like it is a piece that would be somewhere where it can be seen, like it is almost cosmetic. I don't like or believe in 'extra parts' (that's the aircraft mechanic in me, and just good practice), so I am definitely interested in reinstalling this part from where it came.
I would appreciate yinz' expertise.
Thank you.

 

You're definitely from PA. Yinz, lol
What year is your car? My S4 is pretty oem. I can take a look around in my car and see if I can tell you where it came from. Not sure from just looking at it though

 

You got me, I'm guilty as charged lol.
Yeah, thanks, I appreciate the reply. If you ever come across this I would love to know from whence it came.

 

I don't know exactly where it fits, but the specific pattern on that black plastic is only found in a few places on the car as far as I know:

- Steering column surround.
- Instrument cluster surround.
- Radio and shifter boot surround (obvious non-starter).

Your profile indicates you have an S5 vert, so maybe the roof mechanism. I've never had a vert so not sure.

The profile on that part reminds me of the bottom corners on the instrument cluster surround, but my surround (S4 coupe) is a bit different and has no exact match to that piece.

Good luck, I'm also interested to know where it goes.

 

Wow, thanks for the info. I am going to take a look sometime this weekend. First, I need to replace the brakes on a 1993 Ford Ranger I just picked up for $1250 - only 59K miles!!! I am a dirt biker and this truck is perfect for hauling and so I need to be 100% that this little truck is solid, dependable and reliable.
But when I do find where this piece goes, and I will give it my best shot, I will take a pic and show yinz.

 

Wow this is actually bothering me.

That part number is not in any of the parts indexes. 7240 doesn't exist nor does 66-003.

That pattern and material says it goes to the dash.

Please follow up if you figure out where it goes. Its a corner piece, and is the right side to something. My best guess would be somewhere in the steering column gap, near where your knees would be. However, those alignment holes look similar to those of the shift bezel.

 

One extra idea, is it a cap that goes on the end of the A-pillar by the roof panel? R for right, so on the passenger side at the top of the a-pillar trim? That would make sense with the profile.

Or maybe one of the other little trim pieces behind the seats. Never had a vert, so I've gone down the rabbit hole for a few minutes trying to find this part in photos of vert interiors.

 

Its rubber. Ive never seen rubber trim anywhere but on the dash, but Ive also never owned a vert.

 

Looking back at post #1 OP does say it's rubber, but I've actually never seen rubber with that pattern in our cars at all. Dash or no. The pattern and colour looks very much like the places we've mentioned (instrument surround, shifter surround, etc) but I don't think it's rubber.

If it's aged the same way that the rear hatch strikers age (which OP will not be able to compare as he has a vert) then it softens with age, which may make it feel a lot like hard rubber. But AFAIK there are no rubber trim pieces on our cars, other than the little seal thing on the bottom of the a-pillar trim where it meets the dash and the weather seals of course. Oh, and the plug for the sunroof manual crank.

I suspect it isn't rubber but thin, soft plastic. Unless rubber trim is a vert thing, since that absolutely isn't a coupe part. If it truly is rubber, that would be consistent with my idea about it being an a-pillar / roof trim part. But it's unlikely OP didn't notice a piece of roof trim missing.

 

I'm like 90% sure just by looking at it that it's rubber. You can tell by the thickness. If it was plastic it would be way thinner. The thickness is also consistent with that of the dash rubber.

Not to go out on a limb, but I'm starting to wonder if this could have came from a different unit at the Hiroshima plant, considering the part number doesnt exist in the parts catalog,

 

I'm pretty sure it goes right here.

 

i think tis vert specific too, and probably to the later ones with airbags, there is a lot that is different

 

On coupes (and likely on verts too) the vent panel fits there. It has two little wings that engage in that notch. Good place for OP to check though in case it is different on verts.

The part number is the really weird thing though. I think your guess about it being for a different car at the Hiroshima plant is very possible.

 

Looks like the piece that goes on the cluster surround on airbag verts which are shaped different around the column area . That piece is behind the turn signal/cruise control switches (they are column mounted on airbag cars) if I am not mistaken as they were rubber.

 

We have a winner! Nosferatu has it: https://www.ebay.ca/itm/89-90-91-Maz...-127632-2357-0

 

Wow thank you.

 

Win goes to j9fd3s ...I just added a bit of detail ...cheers

 

Wow!!!
Thanks for all the help. I was working my truck this past weekend and had zero time for anything else. Thanks so much for all this info...and the mystery is solved!
Thanks again.

 

that was a good one!

 

Interesting! I have taken apart a few FC's in my day and never seen that interior piece. Nice find and Identification for sure.

-M

 

Its definitely a part that I've never seen and im glad the mystery is solved. I've never had an airbag equipped FC convertible but if I ever do and I see that part ill know what it is! Great working figuring it out guys!

 

I promise, this is the last time I will ask for ID (but I reserve the right to later say I was drunk when I made this promise).

 

LMAO, the convertible is full of little pieces like that. i can't believe it was a job to cut little pieces of foam out and glue it to stuff