FixVault

Assembly-Instrument Panel: Installation

WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, on vehicles equipped with airbags, disable the supplemental restraint system before attempting any steering wheel, steering column, airbag, occupant classification system, seat belt tensioner, impact sensor, or instrument panel component diagnosis or service. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative (ground) cable, then wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge before performing further diagnosis or service. This is the only sure way to disable the supplemental restraint system. Failure to take the proper precautions could result in accidental airbag deployment.
WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, never strike or drop the occupant restraint controller, as it can damage the impact sensor or affect its calibration. The occupant restraint controller contains the impact sensor, which enables the system to deploy the supplemental restraints. If an airbag control module is accidentally dropped during service, the module must be scrapped and replaced with a new unit. Failure to observe this warning could result in accidental, incomplete, or improper supplemental restraint deployment.
CAUTION: On vehicles equipped with the Occupant Classification System (OCS), never replace both the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) and the Occupant Classification Module (OCM) at the same time. If both require replacement, replace one. Then perform *AIRBAG SYSTEM VERIFICATION TEST - VER 1 before replacing the other. Both the ORC and the OCM store OCS calibration data, which they transfer to one another when one of them is replaced. If both are replaced at the same time, an irreversible fault will be set in both modules.
Fig 1: FENCELINE BOLTS
GC0010574Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  1. Before proceeding with the following repair procedure, review all warnings and cautions. (Refer to BODY/INSTRUMENT PANEL - WARNING) 
  2. Position the instrument panel assembly (3) into the vehicle through the driver's side door and install onto the side support pins (1).
  3. Install the four fenceline bolts and tighten to 8 N.m (70 in. lbs.).
    Fig 2: Defroster Grille
    GC0010568Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  4. Connect the sensor electrical connector (3).
  5. Install the instrument panel defroster grille and seat fully.
    Fig 3: Passenger Harness
    GC0010584Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  6. Position the passenger side A-pillar trim panel into place and seat fully.
  7. Install the bolts and tighten to 6 N.m (55 in. lbs.).
  8. Install the passenger side rear floor duct.
  9. Install the screws for the ground wire (3) and passenger side wire harness (1).
  10. Tighten the ground wire (2) and harness bolts (1) to 14 N.m (10 ft. lbs.).
    Fig 4: Amplifier
    GC0010582Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  11. Connect the amplifier and antenna electrical connectors.
  12. Install the amplifier and install the bolts.
  13. Tighten the bolts to 6 N.m (50 in. lbs.).
  14. Install the right cowl trim cover and install the screw.
  15. Install the right door sill trim cover.
    Fig 5: Side Support Bolts
    GC0010573Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  16. Install the passenger side support bolts and tighten to 27 N.m (20 ft. lbs.).
  17. Install the right instrument panel end cap.
    NOTE: driver's side shown, passenger side similar.
  18. Install the driver's side support bolts and tighten to 27 N.m (20 ft. lbs.).
    Fig 6: Center Support Bolts
    GC0010572Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  19. Install the driver's side floor duct.
  20. Install the driver's seat. (Refer to BODY/SEATS/SEAT - INSTALLATION) 
  21. Install the center support bolts and tighten to 11 N.m (95 in. lbs.).
    Fig 7: Center Harness
    GC0010583Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  22. Position the center instrument panel wiring harness (2) under the carpet and install the bolts (1).
    Fig 8: REMOVE/INSTALL OCCUPANT RESTRAINT CONTROLLER
    GC0010581Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
    CAUTION: The lever arms of the wire harness connectors for the ORC MUST be in the unlatched position before they are inserted into their connector receptacles on the ORC or they may become damaged.
  23. Reconnect the two body wire harness connectors (1) to the ORC connector receptacles located on the forward facing side of the module. Be certain that the latches on both connectors are each fully engaged.
  24. Install the floor console. (Refer to BODY/INTERIOR/FLOOR CONSOLE - INSTALLATION) 
    Fig 9: ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS
    GC0010575Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  25. Position the driver's side A-pillar trim into place and seat the retaining clips fully.
  26. Install the bolts and tighten to 6 N.m (55 in. lbs.).
  27. Install the ground wire (4) and install the bolt.
  28. Tighten the ground wire bolts to 14 N.m (10 ft. lbs.)
  29. Connect the electrical connectors (1, 2 and 3) at the fuse block.
    Fig 10: Release Rod
    GC0010580Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  30. Connect the brake release rod (1) to the arm on the pedal assembly.
    Fig 11: Mag Bracket Bolts
    GC0010571Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  31. Install the pedal support bolts and tighten to 14 N.m (10 ft. lbs.).
    Fig 12: Column
    GC0010578Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
    CAUTION: All fasteners must be torqued to specification to ensure proper operation of the steering column.
  32. Position the steering column (2) on the dash panel support and loosely install the mounting nuts (3).
  33. Firmly slide the steering column (2) upward against the studs (1) in dash panel and hand tighten the nuts (3).
    Fig 13: Upper Coupling Shaft and Pinch Bolt
    GC0010579Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  34. Install the steering shaft coupler (3) on the steering shaft (1) and loosely install a new  bolt (2).
    Fig 14: Column
    GC0010578Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  35. Center steering column (2) in dash opening and tighten mounting nuts (3) to 28 N.m (21 ft. lbs.).
    NOTE: Torque the upper left nut first then the lower right nut. Then torque the lower left nut then the upper right nut.
    NOTE: A new bolt must be used for reinstallation.
  36. Tighten the coupler bolt to 38 N.m (28 ft. lbs.).
    Fig 15: Shrouds
    GC0010576Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  37. Install a new brake light switch (5) (Refer to ELECTRICAL/LAMPS/LIGHTING - EXTERIOR/BRAKE LAMP SWITCH - REMOVAL) .
  38. Install the shifter cable. (Refer to TRANSMISSION/TRANSAXLE/AUTOMATIC/GEAR SHIFT CABLE - INSTALLATION)
    Fig 16: HARNESS CONNECTORS
    GC0010577Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  39. Connect the wiring harness (1) to the column (2).
  40. Install the SKIM module.
    Fig 17: Shrouds
    GC0010576Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  41. Install the upper (1) and lower (3) column shrouds and install the screws.
  42. Install the column tilt lever.
    Fig 18: Column Reinforcement
    GC0010570Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  43. Install the steering column opening reinforcement (1) and install the four screws.
    Fig 19: Release Handle
    GC0010502Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  44. Install the hood release handle (2) and install the screws (5).
    Fig 20: COLUMN OPENING COVER SCREW
    GC0010569Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  45. Install the steering column opening cover (2) and install the two screws (1).
  46. Install the left instrument panel end cap.
  47. Instal the left cowl trim cover and install the screw.
  48. Install the left door sill trim cover and seat fully.
  49. Do not reconnect the battery negative cable at this time. The supplemental restraint system verification test procedure should be performed following service of any supplemental restraint system component. (Refer to ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS - STANDARD PROCEDURE - VERIFICATION TEST) .