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Instrument Panel: Removal

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2002 Ford Ranger. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

All vehicles 

CAUTION: Electronic modules are sensitive to static electrical charges. If exposed to these charges, damage may result.
  1. Depower the supplemental restraint system (SRS). For additional information, refer to AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEMS .
  2. Lock the steering column.
  3. Remove the front seats.
  4. Remove the screws and position the parking brake release handle aside.
    Fig 1: Removing Parking Brake Release Handle Screws
    G03437572Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  5. Remove the RH and LH scuff plates.
    1. Remove the eight screws.
    2. Remove the RH and LH scuff plates.
    Fig 2: Removing RH And LH Scuff Plates
    G03437573Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
    6. NOTE: LH side shown. RH side similar.
    Fig 3: Remove LH And RH Cowl Side Trim Panels
    G03437574Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  6. Remove the LH and RH cowl side trim panels.
    • Remove the pin-type retainer.
  7. Remove the screws and position the hood release handle aside.
    Fig 4: Removing Hood Release Handle Screws
    G03437575Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  8. Remove the instrument panel steering column cover.
    1. Remove the screws.
    2. Remove the steering column cover.
    Fig 5: Removing Steering Column Cover
    G03437576Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  9. Remove the instrument panel steering column opening cover reinforcement.
    • Remove the bolts and remove the reinforcement.
    Fig 6: Removing Steering Column Opening Cover Reinforcement
    G03437577Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  10. Disconnect the brake pedal position (BPP) switch electrical connector.
    Fig 7: Disconnecting Brake Pedal Position (BPP) Switch Electrical Connector
    G03437578Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  11. If equipped, disconnect the clutch pedal position (CPP) switch electrical connector.
    Fig 8: Disconnecting Clutch Pedal Position (CPP) Switch Electrical Connector
    G03437579Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  12. If equipped, disconnect the shift cable from the steering column.
    1. Disconnect the shift cable from the steering column shift tube lever.
    2. Disconnect the shift cable from the steering column bracket.
    Fig 9: Disconnecting Shift Cable From Steering Column Bracket
    G03437580Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  13. Disconnect the upper intermediate steering shaft from the steering column shaft.
    • Remove the pinch bolt.
    Fig 10: Removing Upper Intermediate Shaft To Steering Column Pinch Bolt
    G03437581Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  14. Remove the LH and RH assist handles.
    15. NOTE: RH side shown. LH side similar.
    Fig 11: Removing LH And RH Side Garnish Mouldings
    G03437582Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  15. Remove the LH and RH side garnish mouldings.
    16. NOTE: LH side shown. RH side similar.
    Fig 12: Removing Door Mouldings
    G03437583Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  16. Remove the door mouldings.
  17. From behind the RH side lower kick panel, disconnect the electrical connectors and ground straps.
    1. Disconnect the inertia switch electrical connector.
    2. Disconnect the electrical connector.
    3. Remove the ground straps.
      Fig 13: Removing Ground Straps
      G03437584Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

    Vehicles with a manual transmission 

  18. Position the hydraulic clutch reservoir aside.
  19. Disconnect the battery junction box from the bracket and position it aside.
    Fig 14: Disconnecting Battery Junction Box
    G03437585Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  20. Remove the battery junction box assembly bracket.
  21. Remove the bulkhead wiring harness from inside the engine compartment.
    1. Loosen the bolts.
    2. Disconnect the electrical connectors.
    Fig 15: Disconnecting Electrical Connectors
    G03437586Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  22. Remove the bulkhead connector insulator.
    Fig 16: Removing Bulkhead Connector Insulator
    G03437587Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  23. Unclip the bulkhead electrical connectors from the dash panel.
    Fig 17: Removing Bulkhead Electrical Connectors From Dash Panel
    G03437588Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  24. Remove the audio unit.
    • Insert the removal tool.
    • Remove and support the audio unit.
    Fig 18: Removing And Support Audio Unit
    G03437589Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  25. Disconnect the audio unit electrical connector and antenna cable.
    Fig 19: Disconnecting Audio Unit Electrical Connector And Antenna Cable
    G03437590Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  26. Lower the glove compartment.
    • Press the release tabs inward while lowering the compartment.
    Fig 20: Pressing Release Tabs Inward
    G03437591Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  27. Through the glove compartment opening, remove the pin-type retainers from the antenna cable.
    Fig 21: Removing Pin-Type Retainers From Antenna Cable
    G03437592Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  28. Through the glove compartment opening, release the two clips and detach the temperature blend door control cable.
    Fig 22: Releasing Temperature Blend Door Control Cable Clips
    G03437593Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  29. Through the glove compartment opening, disconnect the climate control vacuum harness connector.
    Fig 23: Disconnecting Climate Control Vacuum Harness Connector
    G03437594Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  30. Raise and secure the glove compartment.
    • Press the release tabs inward while raising the glove compartment.
    Fig 24: Pressing Release Tabs Inward While Raising Glove Compartment
    G03437595Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  31. Remove the instrument panel defroster opening grille.
    Fig 25: Removing Instrument Panel Defroster Opening Grille
    G03437596Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  32. Remove the instrument panel cowl top bolts.
    Fig 26: Removing Instrument Panel Cowl Top Bolts
    G03437597Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  33. If equipped, remove the high series floor console. For additional information, refer to CONSOLE - FLOOR .
  34. If not equipped with the high-series floor console, remove the cup holders.
    Fig 27: Removing Cup Holders
    G03437598Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  35. Release the clips and remove the restraints control module (RCM) cover.
    Fig 28: Removing RCM Cover
    G03437599Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

    Vehicles with manual transmission 

  36. Remove the gearshift lever. For additional information, refer to DISASSEMBLY .
  37. Remove the screws and remove the manual transmission consolette.
    Fig 29: Removing Manual Transmission Consolette
    G03437600Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

    All vehicles 

  38. Disconnect the RCM electrical connector.
    1. Release the locking tab and disconnect the electrical connector.
    2. Remove the ground strap bolt.
    Fig 30: Disconnecting RCM Electrical Connector & Ground Strap
    G03437601Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  39. 39. Pull the floor carpeting back.
    Fig 31: Pulling Floor Carpeting Back
    G03437602Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  40. 40. Disconnect the main wiring harness pin-type retainer.
    Fig 32: Disconnecting Main Wiring Harness Pin-Type Retainer
    G03437603Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

    4x2 vehicles 

  41. Disconnect the instrument panel main harness.
    1. Disconnect the electrical connector.
    2. Release the retaining clips.
    3. Remove the ground strap.
    Fig 33: Disconnecting Instrument Panel Main Harness (4x2 Vehicles)
    G03437604Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

    4x4 vehicles 

  42. Disconnect the instrument panel main harness.
    1. From underneath the vehicle, release the main harness at the transmission transfer case.
    2. Release the retaining clips.
    3. Remove the ground strap.
    Fig 34: Disconnecting Instrument Panel Main Harness (4x4 Vehicles)
    G03437605Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  43. Disconnect the electrical connector from the 4WD module.

    All vehicles 

  44. Remove the instrument panel side finish panel.
    Fig 35: Removing Instrument Panel Side Finish Panel
    G03437606Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  45. Disconnect the door harness electrical connector.
    Fig 36: Disconnecting Door Harness Electrical Connector
    G03437607Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  46. Remove the RH side instrument panel bolt.
    Fig 37: Removing RH Side Instrument Panel Bolt
    G03437608Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  47. Remove the LH instrument panel cowl side bolts.
    Fig 38: Removing LH Instrument Panel Cowl Side Bolts
    G03437609Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
    48. NOTE: Two technicians are required to carry out this step.
  48. Remove the instrument panel.
    • If necessary, transfer the components to the new instrument panel.
  49. To install, reverse the removal procedure.
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