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Instrument Panel: Removal

  1. Remove the front seats. For additional information, refer to SEATING article.
  2. Remove the selector lever. For additional information, refer to AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE/TRANSMISSION EXTERNAL CONTROLS article.
  3. Drain the cooling system. For additional information, refer to ENGINE COOLING article.
  4. Recover the refrigerant. For additional information, refer to CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM - GENERAL INFORMATION AND DIAGNOSTICS article.
  5. Remove the wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft assembly. For additional information, refer to WIPERS AND WASHERS article.
  6. Remove the 2 nuts and the PCM.
    • Disconnect the 3 PCM electrical connectors.
    7. Fig 1: Identifying Nuts
    GF0045464Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  7. Remove the 3 nuts and the PCM bracket.
    8. Fig 2: Identifying Nuts
    GF0045465Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  8. Remove the vacuum hose clip from the cowl.
    9. Fig 3: Identifying Vacuum Hose Clip
    GF0045466Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  9. Remove the strut tower cross brace.
    • Remove the 2 LH and 2 RH strut upper mount nuts.
    10. Fig 4: Identifying Nuts
    GF0045467Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  10. Remove the RH instrument panel upper cowl bolt.
    11. Fig 5: Identifying Bolt
    GF0016562Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  11. Remove the 2 LH instrument panel upper cowl bolts.
    12. Fig 6: Identifying Bolts
    GF0016563Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  12. Disconnect the vacuum hose and the evaporator purge solenoid hose from the upper intake manifold.
    13. Fig 7: Identifying Vacuum Hose and Evaporator Purge Solenoid Hose
    GF0045468Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  13. Remove the thermostatic expansion valve (TXV) manifold.
    • Remove the TXV manifold bolt.
    • Discard the O-rings seals.
    14. Fig 8: Identifying Bolt And O-Rings
    GF0016561Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  14. Disconnect the heater hoses.
    15. Fig 9: Identifying Heater Hoses
    GF0016560Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  15. Remove the RH and LH front door weatherstrips.
    16. NOTE: Right side shown, left side similar.
  16. Position the RH and LH front scuff plate trim panels aside.
    • Pull the front of the scuff plate trim panels upward to release the retaining clips.
    17. Fig 10: Identifying Scuff Plate Trim Panels
    GF0016564Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
    NOTE: Right side shown, left side similar.
  17. Remove the RH and LH lower cowl trim panels.
    • Pull the panel rearward to release it from the clips.
    18. Fig 11: Identifying Lower Cowl Trim Panels
    GF0016565Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  18. Remove the 2 pushpin retainers and the RH lower instrument panel insulator.
    19. Fig 12: Identifying Pushpin Retainers and Lower Instrument Panel Insulator
    GF0016566Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  19. Remove the driver footrest pad.
    • Remove the 2 pin-type retainers.
    20. Fig 13: Identifying pin-Type Retainers
    GF0016567Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  20. Remove the LH and RH front carpet sections.
    • Remove the 2 pin-type retainers.
  21. Disconnect the RH main wiring harness electrical connector and radio antenna connector.
    22. Fig 14: Identifying Connector
    GF0045469Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  22. If equipped, remove the 2 pin-type retainers and the rear footwell duct.
    23. Fig 15: Identifying Pin-Type Retainers
    GF0016569Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  23. Remove the 2 bolts and the ground wires from the floor pan tunnel.
    24. Fig 16: Removing Bolts & Detaching Ground Wires From Floor Pan Tunnel
    GF0016570Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  24. Remove the RH and LH instrument panel side finish panels.
    25. Fig 17: Identifying Instrument Panel Side Finish Panels
    GF0045470Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  25. Remove the RH and LH A-pillar trim panels. For additional information, refer to INTERIOR TRIM AND ORNAMENTATION article.
  26. Remove the 3 bolts and the steering column opening trim panel.
    27. Fig 18: Removing Steering Column Cover
    GF0016572Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  27. Position the hood release handle aside.
    • Remove the 2 screws.
    28. Fig 19: Removing Hood Release Handle Screws
    GF0016573Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  28. Rotate the steering wheel to gain access to the steering column shaft-to-steering column bolt.
  29. Remove and discard the steering column shaft-to-steering column bolt.
    30. Fig 20: Removing Steering Column Pinch Bolt
    GF0016574Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  30. Rotate the steering wheel until the front wheels are in the straight-ahead position.
    • Remove the ignition key.
    31. NOTE: Do not allow the steering column shaft to rotate while the intermediate shaft is disconnected or damage to the clockspring may result. If there is evidence that the shaft has rotated, the clockspring must be removed and recentered. For additional information, refer to SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM article.
  31. Detach the upper steering column shaft from the steering column.
  32. Disconnect the LH side main wiring harness electrical connector.
    33. Fig 21: Disconnecting LH Side Main Wiring Harness Electrical Connectors
    GF0016575Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  33. Disconnect the 2 smart junction box (SJB) electrical connectors.
    34. Fig 22: Identifying SJB Connectors
    GF0045471Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  34. Remove the wire harness pin-type retainer from the SJB.
  35. If equipped, disconnect the electrical connector located on the steering column opening bracket.
    36. Fig 23: Identifying Connector
    GF0045472Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  36. Disconnect the restraints control module (RCM) small electrical connector.
    37. Fig 24: Disconnecting Restraints Control Module (RCM) Small Electrical Connector
    GF0016576Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  37. Disconnect the stability control sensor cluster electrical connector.
    38. Fig 25: Identifying Connector
    GF0045473Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  38. Remove the 4 instrument panel center support bolts.
    39. NOTE: To avoid damaging the instrument panel, an assistant is required when carrying out this step.
    NOTE: Remove the bolts from one side completely and support the instrument panel before removing the bolts from the opposite side.
  39. Remove the 6 instrument panel side bolts.
    40. NOTE: Make sure that all electrical connectors and wiring are not hindered before removing the instrument panel.
  40. Remove the instrument panel.
    • Rotate the instrument panel face down and remove through the right door.
    41. Fig 26: Removing Instrument Panel
    GF0016577Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
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