Entire dashboard removal?

[- Sim -]

Does anyone out there know how the remove the dash in its entirety?
I have taken out the stereo/heater controls, instrument surround, both side vents, the centre console, glovebox and all the screws I can locate. It is lose all around the bottom but I am still unable to remove it.

I'm assuming the windscreen air vent needs to come out but I can't figure this one and I can't see any other screws or fixings that look like they hold anything in.

And suggestions or guidance is appreciated. Cheers

 

[- Sim -]

For anyone it may be of use to I have outlined what I have done so far.

Removed the stereo
Removed the central heater controls unit
Removed the instrument surround
Removed the 4 screws and taken out the instrument cluster to get to the 1 screw centrally behind.
Removed the glovebox to get to two screws holding the metal bracket the passenger airbag is mounted to to the metal frame under the dash. These both came out as well.
Both side panels removed (where the fuse box is located on one side) and 3 screws on each side. There's also a screw at the bottom of the fuse box.
Driver and passenger air vents removed
Both a pillar trims have to come off.
The two panels above the foot wells came off too.
The entire centre console removed per a very useful guide on the forums to get to 2 more screws.
Trim from around the steering column is off and I now need to remove the steering wheel and stalks.
It's too dark currently to continue but the dash at least appears free to slide forwards and off once the wheel is out of the way

 

[- Sim -]

Hi guys,
The airbag and steering wheel are now off (tip for anyone taking out the airbag... The rectangular ish hole you can see the retaining clip in is not the one to stick the screwdriver down, use the small round hole next to this as it pops of so easily)

Does anyone know how the indicator and wiper stalks come off?

 

[Jonwm]

Just out of intrest mate, how come your doing this?

 

[- Sim -]

I'm trying to get to the source of a water leak which appears to be coming in behind the dash right in the centre.
I have finally removed the dash but the air ducts are now in the way. I kinda wish I had forked out and gotten a garage to do it now!

 

[Jonwm]

Fair play mate I'd have let it leak!!

 

[- Sim -]

I was sorely tempted, but we're talking a pint of water in one night in the passenger footwell. Still, all is not lost, it looks like it may well be soaking down from higher up so I might not need to take too much more out. Plus it's always good to know how it comes apart if I ever need to again.

 

[manhota]

mate its gona be leaking from the airfeed for your heaters, open bonnet remove plastic scuttle above window wipers on the right side (passeneger side) is the air feed that goes onto the motor for your heaters in the passenger footwell, remove the leaves clean it up look for damaged plastic (frost damage) could be all done without the removal of dash seen it before on the forum.

 

[hazzabazzaG]

-sim-, alright mate, im new to this forum and cant find how to post, just wandering how u went about taking the dash out and weather you have any instructions for it?, i need to replace my heater matrix as the donut i brought the car off k-sealed it and now i think its blocked, the matrix wasnt even connected he had just bridged the pipes togeather, any help would be apreciated, cheers

 

[- Sim -]

Hi Hazza,
I didnt document anything unfortunatly.
From memory i removed the stereo, heater controls and instrument cowel first (there are numerous detailed guides about on here where people have sprayed/wrapped them).
Directly beneath the stereo there are 2 bolts to come out.
The two plastic trims above the footwells come off with 3 screws each.
Then there are 4 screws in the corners of the instrument cluster then it just pulls out. Theres one scew behind the cluster.
The glovebox comes out with 3 screws at the top and 2or3 along the bottom. The there are two more behind the open compartment at the top. Theres a clip for the airbag switch.
Once this is out there are two big bolts in the metal frame holding the passenger airbag (and the dash) to the car. The airbag stays attached to the dash so the clips must be disconnected.
Both panels on the sides of the dash come off and there are 3 screws behind each. On the side with the fuse box there is another screw holding the dash to the fusebox.
There is no need to remove the side vents but there is a connecter behind each on the side of the pipes to be disconnected. The headlight controls need to be disconnected and the computer connector pushes back out of its retaining clip.
Next up is the centre consol. The back of it unclips towards the back seats and there are two screws inside into the sides (not the two into the base). I took the whole thing apart but thinking about it it might just slide back far enough to get to two screws it covers holding the bottom of the dash in. Im not 100% but there was another good guide on here to remove the whole thing if not.
The trims covering the A pillars have to come off. They should pull away and slide upwards. Another guide for oem bluetooth has some good info.
The plastic trim on the steering column comes off with one screw underneath and 2 on the front (turn the wheel 90 degrees each way to access). Then the wheel comes off. It unclips by 2 metal retainers inside that are accessed from behind through the holes. They are pushed in towards the centre of the wheel off the hooks. The airbag has to be disconnected, then the bolt holding the wheel can be taken out. (Make a note of the etching for lining up the wheel on replacement).
I couldnt find a way to remove the arms of the stalks so i took out the whole units.
Do not turn the slip ring directly behind the wheel. Tape it in place or something as i forgot to centre it and wasted £75 when it snapped!
Remove the little screw on the front of the assembly. There are two clips holding the control module underneath the units. The easiest way i found to remove this is take off the bottom cover and ease out the circuit board the remove the clips from inside then put it back together. Once off the slip ring will unclip from above and the two stalks slide forwards and off.
The only other thing to note is that there is a connector in the centre of the vents beneath the windscreen. This came off on its own when i slid the dash forward but it is a bugger to get back in with one pair of hands.

As i say that is all from memory so take it with a pinch of salt and be vigilant for any bits i may have forgotten.
Also, disconnect the battery before doing anything with the airbags. And i dont advise reconnecting until everything is back in place. (I had to to lock the car half way through and it threw up an airbag error which i had to get cleared).
Hope that makes some sense and i didnt babble on too much!

 

[hazzabazzaG]

ahh sim u ledgend!! thanx alot for your help im sure it will be greatly apreciated tomorrow when i continue to do it.. i was about to get heavy handed and start ripping the darn thing off theres no need for all these screws and plastic weld at all hahahaha