Instrument Panel Assembly: Removal

CAUTION:

Before handling the airbag system components, refer to "CAUTION" of "General Description" in "AIRBAG SYSTEM". <Ref. to CAUTION , General Description.>
Be careful not to damage the airbag system harness when servicing the instrument panel. Damage may cause the system to malfunction.

Disconnect the ground terminal from the battery sensor, and wait for at least 60 seconds before starting work. <Ref. to BATTERY , NOTE, Repair Contents.>
NOTE:
- On CVT models, shift the select lever into "N" before disconnecting the battery ground cable.
- For models with power seat, remove the slide rail installing bolt before disconnecting the ground terminal from the battery sensor.
Remove the front seats. <Ref. to REMOVAL , Front Seat.>
Remove the ornament panel - console, cover assembly - front, console box assembly and the panel center LWR. <Ref. to REMOVAL , Console Box.>
Remove the cover assembly - instrument panel LWR driver. <Ref. to REMOVAL , Instrument Panel Lower Cover.>
Remove the visor assembly - lower. <Ref. to TRIP RESET SWITCH , REMOVAL, Switches and Harness.>
Remove the combination meter assembly. <Ref. to REMOVAL , Combination Meter.>
Remove the keyless access Control Module. <Ref. to REMOVAL , Keyless Access Control Module.>
Remove the trim panel - front pillar UPR on the left and right sides. <Ref. to REMOVAL , Upper Inner Trim.>
Release the clips and claws, then detach the left and right grille speaker side.

Fig 1: Locating Clips And Claws Of Grille Speaker
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

NOTE: Remove the grille speaker side by using a plastic remover.
Remove the glove box assembly. <Ref. to REMOVAL , Glove Box.>
Remove the center grille assembly. <Ref. to CENTER GRILLE ASSEMBLY , REMOVAL, Air Vent Grille.>
Remove the heater control assembly. <Ref. to REMOVAL , Control Panel.>
Remove the audio assembly or navigation assembly. <Ref. to REMOVAL , Audio.>
Remove the pocket assembly - CTR. <Ref. to REMOVAL , External Connection Terminal.>
Remove the speaker assembly. <Ref. to REMOVAL , Audio.>
- Tweeter: <Ref. to TWEETER , REMOVAL, Front Speaker.>
- Center speaker: <Ref. to CENTER SPEAKER , REMOVAL, Front Speaker.>
Disconnect the passenger's airbag module connector. <Ref. to PASSENGER'S AIRBAG MODULE , PROCEDURE, Airbag Connector.>
Remove the column assembly - steering. <Ref. to REMOVAL , Steering Column.>
Remove the cover side sill - front and the front cover - side sill on the left and right sides. <Ref. to REMOVAL , Lower Inner Trim.>
Remove the body side weather strip - flange front.
Remove the screws, and release the telematics sub antenna lock.

Fig 2: Locating Telematics Sub Antenna Lock Screws
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Secure the released telematics sub antenna to the beam COMPL - steering with a tape.
NOTE: When removing the instrument panel assembly, do not remove the telematics sub antenna harness clamp from the beam COMPL - steering.
Remove the instrument panel assembly.
CAUTION:
- When taking the instrument panel assembly out of the vehicle, be careful not to allow the telematics sub antenna harness to be caught.
- Always work in a team of two persons when removing the instrument panel assembly from the vehicle, so as not to damage the vehicle interior.
1. Remove the screws.
  
  Fig 3: Removing Instrument Panel Assembly Screws
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  NOTE:
  - Remove the screw indicated with a gray arrow after removing the harness clamp, and remove the bracket - center UPR.
  - For models with rear heater, remove the clip indicated with white arrow.
2. Prepare two strings of 2 m (78.7 in).
3. Remove the sunload sensor and sensor - auto light.
  - Sunload sensor: <Ref. to REMOVAL , Sunload Sensor (Auto A/C Model).>
  - Sensor - automatic light: <Ref. to REMOVAL , Light Control Sensor.>
4. Tie a string to the connector harness side, and remove the harness clamp.
5. When the sensor connectors are pulled out to the lower side of the instrument panel by pulling the string, remove the string.
  NOTE: If the string falls out, the assembling work becomes very difficult. Therefore, secure the string on the instrument panel with an adhesive tape to prevent it from falling out.
  
  Fig 4: Locating Instrument Panel Connectors
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
6. After confirming that all harness clamps and connectors of the instrument panel harness are disconnected, take it out of the vehicle.
Remove the bolts, and then remove the panel - knee guard.

Fig 5: Locating Panel - Knee Guard Bolts
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Remove the beam COMPL - steering.
1. Remove the fuse box and relay box.
2. Disconnect all harness clamps and connectors of the instrument panel harness.
3. Remove the cap - bolt and remove the TORX® bolt. (a), (b)
  Preparation tool:
  
  TORX® T40
4. Remove the bolts at the floor center. (c), (d)
5. Remove the bolts and nuts, and disconnect the heater & cooling unit assembly. (e), (f)
6. Loosen the adjuster portion (g) of the adjuster - clip space. (Only RH side of the beam COMPL - steering)
  Preparation tool:
  
  Hexagon wrench: 8 mm (0.31 in)
  
  Fig 6: Locating Beam COMPL - Steering Bolts And Clamps
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
7. Slightly lift the beam COMPL - steering to detach the left and right pins. Then pull it toward you to remove.
CAUTION:
- Check that all harness clamps and connectors are detached.
- When taking the beam COMPL - steering out of the vehicle, be careful not to damage the vehicle interior.
Remove the grille front defroster.
Remove the screws, and then remove each vent duct.
Remove the claws, and remove the passenger's airbag module.

Fig 7: Removing Claws Of Passenger's Airbag Module

Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.