Instrument Panel Assembly

REMOVAL


WARNING: DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE REMOTE TERMINAL BEFORE BEGINNING ANY INSTRUMENT PANEL OR COMPONENT REMOVAL OR INSTALLATION PROCEDURE.THIS WILL DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM.FAILURE TO DISCONNECT BATTERY COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.ALLOW SYSTEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE FOR 2 MINUTES.

Fig. 1 Negative Battery Cable Remote Terminal:

1. Open hood and disconnect the negative battery cable remote terminal from the remote battery post (Fig.1).
2. Remove one Allen screw to shifter knob.
3. Remove left and right instrument panel end covers.
4. Using a trim stick (special tool #C-4755) or equivalent, gently pry up on shifter bezel.
5. Disconnect two wire connectors, one illumination bulb socket, and remove.
6. Remove two screws from lower instrument panel cover (outside end) and disconnect deck lid release switch wiring connector. Pull rearward on lower instrument panel cover releasing clips. Remove cable to brake release handle. Pull rearward and remove cover from vehicle.
7. On six passenger vehicles, remove the lower floor bin and proceed with Step 13.
8. On five passenger vehicles, use trim stick or equivalent to gently remove center bezel.
9. Disconnect wire connectors to the HVAC control and traction control switch and remove bezel from vehicle.
10. Remove two screws to left console side covet, pull outboard and remove from vehicle.
11. Lower glove box door to floor by pinching sides together, towards each other.Remove two screws to right console side cover, pull outboard and remove from vehicle.
12. Remove two front bracket screws and two screws inside console storage bin to remove console.
13. Remove two nuts attaching center lower instrument panel to floor tunnel bracket.
14. Remove four bolts to steel reinforcement from bottom of lower instrument panel cover and disconnect 16-way Diagnostic Link Connector (DLC) from steel reinforcement.
15. Remove one screw to left floor duct/silencer pad and remove from vehicle.
16. Remove steering column from vehicle.
a. Remove column shrouds.
b. Disconnect shift interlock cable at ignition switch.
c. Disconnect column wiring.
d. Disconnect under column duct section and remove from vehicle.
e. Disconnect and remove left panel A/C outlet duct.
f. Remove four column mounting bolts at brake pedal support bracket.
g. Lower steering column to floor.

17. Disconnect two harness connectors to the HVAC housing, the Airbag Control Module (ACM), and two ground eyelets left of the floor tunnel near the bulkhead.
18. Using a trim stick or equivalent, gently pry out on the left and right A-pillar trim moldings, and slide rearward to remove.
19. Using a trim stick or equivalent, gently pry up on the instrument panel top cover and remove by gently pulling toward the rear of vehicle.
20. Remove one screw retaining each left and right scuff plate.Using a trim stick or equivalent, gently pry up on left and right scuff plates and remove from vehicle.
21. Remove three screws to right and left side cowl side kick panels and remove from vehicle.
22. Remove right side under dash silencer/pad.
23. Disconnect the two right side harness connectors to radio antenna and amplifier DIN cable.
24. Disconnect the left side harness connectors to junction block and Body Control Module (BCM).
25. Remove eight remaining instrument panel retaining screws to body.
26. Pull rearward on instrument panel.
27. Make sure that all harnesses are free and clear from snagging.
28. With the help of an assistant, remove instrument panel from vehicle and place on bench.

Fig. 3 Instrument Panel Components - Intrepid:

29. If replacing instrument panel and pad assembly, transfer all parts to new assembly.Refer to (Fig.3).

INSTALLATION
1. If replacing instrument panel and pad assembly, transfer all parts to new assembly.
2. With the help of an assistant, place instrument panel into vehicle into the approximate mounting position.
3. Make sure that all harnesses are free and clear from snagging.
4. Install eight instrument panel retaining screws to body.
5. Connect the left side harness connectors to junction block and Body Control Module (BCM).
6. Connect the two right side harness connectors to radio antenna and amplifier DIN cable.
7. Install the right side under dash silencer/pad.
8. Place the right and left cowl side kick panels into position and install the three retaining screws.
9. Place the right and left scuff plates into position and firmly press them into place.Install the one screw retaining each left and right scuff plate.
10. Place the instrument panel top cover into position and firmly snap into place.
11. Place the right and left A-pillar trim moldings into place starting from the rear and firmly snap into place.
12. Connect the two harness connectors to the HVAC housing, the Airbag Control Module (ACM), and two ground eyelets left of the floor tunnel near the bulkhead.
13. Install the steering column:
a. Raise steering column into position at brake pedal support bracket.
b. Install the four column mounting bolts at brake pedal support bracket.
c. Place the left panel A/C outlet duct into position and firmly snap into place.
d. Place the under column duct section into position and firmly snap into place.
e. Connect column wiring.
f. Connect shift interlock cable at ignition switch.
g. Install the steering column shrouds.

14. Place the left floor duct/silencer pad into position and install the one retaining screw.
15. Connect the 16-way Diagnostic Link Connector (DLC) to the steel reinforcement.
16. Install the four bolts to steel reinforcement at the bottom of lower instrument panel cover.
17. Install the two nuts attaching center lower instrument panel to floor tunnel bracket.On six passenger vehicles go to Step 24
18. Install the two front bracket screws and two screws inside console storage bin to console.
19. Place the right console side cover into position and firmly snap into place.Install the two screws to right console side cover.
20. Raise glove box door to by pinching sides together, towards each other.
21. Place the left console side cover into position and firmly snap into place.Install the two screws to the left console side cover.
22. Connect wire connectors to hvac control and traction control switch.
23. On five passenger vehicles, place instrument panel center bezel into position and firmly snap into place.
24. On six passenger vehicles, install the lower floor bin.
25. Connect decklid release switch wiring connector, install the cable to brake release handle. Place the left lower instrument panel cover into position and firmly snap into place. Install the two screws to the lower instrument panel cover (outside end).
26. Connect two wire connectors and one illumination bulb socket.
27. Place shifter bezel into position and firmly snap into place.
28. Install left and right instrument panel end covers by placing into position and firmly snapping into place.
29. Install the one Allen screw to shifter knob.
30. Connect the negative battery cable remote terminal to the remote battery post (Fig.1).