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Dashboard Removal Help, Safe Airbag

Q

qbcsvt

Hard-core CEG'er
Joined
Oct 12, 2006
Messages
3,145
Location
Up North New Jersey
I cant find a how to for this..

Anyone has a how to or advice to guide me through this. I tried to remove all the screws that I could see (each side of the dash and in the center 6 torx screws and 2 philips screws in total)

I also am wondering how the air bag can be removed without deployment on both the steering wheel as well as the dash.

The car has been of for about 8 hours at this point and will be sitting with no battery for another couple days.

All help is greatly appreciated, Thanks guys

- amyn
 
I only tried to do this once, and only part of the dashboard, but there are a lot of clips still holding your dash on, and they are VERY easy to break if you just bruteforce yank the dash off at this point. Take some time, prying parts back gently, and looking, you should be able to find all the clips and work them gently with a flathead screwdriver.
 
For the steering wheel air bag you have to have both connections to the battery removed for 20 mins to drain the backup.

Once you do so, remove the lower column surround that uses three phillips head screws (standard). The place you key in the ignition to unlock the wheel and turn it to the left or right 90*.

This makes it easier to get to the Torx head screws that are located in the center holes of the back side of the steering wheel (one on each side). Work from the bottom of the column. I believe they are size 26. It is pretty tight to fit the bit in there. I think it is best to fit it my hand then place your ratchet on there. This also will be tight to fit the handle on, but you can turn the wheel to get the best angle.

Then you can turn your wheel 180* and do the other side. With the screw out the bag will come right off, and there will be one elec. connection to remove.

If you are removing the wheel its only the center nut, and cruise control connection. Nut is 18mm IIRC, I think I had to use 5/8".
 
As for the dashboard, are there any connections that I will have to remove to safely not trigger the air bags. I have removed the battery for a couple days now.

Also when You say pry back at the dashboard. Where should I pry? Up by the windshield with a Flat Head Screw driver?

- amyn
 
Once the battery has been disconnected for 20 to 30 minutes, the backup power supply in the airbag module is depleted, and it can no longer deploy the bags.

However... The airbag squibs (the squibs are the ignitors for the gas generators) and the Sodium azide propellant can have some static sensitivity issues, it's best to keep a shorting plug or shorting wire on the airbag module pins when it's not connected to the vehicle wiring harness.

You may be able to short the bag terminals with a small wad of Aluminum foil, just don't insert it with a hairbrush on a dry day. :rolleyes:
 
I don't know anything about any clips to remove you will have to unplug the dash wire harness plugs

also loosen the nuts on the front of the passenger air bag accessed from the glove box...

the only clips I know are the ones on the a pillars I believe you need to pull the plastic trim up away from the dash if you pry on it they will snap.

go slow and don't force anything and you should be good.
 
96MystiqueGS said:
Here is a link to the dash warp fix instructions. It outlines the removal of all the bolts that mount it to the car.

http://www.bigmoneyracing.com/dash/contour_dash.pdf

I have pulled about 15 dashes so far, if you have any more questions after reading this, PM me and I'll answer your questions.
Click to expand...

Exactly what I was looking for! I had it but it was on my broken computer!

Im a Computer technician with no computer!

- amyn
 
Tried to pull the top off where the Windshield is located and its moving back to a certain point maybe half an inch or even less then it wont budge. Im unsure how I can pry at that area..... Im sure I have all the screws off for the Dashboard.

- amyn
 
OK guys I got it. For future reference all the bolts were off. Although the whole dash was moving around the two nuts that were bolted onto the front of the passenger airbag were holding the dash in from coming completely out!

- amyn
 
Been there done that, sorry I didn't catch this before. I've taken my dash out 3 times now. Its pretty easy just have to find all the bolts.
 
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