Instrument Panel: Removal

Automatic transmission 

1. Remove the selector lever. For additional information, refer to AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE/TRANSMISSION EXTERNAL CONTROLS article.

Manual transmission 

2. Remove the gearshift lever. For additional information, refer to MANUAL TRANSAXLE/TRANSMISSION EXTERNAL CONTROLS article.

All vehicles 

3. Depower the supplemental restraint system (SRS). For additional information, refer to SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM article.
4. Remove the SRS module.
   • Remove the 3 SRS module bolts.
   • Disconnect the electrical connectors.
5. Disconnect the park brake lever electrical connector.
6. Remove the 3 wire harness pin-type retainers.
7. Remove the RH and LH door scuff plate trim panels.
   • Lift upward on the RH and LH door scuff plate trim panels to release the door scuff plate trim panels retaining clips.
8. Remove the LH and RH A-pillar trim panels. For additional information, refer to INTERIOR TRIM AND ORNAMENTATION article.
9. Remove the RH and LH lower cowl trim panels.
   • Remove the 4 lower cowl trim panel retainers.
10. Remove the hood release handle.
    • Remove the hood release handle bolt.
11. Rotate the steering wheel to gain access to the upper steering column shaft-to-lower steering column shaft bolt.
12. Remove and discard the upper steering column shaft-to-lower steering column shaft bolt.
13. Rotate the steering wheel until the front wheels are in the straight-ahead position.
    • Remove the ignition key.
CAUTION: Do not allow the upper steering column shaft to rotate while the lower steering column shaft is disconnected or damage to the clockspring can result. If there is evidence that the shaft has rotated, the clockspring must be removed and recentered. For additional information, refer to SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM article.
14. Detach the upper steering column shaft from the lower steering column shaft.
15. Remove the ground wire bolt and disconnect the 3 electrical connectors and the antenna cable located at the RH lower cowl.
Fig 1: Identifying Ground Wire, Connectors And Antenna Cable
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
16. Disconnect the blower motor electrical connector.
    • Remove the wire harness pin-type retainer from the heater core and evaporator core housing.
17. Lower the glove compartment door.
    • Open the glove compartment door.
    • Press the 2 glove compartment door retaining tabs and fully lower the glove compartment door.
Fig 2: Identifying Glove Compartment Door Retaining Tabs
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
18. Disconnect the electrical connector located on the heater core and evaporator core housing.
19. Close the glove compartment door.
    • Lift upward on the glove compartment door.
    • Press the 2 glove compartment door retaining tabs and fully close the glove compartment door.
20. Disconnect the brake pedal position (BPP) sensor electrical connector.
Fig 3: Identifying Connector
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
21. Disconnect the 5 smart junction box (SJB) electrical connectors and the LH bulkhead electrical connector.
Fig 4: Identifying Connectors
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
22. Remove the lower ground wire bolt and disconnect the 3 electrical connectors at the LH lower cowl.
Fig 5: Identifying Connectors
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
23. Remove the LH instrument panel side bolt cover.
24. Remove the LH instrument panel side bolt.
25. Remove the instrument panel upper cowl cover.
CAUTION: When removing the instrument panel upper bolt, care must be taken to prevent damage to the windshield.
26. Remove the instrument panel upper cowl bolt.
27. Remove the LH and RH rear footwell duct connector pushpin retainers.
28. Remove the 6 LH and RH instrument panel support bracket bolts.
29. Remove the LH and RH instrument panel support brackets.
30. Remove the rear footwell duct extension.
31. Remove the 6 LH and RH instrument panel bolts.
CAUTION: To avoid damage to the instrument panel, an assistant is required when carrying out this step.
32. Remove the instrument panel.