1998+ DASH TAKEOUT TUTORIAL
98+ Dash Takeout Tutorial
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Re: Dash-takeout-tutorial...
Ok... first of all you HAVE to have some sort of organization here...
Be prepared to spend at least a couple of days doing whatever you're doing to your dash...
It took me about 4 hours to take it out, and about 3.5 to put it back it.
(note that this is the first time i have EVER taken out a dash)
There is going to be about 80 bolts/screws.
I used an old cheap screw organizer I found in my garage... An old tackle box will work just as well..
Also what you can do, which i found to be better is take a piece of box cardboard, and take the screw and screw it into the cardboard and write where it came from next to it...
Ok... first of all you HAVE to have some sort of organization here...
Be prepared to spend at least a couple of days doing whatever you're doing to your dash...
It took me about 4 hours to take it out, and about 3.5 to put it back it.
(note that this is the first time i have EVER taken out a dash)
There is going to be about 80 bolts/screws.
I used an old cheap screw organizer I found in my garage... An old tackle box will work just as well..
Also what you can do, which i found to be better is take a piece of box cardboard, and take the screw and screw it into the cardboard and write where it came from next to it...
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Re: Dash-takeout-tutorial...
The next thing is to turn the airbag off w/ the key, then disconnect the battery and let it sit for about 30 minutes, just to be shure that the airbag doesent go off. (since the airbag is going to be coming out).
After disconnecting the battery..
I started w/ the airbag and cover so thats where we will start... You are going to need to take off the right upper speaker grille on top of the dash.
Then take off the glove box. This part is easy and straight forward.. just make sure that you are organizing your screws...
After thoose are both removed go ahead and take off all of the black plastic pieces under the dash. I believe there is 3 or 4. And set them in the back of your truck, or thats what i did lol.
After the glove box is off, there will be a steel L bracket, held in place by a couple of big bolts.. It should connect the airbag to the inside of the dash if I remember correctly. There is also a triangular bracket that the antenna covered w/ black insulation, goes through. Unbolt that.
The next thing is to turn the airbag off w/ the key, then disconnect the battery and let it sit for about 30 minutes, just to be shure that the airbag doesent go off. (since the airbag is going to be coming out).
After disconnecting the battery..
I started w/ the airbag and cover so thats where we will start... You are going to need to take off the right upper speaker grille on top of the dash.
Then take off the glove box. This part is easy and straight forward.. just make sure that you are organizing your screws...
After thoose are both removed go ahead and take off all of the black plastic pieces under the dash. I believe there is 3 or 4. And set them in the back of your truck, or thats what i did lol.
After the glove box is off, there will be a steel L bracket, held in place by a couple of big bolts.. It should connect the airbag to the inside of the dash if I remember correctly. There is also a triangular bracket that the antenna covered w/ black insulation, goes through. Unbolt that.
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Re: Dash-takeout-tutorial...
Now take off the lower panel under the steering column. If you have taken all of the black shrowd stuff off, it should just be four bolts. The e-brake release is also connected to this.. To release this, look under the dash and connected to the side is a bracket. and there is a cable that has a pin on the end of it. The pin is hooked at the end of this bracket, and all you have to do, is pull the pin twords the front of the truck and w/ your finger push the spring loaded bracket the other way and slide the cable out of this bracket... There is also a rubber piece that clips onto another bracket that will need to be popped off. Then pull the whole piece towards you and pull the cable out with it.
Now take the dash bezel that goes around your gauges and a/c controls and radio out. There is two bolts that were under that piece under the colum. Take thoose out. There should be another bolt up above your gauges. After that it should just pop off. Make sure and move the steering wheel down, and put it in first gear to get this off. Also make sure to unplug the airbag switch and the domelight controls. The domlight controls just unplug and there is a panel attached by a couple of bolts that just come off.
You're going to need to take out your gauges as well. They just have like 4 bolts that bolt them down, then unplug them.
Now take off the lower panel under the steering column. If you have taken all of the black shrowd stuff off, it should just be four bolts. The e-brake release is also connected to this.. To release this, look under the dash and connected to the side is a bracket. and there is a cable that has a pin on the end of it. The pin is hooked at the end of this bracket, and all you have to do, is pull the pin twords the front of the truck and w/ your finger push the spring loaded bracket the other way and slide the cable out of this bracket... There is also a rubber piece that clips onto another bracket that will need to be popped off. Then pull the whole piece towards you and pull the cable out with it.
Now take the dash bezel that goes around your gauges and a/c controls and radio out. There is two bolts that were under that piece under the colum. Take thoose out. There should be another bolt up above your gauges. After that it should just pop off. Make sure and move the steering wheel down, and put it in first gear to get this off. Also make sure to unplug the airbag switch and the domelight controls. The domlight controls just unplug and there is a panel attached by a couple of bolts that just come off.
You're going to need to take out your gauges as well. They just have like 4 bolts that bolt them down, then unplug them.
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Re: Dash-takeout-tutorial...
Then go and take out the radio and ac controls. The radio unplugs, and then unplug your rcs and antenna. Then unplug your ac controls this is pretty strait forward. Also get like masking tape and (@)-- wrap the wire and write on the tape whrere the plug goes.
(You can skip this step if you want to take the airbag out afterwards, but I think this way is easier.)
Next, go and reach around to where the airbag is, and there is a nut you will need a deep well to get too. You can feel the airbag screwed to this. There is also one on the other side going through the speaker grill that you will have to take out. There is also a few bolts above the glove box holding the airbag in place too. After all there are out, the airbag should just slide out towards you. You can just unplug the airbag and the airbag cover is like wrapped over it and stretched on over metal clips. It is really easy to take off.
Then go and take out the radio and ac controls. The radio unplugs, and then unplug your rcs and antenna. Then unplug your ac controls this is pretty strait forward. Also get like masking tape and (@)-- wrap the wire and write on the tape whrere the plug goes.
(You can skip this step if you want to take the airbag out afterwards, but I think this way is easier.)
Next, go and reach around to where the airbag is, and there is a nut you will need a deep well to get too. You can feel the airbag screwed to this. There is also one on the other side going through the speaker grill that you will have to take out. There is also a few bolts above the glove box holding the airbag in place too. After all there are out, the airbag should just slide out towards you. You can just unplug the airbag and the airbag cover is like wrapped over it and stretched on over metal clips. It is really easy to take off.
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Re: Dash-takeout-tutorial...
Now you take out the fuse panel and fuse holder. It is unbolted w/ a single bolt.
Then you need to go and remove the kickpanels and obviously the door sills. They just pop out. You also need to remove the a pillars.
Then go on the passenger side and there is a main bolt(s) behind the kickpanel that attaches the dash to the truck.
Then on the drivers side There should be the same bolt(s).
There is also another steel L bracket w/ 4 big bolts that needs to come out.
There is also another bracket by by the front of the center console and under the ac controls that needs to come out.. Write w/ the masking take where these go.
Now you take out the fuse panel and fuse holder. It is unbolted w/ a single bolt.
Then you need to go and remove the kickpanels and obviously the door sills. They just pop out. You also need to remove the a pillars.
Then go on the passenger side and there is a main bolt(s) behind the kickpanel that attaches the dash to the truck.
Then on the drivers side There should be the same bolt(s).
There is also another steel L bracket w/ 4 big bolts that needs to come out.
There is also another bracket by by the front of the center console and under the ac controls that needs to come out.. Write w/ the masking take where these go.
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Re: Dash-takeout-tutorial...
OK... Now the dash should wobble back and forth a little. And you should be able to pull up on the bottom and it move..
Now go and unscrew the other speaker grill. There should be a bolt that screws into the truck from the dash... Take that out.. and the one in the other grill too.
Also on the defroster vent; that pops off. BE EXTREMELY CAREFULL as this will crack and break easily. There are six clips and you have to get a screwdriver and basically pry it out. After this comes out there are like 3 or 4 bolts that bolt the dash to the truck. Undo these. The dash is almost ready to pop off.
OK... Now the dash should wobble back and forth a little. And you should be able to pull up on the bottom and it move..
Now go and unscrew the other speaker grill. There should be a bolt that screws into the truck from the dash... Take that out.. and the one in the other grill too.
Also on the defroster vent; that pops off. BE EXTREMELY CAREFULL as this will crack and break easily. There are six clips and you have to get a screwdriver and basically pry it out. After this comes out there are like 3 or 4 bolts that bolt the dash to the truck. Undo these. The dash is almost ready to pop off.
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Re: Dash-takeout-tutorial...
Now the dash will slide out. And if not, just see what is holding it and look for bolts. I'm sure I have 1 or 2. Its not hard though. Ok, Now slide the dash off a little, but it shouldn't come off all the way cuz the wiring harness is connected to it in the back.
You need to reach behine the dash and there should be a TON of black electrical take wrapping it to the dash just cut it off. You will retape it or in my case zip tie it back to it... It starts by the glove box and snakes its way behind the dash, and connects everything, (airbag sens, radio, ac, aux powr, glvbox light, ashtray light, steering column wires, gauges, domelights switches, air bag switch).
After the electrical tape is cut. There might be a couple of random bolts back there, just check and see before you rip the dash out completelly. After those wires are disconnected, You should be able to pop it out.
Its kinda tricky to pull out, it like slides in place. You will see by the kick panels how it slides. Just pull up on it and then out. I pulled the drives side out most of the way, then went to the passenger side and pulled that side out. Then I lifted it over the steering column and just took it out of the pass side. Double check that you unpluged everything and that they are all labeled.
Now the dash will slide out. And if not, just see what is holding it and look for bolts. I'm sure I have 1 or 2. Its not hard though. Ok, Now slide the dash off a little, but it shouldn't come off all the way cuz the wiring harness is connected to it in the back.
You need to reach behine the dash and there should be a TON of black electrical take wrapping it to the dash just cut it off. You will retape it or in my case zip tie it back to it... It starts by the glove box and snakes its way behind the dash, and connects everything, (airbag sens, radio, ac, aux powr, glvbox light, ashtray light, steering column wires, gauges, domelights switches, air bag switch).
After the electrical tape is cut. There might be a couple of random bolts back there, just check and see before you rip the dash out completelly. After those wires are disconnected, You should be able to pop it out.
Its kinda tricky to pull out, it like slides in place. You will see by the kick panels how it slides. Just pull up on it and then out. I pulled the drives side out most of the way, then went to the passenger side and pulled that side out. Then I lifted it over the steering column and just took it out of the pass side. Double check that you unpluged everything and that they are all labeled.
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Re: Dash-takeout-tutorial...
Now.. if you didn't remove the airbag you should now, and set the dash where your going to work on it.
You also probablly need to take out the air vents/vent system.. There are just a couple of bolts. And take your grab handle off; it just has a couple of nuts you can see from the back of the dash....
Now.. if you didn't remove the airbag you should now, and set the dash where your going to work on it.
You also probablly need to take out the air vents/vent system.. There are just a couple of bolts. And take your grab handle off; it just has a couple of nuts you can see from the back of the dash....
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Re: Dash-takeout-tutorial...
I tweeded my dash and if enough of you want too see how I did that I might make another one but here are some pics...
I tweeded my dash and if enough of you want too see how I did that I might make another one but here are some pics...
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Re: Dash-takeout-tutorial...
The dash goes in the same way... just make sure you do everything the exact opposite, and have a friend help you zip tie the wires to the dash while someone else holds it up so you can see.. AND double check all the plugs and wires. If you don't forget anything it should go back together perfect.. And you'll probabbly want to put the airbag and cover in be4 you put it back in.
Well, i hope i have answered some questions you might have associated w/ taking off your pass airbag cover out or if you want to take out your whole dash....
mike
The dash goes in the same way... just make sure you do everything the exact opposite, and have a friend help you zip tie the wires to the dash while someone else holds it up so you can see.. AND double check all the plugs and wires. If you don't forget anything it should go back together perfect.. And you'll probabbly want to put the airbag and cover in be4 you put it back in.
Well, i hope i have answered some questions you might have associated w/ taking off your pass airbag cover out or if you want to take out your whole dash....
mike
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