Instrument Panel: Removal
- Disconnect negative battery cable. Place front wheels in straight-ahead position. Remove left and right cowl side inner trim panels. If equipped with tilt steering column, move to fully raised position. Remove 3 screws attaching steering column opening cover. Using a trim stick, gently pry around opening cover to release snap retainers. Remove opening cover.
- Remove 2 screws attaching knee blocker to instrument panel. Disengage lower mounting tabs, and remove knee blocker. Using a trim stick, gently pry instrument panel center bezel away from instrument panel to release 6 snap clip retainers. Remove center bezel from vehicle. Using a trim stick, gently pry rear edge of instrument panel cover up and away from instrument panel to release 7 snap clip retainers. Pull top cover sharply rearward to release 4 snap clip retainers at front of top panel near windshield base. Remove top cover.
- Remove floor console from transmission tunnel. Peel back carpeting enough to access instrument panel center support bracket mounting nuts. Remove 2 nuts attaching center support bracket to bottom of instrument panel. Remove 2 nuts attaching center support bracket to transmission tunnel. Remove center support bracket.
- Disable air bag system and remove driver air bag module. See AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEMS article. Remove steering wheel using appropriate puller. Turn ignition switch to ON position. Insert small screwdriver or pin punch into access hole in right side of steering column lower cover. Depress ignition tumbler retaining pin and remove ignition key tumbler from ignition lock housing. Remove screws attaching steering column upper and lower covers, and separate covers.
- On A/T models, disconnect shifter interlock cable. On all models, remove steering column mounting nuts and remove steering column from vehicle.CAUTION: DO NOT allow steering shaft to rotate in steering column at any time. Clockspring damage may occur.
- Remove screws attaching instrument panel-to-body and instrument panel-to-headlight and dash wiring connectors near left cowl side inner panel. Disconnect harness connectors. Remove screw attaching instrument panel-to-floor wire harness connector and disconnect connector. Remove glove box assembly. Reach through glove box opening and disconnect vacuum harness connector between A/C-heater control and housing.
- Disconnect antenna, radio connector and radio retainer from A/C-heater housing kick cover. Remove temperature control cable and blend air door crank arm from A/C-heater housing as a unit.
- Loosen right and left side instrument panel cowl side roll-down screws about 1/4". See Fig 1 . Remove screws and nuts attaching top of instrument panel to top of dash panel. With aid of an assistant, lift top of instrument panel off dash panel studs. Pull lower instrument panel rearward to clear cowl side roll-down screws. Remove instrument panel.