Instrument Panel: Removal
- Rotate the steering wheel until the front wheels are in the straight-ahead position.
- Drain the coolant. For additional information, refer to ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM article.
- Recover the refrigerant. For additional information, refer to HVAC - CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM - GENERAL INFORMATION AND DIAGNOSTICS article.
- Remove the wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft assembly. For additional information, refer to WIPER SYSTEM & WASHER SYSTEM article.
- Disconnect the 3 PCM electrical connectors.
- Remove the wire harness retainer from the PCM bracket stud.
- Remove the 2 PCM nuts and the PCM.
- Remove the 3 nuts and the PCM bracket.
- Remove the vacuum hose clip from the strut tower cross brace.
- Remove the strut tower cross brace.
- Remove the LH and RH strut upper mount inboard nuts.
NOTE: LH side shown in the illustration, RH side similar. - Remove the vacuum hose and the evaporator purge solenoid hose from the upper intake manifold and position aside.
- Remove the heater hoses from the heater core.
- Remove the Thermostatic Expansion Valve (TXV) manifold nut and the TXV manifold.
- Discard the O-ring seals.
- Remove the RH and LH instrument panel upper cowl bolts.
- Remove the front seats. For additional information, refer to SEAT SYSTEM - SEATS article.
- Remove the steering wheel. For additional information, refer to STEERING COLUMN article.
- Remove the floor console. For additional information, refer to CONSOLE - FLOOR .
- Pull off the LH and RH front door opening weatherstrips.
- Remove the LH and RH A-pillar trim panels. For additional information, refer to INTERIOR TRIM AND ORNAMENTATION article.
- Remove the LH and RH scuff plate trim panels.
- Lift the scuff plate trim panels upward to release the retaining clips.
- Remove the LH and RH instrument panel side trim panels.
- Pull the instrument panel side trim panels outward to release the retaining clips.
- Remove the LH and RH lower cowl trim panels.
- Pull the lower cowl trim panels rearward to release the retaining clips.
- Remove the hood release handle bolt and handle.
- Remove and discard the steering column shaft-to-steering column bolt.
- Separate the steering column shaft from the steering column.
- Disconnect the LH instrument panel bulkhead electrical connector.
- Disconnect the 2 Smart Junction Box (SJB) lower electrical connectors and the lower bulkhead electrical connector.
- Remove the driver footrest pad.
- Remove the 2 pin-type retainers.
- Remove the LH and RH front carpet sections.
- Remove the 2 pin-type retainers.
- Remove the 2 pin-type retainers and the rear footwell duct.
- Disconnect the antenna cable and, if equipped, the satellite radio antenna connector.
- Disconnect the RH bulkhead electrical connector.
- Remove the 2 bolts and the ground wires from the floor pan tunnel.
- Disconnect the Restraints Control Module (RCM) small electrical connector and detach the 2 wire harness pin-type retainers.
- Remove the 4 instrument panel center support bracket bolts.
- Remove the 6 instrument panel side bolts.
- Remove the instrument panel from the vehicle.
- Rotate the instrument panel face down and remove through the RH front door opening.
NOTE:
To avoid damaging the carpet with coolant when the instrument panel is removed, the carpet must be removed.
NOTE:
To avoid damaging the instrument panel, an assistant is required to support the instrument panel when carrying out this step.
NOTE:
Remove the bolts from one side completely and support the instrument panel before removing the bolts from the opposite side.
NOTE:
To avoid damaging the instrument panel, an assistant is required when carrying out this step.
NOTE:
Make sure not to damage the RH front door trim panel or the instrument panel when removing the instrument panel from the vehicle.
NOTE:
Make sure that the electrical connectors and wiring are not caught up on other components when removing the instrument panel or damage to the components may occur.