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Instrument Panel: Removal

  1. Rotate the steering wheel until the front wheels are in the straight-ahead position.
  2. Drain the coolant. REFER to COOLING SYSTEM DRAINING, FILLING AND BLEEDING .
  3. Recover the refrigerant. If equipped with Dual Automatic Temperature Control (DATC), REFER to AIR CONDITIONING (AC) SYSTEM RECOVERY, EVACUATION, AND CHARGING . If equipped with Electronic Manual Temperature Control (EMTC), REFER to AIR CONDITIONING (AC) SYSTEM RECOVERY, EVACUATION AND CHARGING .
  4. Remove the cowl panel grille. REFER to COWL PANEL GRILLE .
  5. Remove both front seats. REFER to SEAT .
  6. Remove the front floor console. REFER to CONSOLE - FRONT, FLOOR .
  7. Remove the steering wheel. REFER to STEERING WHEEL .
  8. Disconnect the 3 Powertrain Control Module (PCM) electrical connectors and position the harness aside.
    Fig 1: Identifying Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Electrical Connectors
    G07429274Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
    • Detach the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) harness retainer.
  9. Remove the 2 Powertrain Control Module (PCM) nuts and remove the Powertrain Control Module (PCM).

    To install, tighten to 8 Nm (71 lb-in)  .

    Fig 2: Locating Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Nuts
    G07429275Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
    10. NOTE: Left Hand (LH) side shown, Right Hand (RH) side similar.
    Fig 3: Locating Strut Tower Cross Brace
    G07429276Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  10. Remove the strut tower cross brace.

    To install, tighten to 55 Nm (41 lb-ft)  .

  11. Remove the heater hoses from the heater core and position aside.
    Fig 4: Locating Heater Hoses
    G07429277Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  12. Remove the Thermostatic Expansion Valve (TXV) manifold fastener and the manifold.
    • Discard the O-ring seals.

      To install, tighten to 8 Nm (71 lb-in)  .

  13. Remove the Left Hand (LH) and Right Hand (RH) instrument panel-to-front of dash bolts.

    To install, tighten to 25 Nm (18 lb-ft)  .

    Fig 5: Locating RH And LH Instrument Panel-To-Front Dash Bolts
    G07429278Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
    14. NOTE: Left Hand (LH) side shown, Right Hand (RH) side similar.
    Fig 6: Removing Left Hand And Right Hand Front Door Scuff Plate Trim Panels
    G07429279Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  14. Remove the Left Hand (LH) and Right Hand (RH) front door scuff plate trim panels.
  15. Position aside the Left Hand (LH) and Right Hand (RH) door weather strips.
  16. Remove the Left Hand (LH) and Right Hand (RH) A-pillar trim panels. REFER to A-PILLAR TRIM PANEL .
    17. NOTE: Left Hand (LH) side shown, Right Hand (RH) side similar.
    Fig 7: Removing Left Hand And Right Instrument Panel Side Trim Panels
    G07429280Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  17. Remove the Left Hand (LH) and Right Hand (RH) instrument panel side trim panels.
    18. NOTE: Left Hand (LH) side shown, Right Hand (RH) side similar.
    Fig 8: Removing Left Hand And Right Cowl Side Trim Covers
    G07429281Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  18. Remove the Left Hand (LH) and Right Hand (RH) cowl side trim covers.
  19. Remove the 2 bolts and remove the steering column cover trim panel.
    • Pull outward to release the retainers.

      To install, tighten to 3 Nm (27 lb-in)  .

      Fig 9: Locating Steering Column Cover Trim Panel Bolts
      G07430978Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  20. Remove the 4 bolts and remove steering column cover assembly.

    To install, tighten to 5 Nm (44 lb-in)  .

    Fig 10: Locating Steering Column Cover Assembly Bolts
    G07430979Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  21. Remove the hood release handle bolt and remove the hood release handle.

    To install, tighten to 5 Nm (44 lb-in)  .

    Fig 11: Locating Hood Release Handle Bolt
    G07429284Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  22. Remove the steering column pinch bolt and detach the steering column shaft from the steering column.
    • Discard the steering column shaft-to-steering column bolt.

      To install, tighten to 26 Nm (19 lb-ft)  .

      Fig 12: Locating Steering Column Shaft-To-Steering Column Bolt
      G07429285Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  23. Disconnect the Left Hand (LH) instrument panel bulkhead electrical connector and the 2 lower Smart Junction Box (SJB) electrical connectors.
    • Detach the instrument panel bulkhead electrical connector push pin from the Smart Junction Box (SJB).
      Fig 13: Disconnecting Left Hand Instrument Panel Bulkhead Electrical Connector
      G07429286Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  24. Remove the drivers foot rest pad.
    Fig 14: Removing Drivers Foot Rest Pad
    G07429287Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  25. Detach the retainers and remove the Left Hand (LH) and Right Hand (RH) front floor carpet sections.
    Fig 15: Locating Left Hand And Right Hand Front Floor Carpet Sections
    G07429288Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  26. Disconnect the lower Left Hand (LH) cowl bulkhead electrical connector.
    Fig 16: Disconnecting Lower Left Hand Cowl Bulkhead Electrical Connector
    G07429289Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  27. If equipped, detach the 2 retainers and remove the rear foot well duct.
    Fig 17: Locating Rear Foot Well Duct Retainers
    G07429290Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  28. Disconnect the Right Hand (RH) bulkhead electrical connector and the antenna cable connector.
    • Release the antenna connector from the main harness.
      Fig 18: Disconnecting Right Hand Bulkhead Electrical Connector
      G07429291Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  29. Remove the 2 bolts and the ground wires.

    To install, tighten to 10 Nm (89 lb-in)  .

    Fig 19: Locating Ground Wires Bolts
    G07429292Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  30. Disconnect the Restraints Control Module (RCM) small electrical connector.
    • Detach the 3 wiring harness retainers.
      Fig 20: Disconnecting Restraints Control Module (RCM) Small Electrical Connector
      G07429293Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
    31. NOTE: Right Hand (RH) side shown, Left Hand (LH) side similar.
    Fig 21: Locating Instrument Panel Center Support Bracket Bolts
    G07429294Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  31. Remove the 4 instrument panel center support bracket bolts.

    To install, tighten to 25 Nm (18 lb-ft)  .

    32. NOTE: To avoid damaging the instrument panel, an assistant is required when carrying out the following steps.
    NOTE: Right Hand (RH) side shown, Left Hand (LH) side similar.
    NOTE: Remove the bolts from one side completely and support the instrument panel before removing the bolts from the opposite side.
    Fig 22: Locating Left Hand And Right Hand Instrument Panel Side Bolts
    G07429295Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  32. Remove the 3 Left Hand (LH) and the 3 Right Hand (RH) instrument panel side bolts.

    To install, tighten to 40 Nm (30 lb-ft)  .

    33. NOTE: Make sure not to damage the RH front door trim panel or the instrument panel when removing the instrument panel from the vehicle.
    NOTE: Make sure that all electrical connectors and wiring are not hindered before removing the instrument panel or damage to the components may occur.
  33. Remove the instrument panel from the vehicle.
    • Rotate the instrument panel face down and remove through the RH front door opening.
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