Instrument Panel

Instrument Panel

Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required

• Trim Removal Wedge (RMCP101)


Disable the airbag system before attempting any steering wheel, steering column, or instrument panel component diagnosis or service. Disconnect the negative battery 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 may result in accidental airbag deployment and possible serious or fatal injury.


Refer to the applicable warnings and cautions for the A/C system before performing the following operation. Failure to follow the warnings and cautions may result in serious or fatal injury.

• Take the proper precautions to protect the front face of the instrument panel from cosmetic damage during this service procedure.

Removing






- Disconnect the negative battery cable.

- Recover the refrigerant from the air conditioning system.

- Drain the cooling system.

- Disconnect gearshift cable from the transaxle and disconnect the cable from the bracket in the engine compartment.

- Remove the nut (3) securing the A/C suction line (1) and the A/C liquid line (5) to the A/C expansion valve (2).

- Disconnect the A/C suction (1) and liquid (5) lines from the A/C expansion valve (2) and remove and discard the dual-plane seals.

- Loosen the clamps and disconnect the heater hoses (4) from the heater core.

- Install plugs in, or tape over the opened refrigerant line fittings and the expansion valve and heater core ports.






- Remove the bolt (1) securing the heating, ventilation and air conditioning housing to the engine compartment side of the dash panel (2).

- Remove the floor ducts.

- Remove the steering column.

- Remove the left and right side A-pillar trim panels. Refer to => [ A-Pillar Trim Panel, Upper ] A-Pillar Trim Panel, Upper.

- Disconnect the wire harness connectors located on the A-pillars and disengage the instrument panel wire harness retainers from the A-pillars.

- Using trim removal wedge (RMCP101) , disengage the tabs that secure the rear of the instrument panel top cover to the instrument panel.

- Pull the instrument panel top cover rearward to disengage the retaining tabs at the front of the cover and remove the cover.

- Remove the bolts securing the front of the instrument panel to the top of the dash panel.






• Illustration shown with instrument panel removed for clarity.

- Remove the bolt (1) securing the HVAC air inlet housing (3) to the passenger side of the dash panel (2).






• Right side shown. Left side similar.

- Using trim removal wedge (RMCP101) , disengage the tabs securing the right and left side instrument panel end caps (1) to the instrument panel (2) and remove the end caps.






- Remove the push pin retainers (1) securing the sound insulator (3) to the passenger side of the instrument panel (2) and remove the insulator, if equipped.






- Remove the screws (3) securing the knee bolster cover (2) to the driver side of the instrument panel (1) and remove the cover.






- Remove the bolts (3) securing the knee bolster (2) to the instrument panel support (1).

- Lift the knee bolster upwards to disengage the tabs securing the knee bolster to the support and remove the knee bolster.

- Remove the front floor console.

- Remove the six plastic retainers securing the instrument panel console to the instrument panel.

- Disconnect the wire harness connectors from the back of the console and remove the console.

- Remove the occupant restraint controller. Refer to => [ Occupant Restraint Controller ] Occupant Restraint Controller.






• Right side shown. Left side similar.

- Pull the carpet back to gain access to the instrument panel center support brackets (3).

- Remove the bolts (2) securing each instrument panel center support bracket to the instrument panel support (1) and the floor panel (4).

- Disengage the tab securing the top of each instrument panel center support bracket to the instrument panel support and remove the brackets.






- Remove the right and left side lower A-pillar trim panels. Refer to => [ A-Pillar Trim Panel, Lower ] A-Pillar Trim Panel, Lower.

- Disconnect the instrument panel wire harness connectors located below each end of the instrument panel and disengage the wire harness retainer from the cowl panel.

- Remove the bolts (1) securing each end of the instrument panel (4) to the cowl side panels (2).

- With assistance, lift the instrument panel upward to disengage the retaining tab (3) that secures each end of the instrument panel to the cowl side panels.

• Route the gear shift cable thought the dash panel while removing the instrument panel.

- Remove the instrument panel and HVAC housing as an assembly and place them on a workbench.

- Remove the HVAC housing from the instrument panel, if required.

Installing






- Install the HVAC housing into the instrument panel.

• Route the gear shift cable thought the dash panel while positioning the instrument panel into the vehicle.

- With assistance, position the instrument panel and HVAC housing as an assembly into the vehicle and engage the tab (3) securing each end of the instrument panel (4) to the cowl side panels (2).

- Install the bolts (1) securing each end of the instrument panel to the cowl side panels. Tighten the bolts to 14 Nm (120 in lbs).

- Connect the instrument panel wire harness connectors located below each end of the instrument panel and engage the wire harness retainer to the cowl panel.

- Install the steering column.

- install the right and left side lower A-pillar trim panels. Refer to => [ A-Pillar Trim Panel, Lower ] A-Pillar Trim Panel, Lower.






- Engage the tab securing the top of each instrument panel center support bracket (3) to the instrument panel support (1) and position each bracket to the floor panel (4).

- Install the bolts (2) securing each instrument panel center support bracket to the instrument panel support and the floor panel. Tighten the bolts to 9 Nm (80 in lbs).

- Reposition the carpet.

- Install the ORC. Refer to => [ Occupant Restraint Controller ] Occupant Restraint Controller.

- Position the instrument panel console to the instrument panel and connect the wire harness connectors to the back of the console.

- Install the plastic retainers securing the instrument panel console to the instrument panel.

- Install the front floor console.






- Engage the tabs securing the knee bolster (2) to the instrument panel support (1).

- Install the screws (3) securing the knee bolster to the instrument panel support. Tighten the bolts to 4 Nm (35 in lbs) in the following sequence:

• Upper outboard.

• Upper inboard.

• Lower outboard.

• Lower inboard.








- Install the screws (3) securing the knee bolster cover (2) to the driver side of the instrument panel (1).






- Position the right and left side instrument panel end caps (1) to the instrument panel (2) and engage the tabs securing the end caps to the instrument panel. Make sure the tabs are fully engaged.

- Install the bolts securing the front of the instrument panel to the top of the dash panel. Tighten the bolts to 9 Nm (80 in lbs).






- Install the bolt (1) securing the HVAC air inlet housing (3) to the passenger side of the dash panel (2). Tighten the bolt to 3 Nm (27 in lbs).

- Engage the tabs securing the front of the instrument panel top cover to the top of the instrument panel.

- Engage the tabs securing the rear of the instrument panel top cover to the instrument panel. Make sure the tabs are fully engaged.

- Connect the wire harness connectors located at the A-pillars and engage the instrument panel wire harness retainers to the A-pillars. Make sure the wire retainers are fully engaged.

- Install the left and right side A-pillar trim panels. Refer to => [ A-Pillar Trim Panel, Upper ] A-Pillar Trim Panel, Upper.






- Position the sound insulator (3) to the passenger side of the instrument panel (2) and install the push pin retainers (1), if equipped.






- Install the floor ducts.

- Install the bolt (1) securing the HVAC housing to the engine compartment side of the dash panel (2). Tighten the bolt to 3 Nm (27 in lbs).






- Remove the tape or plugs from the opened refrigerant line fittings and expansion valve and heater core ports

- Lubricate new seals with clean refrigerant oil and install them onto the refrigerant line fittings. Use only the specified seals as they are made of a special material for the R-134a system. Use only refrigerant oil of the type recommended for the A/C compressor in the vehicle.


Use care when installing the A/C lines to the A/C expansion valve. Carefully align the tube ends with the valve prior to tightening the A/C line retaining nut or damage to the sealing rings and tube ends may occur.

- Connect the A/C suction line (1) and the A/C liquid line (5) to the A/C expansion valve (2).

- Install the nut (3) securing the A/C suction and liquid lines to the A/C expansion valve. Tighten the nut to 23 Nm (17 ft lbs).

- Connect the heater hoses (4) to the heater core. Tighten the clamps securely.

- Connect the gearshift cable to the transaxle and bracket in the engine compartment.

- Connect the negative battery cable.

- If the heater core is being replaced, flush the cooling system.

- Refill the cooling system.

- Charge the A/C system.