Instrument Panel, Removing And Installing: Removing
-- Move the steering wheel as far to the rear and down as possible. Use the full steering column adjustment range for this.
-- Move the front seats all the way back and tilt backrests 45°.
- Follow all safety precautions when working on pyrotechnic components. Refer to SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WHEN WORKING WITH PYROTECHNIC COMPONENTS .
- Note the allocation of the airbag to the instrument panel.
-- Disconnect the battery ground cable with the ignition turned on. Refer to BATTERY, DISCONNECTING AND CONNECTING .
-- Remove the A-pillar upper trim panels. Refer to A-PILLAR TRIM PANEL, REMOVING AND INSTALLING .
-- Remove the driver side airbag unit. Refer to AIRBAG UNIT WITH IGNITER, REMOVING AND INSTALLING .
-- Remove the steering wheel. Refer to STEERING WHEEL, REMOVING AND INSTALLING .
-- Remove the steering column switch. Refer to OVERVIEW - STEERING COLUMN SWITCH MODULE, WITH ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH / STEERING COLUMN ELECTRONICS CONTROL MODULE -J527-, REMOVING AND INSTALLING .
-- Remove the instrument panel side cover. Refer to INSTRUMENT PANEL SIDE COVER, REMOVING AND INSTALLING .
-- Remove the instrument panel cover on the driver side. Refer to DRIVER SIDE INSTRUMENT PANEL COVER, REMOVING AND INSTALLING .
-- Remove the glove compartment. Refer to GLOVE COMPARTMENT, REMOVING AND INSTALLING .
-- Unclip the wires from the instrument panel support.
-- Remove the bolt -2-.
-- Disengage the support -1- at the instrument panel -arrow- and remove it.
-- Repeat the procedure on the opposite side.
-- Remove the center console. Refer to CENTER CONSOLE, REMOVING AND INSTALLING .
-- Remove the button in the instrument panel. Refer to COMPONENT LOCATION OVERVIEW - INSTRUMENT PANEL CONTROLS .
-- Remove the Heater Control Module -J65- /Climatronic Control Module -J255- /A/C Control Module -J301-. Refer to COMPONENT LOCATION OVERVIEW - DISPLAY CONTROL HEAD .
-- Remove the center instrument panel vent. Refer to INSTRUMENT PANEL VENT, REMOVING AND INSTALLING .
-- If equipped: remove the Multimedia System Control Head -E380-. Refer to COMPONENT LOCATION OVERVIEW - RADIO or remove the Front Information Display Control Head -J685-. Refer to COMPONENT LOCATION OVERVIEW - INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM .
-- Vehicles With Speakers: remove the speaker from the instrument panel. Refer to COMPONENT LOCATION OVERVIEW - SOUND SYSTEM .
-- Vehicles with climatronic: remove the Sunlight Photo Sensor -G107-. Refer to HUMIDITY SENSOR -G355- RAIN/LIGHT RECOGNITION SENSOR -G397- SUNLIGHT PHOTO SENSOR -G107-, REMOVING AND INSTALLING .
Before handling pyrotechnic components (for example, disconnecting the connector), the person handling it must "discharge static electricity". For example, this can be done by briefly touching the door striker.
-- Disconnect the front passenger airbag connector. Refer to FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG UNIT WITH IGNITER, REMOVING AND INSTALLING .
-- Remove the instrument cluster. Refer to OVERVIEW - INSTRUMENT CLUSTER .
-- Vehicles with climatronic: disconnect the left and right connector -1- for the vent temperature sensor Left Vent Temperature Sensor -G150- /Right Vent Temperature Sensor -G151- -item 2-.
Ignore -3-.
-- Vehicles with ambient lighting: unclip the clip -1- for the connector and disconnect the connector -2- for the ambient lighting bulb on the instrument panel decorative trim.
-- Remove the instrument panel bolts -arrows- on the driver side instrument panel crossmember.
-- Remove the instrument panel bolts -arrows- on the front passenger side instrument panel crossmember.
-- Remove the instrument panel bolt -arrow- on the front passenger side instrument panel crossmember.
-- Remove the instrument panel bolts -arrows- on the center of the instrument panel crossmember.
Two technicians are needed to remove the instrument panel.
-- Disconnect the connector and free up the wiring harness from the instrument panel.
-- Carefully pull the instrument panel back from the instrument panel crossmember.
-- Remove the instrument panel from the vehicle interior and lay it on a soft surface.