Dashboard / Instrument Panel: Service and Repair

Instrument panel mountings and removal steps are illustrated below. Part of the procedure for removing the instrument panel requires drilling out the steering column mounting bolts (shear-bolts) and lowering the steering column. Also, work carefully to avoid damaging the many molded-in pins and other retaining parts.

Requirements:

- Remove center console.

- Remove inner door sill trim.





- Remove lower "A-pillar" kick panel trim.









- Remove storage trays or knee bar.

- New shear-bolts for remounting steering column tube.

To Remove Instrument Panel





1. Move the heating and ventilation controls out of the way.

2. Drill out and remove the shear bolts that secure the steering column, then lower the steering column. See Steering and Suspension for more information about the steering column assembly.





3. Disconnect the ground connections and harness connectors from behind the instrument panel. Disconnect the instrument panel wiring harness connectors from behind the fuse/relay panel.





4. Remove the trim caps and screws on each end of the instrument panel. Remove the retainers from the air intake housing behind panel.

5. Disconnect the brackets between the instrument panel and the floor tunnel, fold them out of the way and remove the instrument panel.

Installation is the reverse of removal. On cars with a cable-driven speedometer, the cable is only pushed into the back of the speedometer. For installation, temporarily disconnect the cable inside the fresh air plenum under the hood. While fitting the instrument panel, make sure that the air ducting is properly seated on the heater housing.