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This "how to" may help with the 94-98 dash removal as well, please do not quote me on this.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:
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:
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.
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.
Unplug this connector
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.
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.
When pulling it off be careful not to break these clips, this is what holds it in on the top.
You will now be left with the metal part of the knee bolster.
2 8mm bolts hold this in as well.
Now that it's removed, you will now want to remove this cross brace, it's also 2 8mm bolts
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,
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.
Next up, start unplugging stuff. 7mm bolt holds this big connector in.
These three will need unplugged.
This connector will need unplugged, it is also held to the IP frame via a christmas tree so pull the connector off the frame.
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
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.
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.
unplug these three as well.
This guy is way up in the firewall, it will be saved for last
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.
unplug all of these connectors. (Note the 2 green wire with yellow tracers are 03/04 cobra only)
BOOM! unplugged.
Next fold down the glove box door to reveal these connections.
unplug the antenna cable.
03/04 cobra's you will need to dissconnect the vacuum line for the boost guage.
Disconnect the vacuum lines for the HVAC
Next remove the radio, 2 7mm bolts hold it in
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.
unplug this yellow vacuum line.
you'll be left with this.
take small screw driver and very carefully pry the defroster vent up.
once removed it should reveal 3 8mm bolts. remove them
Now on the drivers side kick panel area remove the 1 8mm bolt hiding out in the corner.
next remove this big 15mm guy, sometimes it leaves the stud sometimes it all comes out as one, mine came out as one.
Down at the bottom of the center stack there will be 2 8mm bolts to remove on each side.
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.
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.
Now grab your tool ***** and pick the dash right out of the car.
should be left with this.
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:
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:
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.
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.
Unplug this connector
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.
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.
When pulling it off be careful not to break these clips, this is what holds it in on the top.
You will now be left with the metal part of the knee bolster.
2 8mm bolts hold this in as well.
Now that it's removed, you will now want to remove this cross brace, it's also 2 8mm bolts
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,
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.
Next up, start unplugging stuff. 7mm bolt holds this big connector in.
These three will need unplugged.
This connector will need unplugged, it is also held to the IP frame via a christmas tree so pull the connector off the frame.
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
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.
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.
unplug these three as well.
This guy is way up in the firewall, it will be saved for last
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.
unplug all of these connectors. (Note the 2 green wire with yellow tracers are 03/04 cobra only)
BOOM! unplugged.
Next fold down the glove box door to reveal these connections.
unplug the antenna cable.
03/04 cobra's you will need to dissconnect the vacuum line for the boost guage.
Disconnect the vacuum lines for the HVAC
Next remove the radio, 2 7mm bolts hold it in
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.
unplug this yellow vacuum line.
you'll be left with this.
take small screw driver and very carefully pry the defroster vent up.
once removed it should reveal 3 8mm bolts. remove them
Now on the drivers side kick panel area remove the 1 8mm bolt hiding out in the corner.
next remove this big 15mm guy, sometimes it leaves the stud sometimes it all comes out as one, mine came out as one.
Down at the bottom of the center stack there will be 2 8mm bolts to remove on each side.
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.
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.
Now grab your tool ***** and pick the dash right out of the car.
should be left with this.
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