Replacing Center Dash Trim

BigKenSteele · 10:45 AM

Has anyone out there ever replaced this panel? Can it be done without removing the vent controls (I have it unbolted and pulled out as far as possible)? How about the lighter? Should I removed the shroud around the steering column and wiper switch?

Any and all tips/tricks will be most appreciated!

BigKenSteele · 04-23-2005, 05:53 AM

Anyone? Getting ready to head out to the garage, and I was hoping to have a little more knowledge going in.

pwd72s · 04-23-2005, 07:52 AM

No vents in my car, and I've never done the job, but just looking at things, it seems to me that the factory had the trim in place before installing the switches, lighter, etc. So, I'd guess the process should be reversed?

BigKenSteele · 04-23-2005, 08:22 PM

Thought I would answer my own question in hopes of helping somebody else out one day. I was afraid that I would have to take out the entire vent control assembly (I didn't) and the whole fresh air blower just to get the cig lighter out (I didn't). It seems like a lot, but it really isn't that bad.

1. remove defroster and fog-light knobs and bezels.
2. remove radio
3. remove cig lighter by reaching right hand up under dash to hold the lighter "cage" stationary while insterting two fingers into the lighter itself and turning counter clockwise. The inside of the lighter (and the plastic bezel around it) will screw out of the assembly.
4. the vent control panel does not have to come out completely, but you will need to take out the 10mm bolt holding it to the firewall. This will allow it to be pulled out an inch or two. I also found it handy to loosen the top cable using an 8mm wrench to gain a little more wiggle room.
5. remove the steering wheel - I used a 1 1/16in socket, and I am not sure what the corresponding metric size is.
6. remove the plastic trim pieces around the steering column (this is the one thing covered in the Bentley manual). It is very helpful if your screwdriver is magnetized to carefully extract the small screws.
7. remove the cruise control switch arm. Just unscrew it and let it dangle, no need to remove the electrical connection.
8. pry off the old dash trim piece and carefully work it around the vent control assembly.
9. the worst part of the job - removing the old adhesive. I used a sharp chisel, a putty knife, and a homemade plastic scraper to get the big stuff off. Then some Goof-Off to get the rest. You want the surface to be pretty clean.
10. now that it was clean, I decided to test fit the new piece to see how fast I could get it on (didn't want the glue to dry before I could get it on there), and to find the best places to clamp it. I found that the switch bezels for the fog and defroster switches would hold the top in place well, while a small c-clamp and a little block of wood took care of the space between the steering column and the vent controls. I also put a spring clamp on the thin strip between the radio and the glove box.
11. after the test fit, I removed the piece and used masking tape to cover all of the areas around the trim including the vent control module since I was using spray adhesive.
12. some people say to just use 2-face tape, but I chose to use 3M trim adhesive because I had it and did not want to make a trip to the store. Another guy told me to use Gorilla glue because it will hold it on forever. Knowing that if I ever needed to take this thing back off, I would most likely want to salvage it and wouldn't want to spend half a day scraping, I decided not to heed his advice.
13. I sprayed the adhesive on the metal dash contact area. I then sprayed the backside of the trim piece to make sure I had 100% coverage.
14. carefully manuever the piece around the vent control face plate. This is a little difficult but not too bad since you have already practiced it.
15. line the piece up carfully, making sure that all of the items on the dash are centered properly in the corresponding openings on the trim piece.
16. Clamp everything and wait a day.
17. Assembly is reverse of removal.

Good luck!

Kroggers · Kroggers's Garage

How did you remove the defroster and fog-light knobs and bezels?

BigKenSteele · 04-25-2005, 09:34 AM

You just unscrew the knobs. The shafts are actually part of the knobs. The bezels are flat with 4 small holes and also unsrew. You can make a tool out of strong wire or a paper clip. I used a hooked pick that I happened to have in my toolbox. Good luck.

Kroggers · Kroggers's Garage

So the knobs unscrew from the front and drop out? I was trying to pull them out from the back

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