Dashboard / Instrument Panel: Service and Repair

Fig. 19 Upper Trim Panel Removal & Installation:

Fig. 20 Sound Insulator Panels:

Fig. 21 Steering Column Filler Panel Removal & Installation:

Fig. 22 Instrument Cluster Electrical Harness & Connectors:

1. Disconnect battery ground cable.
2. Remove defroster vent grilles, then remove five upper trim panel attaching screws, Fig. 19.
3. Lift up on rear of upper trim panel and pull rearward to release front of panel, then remove upper trim panel.
4. Remove dash panel upper insulator by removing push-on insulator retainers.
5. Remove four screws attaching instrument panel trim pad assembly to lower instrument panel trim pad.
6. Lift instrument panel trim pad up and pull pad rearward to disengage pad from slots in lower trim pad assembly.
7. Remove passenger front seat to aid in the removal of lower trim pad components.
8. Remove left and right side sound insulator panels as shown in Fig. 20.
9. Remove steering column opening filler panel as shown in Fig. 21.
10. Disconnect brake handle from release cable, then remove brake release handle from instrument panel lower trim pad.
11. Disconnect hood latch cable-to-hood release handle, then remove release handle from instrument panel lower trim pad.
12. Remove left and right side lower A-pillar kick panels.
13. Disconnect instrument panel electrical harness from cross car harness (J-block connectors), Fig. 22.
14. Disconnect instrument panel harness from body harness (J-block connectors).
15. Remove steering column support bracket bolts and lower column.
16. Disconnect instrument panel harness from engine and headlamp harnesses at J-block connector near left side shock tower in engine compartment.
17. Disconnect remaining instrument panel electrical connectors as shown in Fig. 22.
18. Disconnect instrument panel harness ground (lugs) connections to the vehicle space frame located behind left side lower A-pillar kick panel.
19. Disconnect all instrument panel harness to steering column electrical connectors.
20. Temporarily, provide support for instrument panel lower trim panel before removing trim panel load bearing support braces.
21. Remove instrument panel center support bracket, steering column lower support and instrument panel lower brace.
22. Push engine compartment side of the instrument panel electrical harness through left side bulkhead grommet access hole into the passenger compartment.
23. Remove instrument panel lower trim pad from vehicle.
24. Reverse procedure to install.