marklodi, It sounds like the Ashtray lamp was not plugged back into the ashtray housing. You do access the console stuff by pulling out the radio and there are 2 screws hidden there. That allows you to pull the panel off that runs from above the AC controls to below the switches for the seat heaters, etc. You can reach the Ashtray lamp through here, but that is not the suggested way from DC. It is much easier though.
The grease is probably adhesive from the friction tape that is on the wires for the radio or the switch panel. I almost @#$% when I saw this on mine. I thought I scratched the console up myself.

Good Luck,
Mike