Instrument Panel Assembly

INSTRUMENT PANEL ASSEMBLY

REMOVAL

WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR-BAGS, DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, SEAT BELT TENSIONER, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE THE BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE, THEN WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE PERFORMING FURTHER DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. THIS IS THE ONLY SURE WAY TO DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

NOTE: Before starting this procedure, be certain to turn the steering wheel until the front wheels are in the straight-ahead position.

1. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable.

NOTE: Dakota shown, Durango similar.

Fig. 12:

2. Remove the defroster grille from the instrument panel (Fig. 12).
3. Remove the a-pillar trim. Refer to Trim Panel.
4. Remove the end caps from the left and right outboard ends of the instrument panel.
5. Remove the trim from the left and right cowl side inner panels.
6. Remove the door sill trim.
7. Remove the cluster bezel from the instrument panel.
8. Remove the steering column opening cover from the instrument panel.
9. Remove the lower bezel from the instrument panel.
10. If the vehicle is so equipped, remove the console from the floor panel transmission tunnel.
11. From under the passenger side end of the instrument panel, perform the following:
a. Disconnect the two halves of the radio antenna coaxial cable connector.
b. If the vehicle is equipped with the Infinity sound system option, disconnect the two instrument panel wire harness connectors for the amplifier from the connector receptacles on the bottom of the amplifier on the right cowl side inner panel.
c. Remove the nut that secures the instrument panel wire harness ground take out eyelet terminal connector to the ground stud on the right cowl side inner panel, and remove the eyelet terminal from the stud

12. From under the driver side end of the instrument panel, perform the following:
a. Remove the two screws that secure the inside hood release bracket to the instrument panel.
b. Disengage the 16-way data link connector from the inside hood release bracket and lower the release handle and bracket to the floor.
c. Disconnect the instrument panel wire harness connector for the Airbag Control Module (ACM) on the floor panel transmission tunnel from the ACM connector receptacle.
d. Remove the two screws that secure the instrument panel wire harness ground take out eyelet terminal connectors to the left side of the ACM mounting bracket on the floor panel transmission tunnel.
e. Disconnect the two instrument panel wire harness connectors for the Central Timer Module (CTM) on the left cowl side inner panel from the two outboard connector receptacles on the CTM.
f. Remove the nut that secures the instrument panel wire harness ground take out eyelet terminal connector to the ground stud on the left cowl side inner panel, and remove the eyelet terminal from the stud.
g. Disconnect the instrument panel wire harness connector for the park brake switch from the switch terminal on the park brake mechanism.
h. Disconnect the instrument panel wire harness connector for the brake lamp switch from the switch connector receptacle.
i. Remove the screw that secures the center of the instrument panel wire harness bulkhead connector to the headlamp and dash wire harness bulkhead connector and disconnect the connector.
j. Disconnect the two body wire harness connectors from the two instrument panel wire harness connectors that are piggybacked on the bulkhead connector.
k. Disconnect the body wire harness connector from the connector receptacle on the back of the Junction Block (JB).
l. Disconnect the two headlamp and dash wire harness connectors from the connector receptacles on the back of the JB.

13. Remove the steering column from the vehicle.
14. Loosen the right and left instrument panel cowl side rolldown bracket screws about 13 mm (0.50 inch).
15. Remove the two screws that secure the instrument panel end brackets to each A-pillar.
16. Remove the two screws that secure the instrument panel center bracket to the ACM mounting bracket on the floor panel transmission tunnel.
17. Remove the five screws that secure the top of the instrument panel to the top of the dash panel, removing the center screw last.
18. Roll down the instrument panel and install a temporary hook in the center hole on top of the instrument panel. Secure the other end of the hook to the center hole in the top of the dash panel. The hook should support the instrument panel in its rolled down position about 46 cm (18 inches) from the dash panel.
19. With the instrument panel supported in the rolldown position, disconnect the instrument panel wire harness connector from the heater-A/C housing wire harness connector.
20. With the aid of an assistant, remove the temporary hook and lift the instrument panel assembly off of the rolldown bracket screws and remove it from the vehicle.

INSTALLATION

WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR-BAGS, DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, SEAT BELT TENSIONER, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE THE BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE, THEN WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE PERFORMING FURTHER DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. THIS IS THE ONLY SURE WAY TO DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

1. With the aid of an assistant, load the instrument panel assembly onto the roll-down bracket screws on the cowl side inner panels in the vehicle. Install a temporary hook in the center hole on top of the instrument panel. Secure the other end of the hook to the center hole in the top of the dash panel. The hook should support the instrument panel in its rolled down position about 46 cm (18 inches) from the dash panel.
2. With the instrument panel supported in the roll-down position, connect the instrument panel wire harness connector to the heater-A/C housing wire harness connector.
3. Remove the temporary hook from the instrument panel and roll the instrument panel up to its installed position against the dash panel.
4. Install the five screws that secure the top of the instrument panel to the top of the dash panel (Fig. 12).
5. Install the two screws that secure the instrument panel center bracket to the Airbag Control Module (ACM) mounting bracket on the floor panel transmission tunnel. Tighten the screws to 11 N.m (8 ft. lbs.).
6. Install the two screws that secure the instrument panel end brackets to each A-pillar. Tighten the screws to 11 N.m (8 ft. lbs.).
7. Tighten the right and left instrument panel cowl side roll-down bracket screws to 28 N.m (21 ft. lbs.).
8. Install the steering column into the vehicle.
9. From under the driver side end of the instrument panel, perform the following:
a. Connect the two headlamp and dash wire harness connectors to the connector receptacles on the back of the Junction Block (JB).
b. Connect the body wire harness connector to the connector receptacle on the back of the JB.
c. Connect the two body wire harness connectors to the two instrument panel wire harness connectors that are piggybacked on the bulkhead connector.
d. Connect the instrument panel wire harness bulkhead connector to the headlamp and dash wire harness bulkhead connector and tighten the screw that secures the center of the connector.
e. Connect the instrument panel wire harness connector for the brake lamp switch to the switch connector receptacle.
f. Connect the instrument panel wire harness connector for the park brake switch to the switch terminal on the park brake mechanism.
g. Install the instrument panel wire harness ground take out eyelet terminal connector to the ground stud on the left cowl side inner panel, and install the nut that secures the eyelet terminal to the stud and tighten to 12 N.m (9 ft. lbs.).
h. Connect the two instrument panel wire harness connectors for the Central Timer Module (CTM) on the left cowl side inner panel to the two outboard connector receptacles on the CTM.
i. Install the two screws that secure the instrument panel wire harness ground take out eyelet terminal connectors to the left side of the ACM mounting bracket on the floor panel transmission tunnel and tighten to 12 N.m (9 ft. lbs.).
j. Connect the instrument panel wire harness connector for the ACM on the floor panel transmission tunnel to the ACM connector receptacle.
k. Engage the 16-way data link connector into the inside hood release bracket and position the release handle and bracket to the instrument panel.
l. Install the two screws that secure the inside hood release bracket to the instrument panel.

10. From under the passenger side end of the instrument panel, perform the following:
a. Connect the two halves of the radio antenna coaxial cable connector.
b. If the vehicle is equipped with the Infinity sound system option, connect the two instrument panel wire harness connectors for the amplifier to the connector receptacles on the bottom of the amplifier on the right cowl side inner panel.
c. Install the instrument panel wire harness ground take out eyelet terminal connector to the ground stud on the right cowl side inner panel, and install and tighten the nut to 12 N.m (9 ft. lbs.).

11. Install the cluster bezel onto the instrument panel.
12. Install the lower bezel onto the instrument panel.
13. If the vehicle is so equipped, install the console onto the floor panel transmission tunnel.
14. Install the steering column opening cover onto the instrument panel.
15. Install the trim onto the left and right cowl side inner panels.
16. Install the end caps onto the left and right outboard ends of the instrument panel.
17. Install the defroster grille onto the instrument panel.
18. Connect the battery negative cable.