1998 Ford Taurus lighter disconnected from mount?

I have a 1998 Ford Taurus and the casing that the lighter goes into disconnected to the mounting inside the drop down lighter/ashtray part. At the back of the metal casing the lighter fits into has come unscrewed from the female end, which is on a cord not a fixed part in the back and I can not get it lined up so I can screw it back in.

Is there a way to take off the lighter/ashtray drop down part without having to take off the whole console? what is the best way to connect the lighter casing's male screw end into the female end inside the drop down piece?

8 months ago
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At the bottom of the picture you may be able to see how the lighter and ashtray are in a little pop down thing a ma bob. I have removed all of the console around the shifter and ashtray and have re attached the connector to the lighter, but I can not get the metal casing around it so it will not move. When put eveything back, the lighter casing still comes out when I attempt to pull out the lighter. Is there something else I should be doing?

If I'm thinking right, this is a bracket that you really have to remove the console to get at. the hanger must be tightened and unless you have a trained mouse, you have to remove the console which is more time consuming than hard. pull off the shift handle if on the console then four bolts remove each front seat. then it's a no brainer just pull the kick covers and some misc screws and it comes out typically I can pull one in 45 minutes. so for someone new an hour should do it,Then reassembly is lots faster since you leaned what goes 1st.

26 Years Mechanic, 16 as a ASE,AAA certified shop owner

That can be one of those jobs so frustrating to do that it is worth it to take it in and say "Here, fix this" and pay someone else to do it.