Instrument Panel

INSTRUMENT PANEL

Five Hundred Montego (Part 1):

Five Hundred Montego (Part 2):

Freestyle (Part 1):

Freestyle (Part 2):

Exploded View

Material:

Material

1. Remove the front seats.
2. Remove the front console.
3. Drain the cooling system.
4. Recover the refrigerant.
5. Remove the powertrain control module (PCM).
6. Remove the wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft assembly.







7. Remove the roll restrictor crossbeam-to-roll restrictor bolt.
- To install, clean the bolt using a wire brush and apply new threadlock to the threads and tighten to 48 Nm (35 lb-ft).







8. Remove the 4 restrictor crossbeam-to-strut tower bolts and the crossmember.
- To install, clean the bolt using a wire brush and apply new threadlock to the threads and tighten to 55 Nm (41 lb-ft).







9. Disconnect the heater hoses.







10. Remove the thermostatic expansion valve (TXV) manifold bolt.
- Install new O-ring seals.
- To install, tighten to 8 Nm (71 lb-in).







11. Remove the RH instrument panel cowl top bolt.
- To install, tighten to 25 Nm (18 lb-ft).







12. Remove the 2 LH instrument panel cowl top bolts.
- To install, tighten to 25 Nm (18 lb-ft).

13. Position the front door weatherstrips aside.







14. Position the scuff plates aside.
- Pull the front of the scuff plate trim panels upward to release the retaining clips.







15. Remove the cowl trim panels.
- Pull the panel rearward to release it from the clips.







16. Remove the lower instrument panel insulator.
17. Remove the floor shifter.







18. Remove the front carpet sections.
- Remove the 2 pin-type retainers and the drivers footrest pad.







19. Disconnect the RH main wiring harness electrical connector and radio antenna connector.







20. Remove the pin-type retainers and remove the rear footwell duct.







21. Remove the bolts and detach the ground wires from the floor pan tunnel.







22. Remove the instrument panel side panels.
23. Remove the RH and LH A-pillar trim panels.
- Position the weatherstrip aside near the A-pillar.
- Pull the top outboard edge of the A-pillar trim panel toward the inside of the vehicle to disengage the retaining clips.
- Pull the A-pillar trim panel upward to remove it from the dash panel.







24. Remove the steering column cover.







25. Position the hood release handle aside.
- Remove the 2 screws and position the handle aside.







26. Remove the steering column pinch bolt.
- To install, tighten to 25 Nm (18 lb-ft).







27. Disconnect the LH side main wiring harness electrical connectors.







28. Disconnect the restraints control module (RCM) small electrical connector.

29. CAUTION: To avoid damaging the instrument panel upper section, this step requires the help of an assistant.

NOTE:
- Mark the location of the crossbeam bolts for correct alignment upon installation.
- Remove the bolts from one side completely and support the crossbeam before removing the bolts from the opposite side.

Remove the tunnel reinforcement bolts.
- To install, tighten to 25 Nm (18 lb-ft).







30. Remove the instrument panel.
- Rotate the instrument panel face down and remove through the right door.

31. To install, reverse the removal procedure.