Instrument Panel Assembly

INSTRUMENT PANEL

REMOVAL

WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIRBAGS, DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE THE BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE, THEN WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE PERFORMING FURTHER DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. THIS IS THE ONLY SURE WAY TO DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL
INJURY.

NOTE: Before starting this procedure, be certain to turn the steering wheel until the front wheels are in the straight-ahead position.

1. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable.
2. Remove the trim from the left and right cowl side inner panels. Refer to Trim Panel.
3. Remove the knee blocker from the instrument panel. Refer to Knee Diverter.
4. Remove the top cover from the instrument panel.
5. Remove the center support bracket from the instrument panel.
6. Remove the steering column from the vehicle.
7. Remove the screws from the centers of the instrument panel-to-body and the instrument panel to headlamp and dash wire harness connectors near the left cowl side inner panel and disconnect both connectors.
8. Disconnect the two wire harness connectors piggybacked on the instrument panel-to-instrument panel floor wire harness connector at the floor panel transmission tunnel under the instrument panel.
9. Remove the screw from the center of the instrument panel-to-instrument panel floor wire harness connector near the floor panel transmission tunnel under the instrument panel and disconnect the connector.
10. Roll down the glove box from the instrument panel.
11. Reach through the inboard side of the instrument panel glove box opening to disconnect the two halves of the heater-A/C system vacuum harness connector.
12. Reach under the right end of the instrument panel to access and disconnect the two halves of the radio antenna coaxial cable connector. On Left-Hand Drive models only, also disengage the retainer on the radio half of the coaxial cable from the heater-A/C housing kick cover.

Fig. 2:

13. Loosen the right and left instrument panel cowl side roll down screws about 6 mm (0.25 inch) (Fig. 2).
14. Remove the six screws and two nuts that secure the top of the instrument panel to the top of the dash panel near the base of the windshield.
15. With the aid of an assistant, lift the top of the instrument panel off of the two dash panel weldstuds. Then pull the lower instrument panel rearward to clear the cowl side roll down screws.
16. Remove the instrument panel from the vehicle. Be certain to take the proper precautions to protect the instrument panel from any possible cosmetic damage while it is removed from the vehicle.

INSTALLATION

WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIRBAGS, DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE
THE BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE, THEN WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE PERFORMING FURTHER DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. THIS IS THE ONLY SURE WAY TO DISABLE THE AIRBAG
SYSTEM. FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

Fig. 3:

1. With the aid of an assistant, position the instrument panel into the vehicle and place the instrument panel end brackets onto the cowl side roll down screws and the mounting holes on the top of the instrument panel over the two dash panel weldstuds (Fig. 3).
2. Install and tighten the six screws and two nuts that secure the top of the instrument panel to the top of the dash panel near the base of the windshield. Tighten the screws and nuts to 7 N.m (60 in.lbs.)
3. Tighten the right and left instrument panel cowl side roll down screws. Tighten the screws to 28 N.m (250 in.lbs.).
4. Reach under the right end of the instrument panel to access and reconnect the two halves of the radio antenna coaxial cable connector. On Left-Hand Drive models only, also engage the retainer on the radio half of the coaxial cable onto the heater-A/C housing kick cover.
5. Reach through the inboard side of the instrument panel glove box opening to reconnect the two halves of the heater-A/C system vacuum harness connector.
6. Roll up the glove box into the instrument panel.
7. Reconnect the instrument panel-to-instrument panel floor wire harness connector near the floor panel transmission tunnel under the instrument panel and tighten the connector screw. Tighten the screw to 4 N.m (35 in.lbs).
8. Reconnect the two wire harness connectors piggybacked on the instrument panel-to-instrument panel floor wire harness connector at the floor panel transmission tunnel under the instrument panel.
9. Reconnect the instrument panel-to-body and the instrument panel-to-headlamp and dash wire harness connectors near the left cowl side inner panel and tighten the connector screws. Tighten the screws to 4 N.m (35 in.lbs).
10. Reinstall the steering column into the vehicle.
11. Reinstall the center support bracket onto the instrument panel.
12. Reinstall the top cover onto the instrument panel.
13. Reinstall the knee blocker onto the instrument panel.
14. Reinstall the trim onto the left and right cowl side inner panels.
15. Reconnect the battery negative cable.