Removal & Installation (Deployed Air Bag)

Before proceeding, follow air bag service precautions. See SERVICE PRECAUTIONS . Disable air bag system. See DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM .
Open both front doors, and remove left and right end covers from instrument panel. See Fig 1 . Carefully remove transmission range indicator bezel from floor console. Remove floor center console. Disconnect Air Bag Control Module (ACM). Remove 4 screws, pull on hood to disengage 8 clips, and remove instrument cluster hood. Remove cubby bin.
Remove knee bolster. Lower glove box door to access front of floor console. Remove 9 screws and one push pin from forward floor console. Pull driver-side underpanel outboard off distribution duct. Working from right to left, lift rear edge of top cover to disengage clips along rear edge. Lift rear edge, slide top cover rearward, and remove top cover.
Remove radio and A/C-heater control panel. Close glove box door. Remove 5 screws attaching instrument panel retainer to plenum. Remove steering column mounting bolts. Disconnect engine and body wiring harness from junction block and Body Control Module (BCM).
Remove the following fasteners:
- Four from left end and 3 from right end of car cross beam.
- Two at steering column plenum and one at glove box hinge to cowl.
- Two at center support to floor pan bracket.
- Remove 3 screws at bottom of A/C-heater control panel to instrument panel.
Lift instrument panel, move it rearward and remove. Disconnect passenger-side air bag connector. Remove passenger-side air bag. Install undamaged components from old instrument panel to a NEW instrument panel and pad.
Install NEW passenger air bag. Tighten nuts to 100 INCH lbs. (11 N.m) and screws to 20 INCH lbs. (2 N.m). To complete installation, reverse removal procedures. Before connecting negative battery cable, check system operation. See SYSTEM OPERATION CHECK .

Fig 1: Identifying Instrument Panel Components

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.