****HOW TO**** 99-04 Dash removal step by step with pics

Jmccormick

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I have been PM'd multiple times on questions about removing the 99-04 Dash from the car.

I figured I might as well do a write up since I had to remove the Dash from my car AGAIN last night :crying:

This was done on a 2001 Mustang that has been swapped to 03/04 Cobra everything.


99-00 May differ with the twin single din radios and other optional equipment.


This is spot on for 01-04.


This "how to" may help with the 94-98 dash removal as well, please do not quote me on this. It may have different bolts and plugs etc..


Tools Needed:

13mm deep well socket
15mm deep well socket
10mm deep well socket (can be shallow if it's all you have)
7mm socket
8mm socket
phillips screw driver
ratchet
small screw driver
flash light
beer
Tool *****, and I can't stress this enough. Laying under the dash in a weird position it's nice to just have someone hand you the tool you need.

Chiropractor appointment the following day if tool ***** wasn't used.


First find a place where you can easily have both car doors wide open with a lot of room to work.

Here is what we start with:

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Remove the seats, be sure to keep the battery hooked up for this part. The power seat will need to be moved back and forth to access the bolts. They are 15mm and you will need a deep well socket. The drivers seat has one power connector on it for the power part. The passenger side is just the 4 15mm bolts and nuts.

Now your car should look like this:
F567EBF8-F89C-4763-907B-4C715516F0F7-7146-000002395D0D3FCA_zpsdeb9be1f.jpg



Now disconnect the battery, it's 8mm if you didn't know.

Next on the list is to remove the center console, 4 7mm screws hold this in. 2 of which are inside the console underneath the little carpet piece.
262800A5-C8A6-4B2B-AE40-2ACC2C38DBF9-7146-000002396527956D_zps48d9934b.jpg


Removed the shifter knob and boot, be sure to unplug the cig lighter as well, behind that you will find the other 2 7mm screws.
2F110391-7C4A-44B8-A3B4-8DD4DF25AE3B-7146-000002396D6D7551_zps4ce4de60.jpg


Unplug this connector

4EFA72F8-9A2F-4309-A5A0-2599B85E7505-7146-000002397D7352ED_zps487d1069.jpg

Next you will need to pull the E brake as high as possible, to remove the console pull it up on an angle from the rear. It may be easier to remove the shifter handle, I just didn't feel like it.

Now you will be left with this.

2DE7D85A-9185-42C9-8798-6869BBE5DAD4-7146-0000023987DC7995_zps6770ccb4.jpg


Next up you are gonna wanna lay on your back under the dash.


You want to remove the plastic knee bolster under neath the column, there are 2 8mm bolts holding it in at the bottom. and clips at the top.

remove the two bolts.

31BEF620-4612-436B-BF98-0E416D2844E4-7146-000002399016CD34_zpsa1dfc75f.jpg


C159D67D-E688-4AA7-B0F9-6BC1DF38DE79-7146-000002399DAA11B4_zps516d0b48.jpg


When pulling it off be careful not to break these clips, this is what holds it in on the top.

8312E1CA-7659-4289-8859-51DD1DDDF352-7146-00000239A4E95E2A_zpsae248902.jpg


You will now be left with the metal part of the knee bolster.

2 8mm bolts hold this in as well.

7A2E6507-7E41-4DE9-A4E8-7EE8ED2138BB-7146-00000239AD14B162_zpsda7eb256.jpg



7DC57DEA-63B6-4040-9A1C-927926C5242E-7146-00000239BAD242B3_zps868891fe.jpg

4EEF5BF9-3372-4BF5-8C5A-2B2F53448DDF-7146-00000239B37A53A4_zpse058c089.jpg


Now that it's removed, you will now want to remove this cross brace, it's also 2 8mm bolts
AF6CE03A-EF06-4302-9B4A-53E5C97DD4ED-7146-00000239C6DD03B8_zps4aa7ad9c.jpg



You now should be staring up at the column from under the dash, now remember that tool *****? this is where he comes in handy.

You should see this,
04F5249B-2DB5-441C-8258-C1345F83A203-7146-00000239CDED22B5_zps7a745c7e.jpg



Remove this 10mm bolt from the steering shaft, the should easily collapse and slide right out, I usually put the bolt right back where it came from.
3E22D265-763D-438B-A15E-54F47EC6DDD2-7146-00000239D980B3ED_zpsd3ac3e5b.jpg


Next up, start unplugging stuff. 7mm bolt holds this big connector in.
88C3BE56-31A9-4FFF-95DB-72DC7AB9D2DF-7146-00000239E4DAE4A2_zpsb75b4fe4.jpg


These three will need unplugged.

5618A441-0B11-46DC-8B5B-9EBDAEAA9BEA-7146-00000239EF996EF7_zpsf84e7621.jpg


This connector will need unplugged, it is also held to the IP frame via a christmas tree so pull the connector off the frame.
B11A6327-8FC3-4888-B087-F3BC6786D5F1-7146-00000239FB5573B7_zps0ce36414.jpg


These 13mm nuts hold the column on, remove those nuts and the column comes right out.

While you are down there unplug the three plugs going into the BCM

7261D007-0D88-49C2-AF01-D0D5A66DBA42-7146-0000023A5366AA5B_zpsde81a33b.jpg


I don't have a pic for this step, forgot to snap one.

On the trans tunnel there will be a module for the airbag, the red safety slides out and then it's easily unplugged. You can access it from the drivers side while laying on the floor


remove the kick panel and sill plate, they just pop right off. The kick panel is held by a long christmas tree. it comes out very easy.

027BF4C8-6B4B-40D8-9F03-1385DAD027C5-7146-0000023A336F595C_zpse96c2b43.jpg

Next unplug the connectors on the drivers side kick panel

These two will be held onto the body with christmas trees, pull them out. and unplug them.

284ACF73-9838-4A84-9E4E-2EFCF4C67B58-7146-0000023A4432D847_zpsa0c30729.jpg


unplug these three as well.

BF512285-152D-4AD8-9EC6-E109D7BA105A-7146-0000023A4D40E278_zps316e9018.jpg


This guy is way up in the firewall, it will be saved for last

05554811-BFAB-446D-B215-0FE87DF74D7B-7146-0000023A5AABC133_zps3a0a50ea.jpg


Now move over to the passenger side, remove the sill plate and kick panel as well.

assume the comfortable position again under the dash and start unplugging stuff.

unplug the brown connector going into the blower motor.

7A532A20-A783-4445-AA25-430878B4A438-7146-0000023A6C1108C7_zps6cb48bb2.jpg


unplug all of these connectors. (Note the 2 green wire with yellow tracers are 03/04 cobra only)



DDB69927-1997-40C6-B4A2-3CED2775E89F-7146-0000023A724EA377_zpsb23d789e.jpg


BOOM! unplugged.

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Next fold down the glove box door to reveal these connections.

unplug the antenna cable.
E2A440AE-F4B1-4FF4-8190-680ADD82DE15-7146-0000023A7C985B6B_zpsfb79b922.jpg


03/04 cobra's you will need to dissconnect the vacuum line for the boost guage.

4B2D5EF5-B9D8-4F55-8717-BF2CE2B11BA7-7146-0000023A8183D1B7_zpsf101a79c.jpg


Disconnect the vacuum lines for the HVAC

68769E2F-2C05-44F9-8510-B878C5ED6AE8-7146-0000023AA1CD45F6_zps56dcfd9c.jpg



Next remove the radio, 2 7mm bolts hold it in

464C51AC-8DCE-450E-B23A-C5459203B20D-7146-0000023A9D098D4E_zpse68c1e2e.jpg


Behind the radio you will need to pull the blend door cable off the heater box.

This little circular gray guy, comes right off with a little persuation.

D7EBB67F-A1EC-44C4-B59B-871E2D93BE66-7146-0000023AAB668B61_zps4194481a.jpg


unplug this yellow vacuum line.

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you'll be left with this.

FF39A1AC-76D3-4115-9EA0-F92412A32962-7146-0000023A01E4B499_zps84e8caee.jpg


take small screw driver and very carefully pry the defroster vent up.
959A7F8D-EFCD-4377-93BA-4DF8D9782588-7146-0000023A08A80EC0_zpsd28251db.jpg


once removed it should reveal 3 8mm bolts. remove them
BB1D3DAF-0A5E-4C44-80C0-A12109EDCCF2-7146-0000023A114C11E6_zps0a24c21a.jpg


Now on the drivers side kick panel area remove the 1 8mm bolt hiding out in the corner.

41480F65-C314-4656-802A-376D4465C8EE-7146-0000023A19FA45D2_zpsa68a191a.jpg


next remove this big 15mm guy, sometimes it leaves the stud sometimes it all comes out as one, mine came out as one.

41480F65-C314-4656-802A-376D4465C8EE-7146-0000023A19FA45D2_zpsa68a191a.jpg


Down at the bottom of the center stack there will be 2 8mm bolts to remove on each side.

B7299838-DAF2-4164-B878-397E8EEA32E2-7146-0000023A2415B142_zpsd053f976.jpg


D306AF85-AEC0-4915-8FF0-3A4639F08451-7146-0000023A91F295EC_zps8846e920.jpg


On the passenger side there will be 2 more 8mm bolts to remove, you can easily see them. one will be inside the glove box towards the a pillar of the car and the other is right at the bottom of the IP.
E8F4E7FD-10C7-4D0E-AE8C-89ADD145226A-7146-0000023A868BF904_zpscacf4913.jpg

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Now remember that connector I mentioned earlier that I said we would save for later? well now it's time because it's the only connection holding the IP in the car now.

Jack the car up, remove the wheel. You will need to remove the wheel liner or at least pull it back. 2 philips screws and 4 christmas trees hold it in. Pretty self explanatory, I am sure you can find them if you have gone this far. once it's pulled back it will reveal the connector. a 10mm will be needed to unplug this. once it's unplugged there are two ears or tabs holding it in. depress them and the harness should fall back into the car.
2B972A35-EB51-4A63-B331-DCFA6BA88254-7146-0000023AB4AA5401_zpsb07a1bc6.jpg





Now grab your tool ***** and pick the dash right out of the car.


should be left with this.

430A9AC1-92DA-4244-A776-BAF7CAC023E1-3383-000001F105BEA430_zpsef503d2e.jpg
 
Last edited:

blacksheep-1

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good job, I've been dreading replacing my heater core (when it craps out) this will make it much easier. BTW, I have a concern about the air bag plug and the safety, any pics of that?
 

Jmccormick

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good job, I've been dreading replacing my heater core (when it craps out) this will make it much easier. BTW, I have a concern about the air bag plug and the safety, any pics of that?

Just now seeing this, Shouldn't be any concern it's pretty straight forward. I keep forgetting to snap a pic and insert it in this thread. I will eventually!
 

brian97cobra

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haha now I see this write up. man pulling the dash and not knowing about that damn connector behind the inner drivers fender was HELL!

the job requires lots of little cuts and scraps on ya hands

beer

friends

and tv are all good help
 

CobraBob

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You did a really great job with this write-up Justin. It will surely help others down the road who have to remove their dash. ;)
 

P49Y-CY

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Again, kudos for an awesome, helpful writeup.

Quick aside question -

What is that black piece on the clutch cable? It looks like some kind of spacer between the quadrant and the end of the cable. I haven't seen something like that before.
 

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