ASOG.net - Dash Removal

To take out the dash you first need to disconnect the battery, then
turn the
ignition key to
on and leave it for 30 minutes or so. This will drain the power to the
airbags.
I would suggest taking out both seats, which is just two 1/2" bolts on
each
side in the
back, and two 1/2" nuts on each side in the front. And unplug the
harness
under the
driver's seat.
To get started you have to remove everything you see from the interior.
1) Remove the center console
a) Pop out the trim panel around the radio
b) Pop out the top of the console and unplug the wires to the
lighter
c) Remove the center console by unscrewing the two visable screws,
one on
each side
of the rear of the console, then the two screws which are under where
the
cup holder
would be. Then two screws right above where the radio would be. And
disconnect the
wires for the rear courtesy light. Then it will pull out

2) Now take out the side panels of the console. They are connected by
two
plugs on each
side, pop them out and take out the screws behind them. Then they will
pull
out.
3) Take off the lower dash on the driver's side. Pop out the caps up
by the
steering
column and there are 10 mm bolts behind them, take those out as well as
the
ones at the
bottom. Also you have to disconnect the hood release mechanism. Lift
the
handle and
take out the two screws that you see, then slide the wire out of it's
lock,
then disconnect it
from release by pulling it up perpendicular to handle and sliding out.
4) Remove the glove box. There is a stopper on each side of the
interior
of the glove
box, it just looks like a black square. Pop those out and the gloxe
box
will fall to the
floor, revealing two screws, take those out and the glove box will come
out.
5) Take out the passenger side lower dash, one screw and one 10 mm
bolt at
the bottom,
take those out and it'll pop out.
6) Pop out the side vents that you see when you open the doors.
7) Use a screw driver and pop out the littlw panel where cruise
control and
power mirrors
are, then disconnect wires behind them and pull it out.
Take off the trim peices on the steering column. There are three
screws
that you can
get to from the bottom, then pull the adjustment handle down, then give
a
little tug and
the top and bottom will separate, then pull them out.
9) Take out the gauge cluster. There are two screws at the top of the
trim
ring, take those
out then tug at the bottom of the trim ring and it will snap out, then
pull
out the trim ring.
Then you will see 4 screws one at each corner of the cluster itself.
Take
those out and the
cluster will pull out.
10) Pop off the panel around the center vents with a screw driver,
then
disconnect the
harnesses behind the buttons, and disconnect the metal lever on the
right
side of the vents,
use a screw driver to pry it off.
11) Take out your stereo
12) Take out the 4 screws around the HVAC controls.
13) Take out the tweeters or the cover to where the tweeters would be.
14) Take out the passenger side airbag, if you look up at where the
glove
box would be,
under the dash there are 2 10 mm bolts, and 4 screws. Take out the
screws
that are on the
outsides, and leave the ones in the center. Then the 10 mm bolts, now
pull
the airbag out,
and follow the wires back and disconnect the harness.
15) Take out the steering wheel, remove the 4 10 mm bolts you can get
to
from behind
the steering wheel, then pull out the airbag and disconnect the
harnesses.
Remove the
center 17 mm nut, then use a steering wheel puller and remove the
wheel.

Now you are ready to take the dash out.
You must find all screws and nuts holding the dash in, and take them
out.
You will see one bolt on each side of where the radio would be, 4 bolts
and
2 screws
behind where the glove box would be. One bolt in each of the tweeter
holes,
2 bolts
where the cluster would be. Take them all out.
Now there is a large group of wires that run along the back of the
dash,
they include the
brightness knob, the instrument panel, and the glove box light. The
easiest solution is to
follow the wires along their path. They start at a harness above the
fuse
box, then I
believe there are 3 harnesses between the fise box and the brightness
knob,
disconenect
them all, then there it breaks down to two harnesses in the main jack
down
behind where
the radio would be. I think it was the two farthest to the left,
unplug
those and now the
dash should be ready to come out.
Get someone to help u and tug from both sides, it should pop out.

To reinstall the dash just use these notes, and do it in reverse and
use
your common sense.
I in now way am advertising for amatures to do this, the dash is in
intricate system and
should not be touched by anybody but the experienced. I take no
responsibility for
problems that you may incur or cause. Good luck, and let us all know
how it
comes out.