Note: On early production vehicles, the instrument panel can be removed by first removing the instrument panel and other removable parts. On late production cars (equipped with a front passenger airbag) the instrument panel can only be removed together with the heater.
Removal
1. Prepare the car for work and disconnect the terminal from the negative terminal of the battery (see "Preparing a car for technical inspection and repair").
2. Drain the coolant from the engine (see "Coolant - Replacement").
3. Having loosened clamps 1, we disconnect the cooling system hoses from the heater radiator pipes. Using a 10 mm socket wrench, unscrew nut 2 securing the heater radiator to the engine compartment bulkhead.
4. Remove the filter element of the cabin ventilation filter (see "Cabin ventilation and heating filter - replacement").
5. Using a Phillips screwdriver, unscrew the four screws securing the filter housing.
6. Remove the filter housing from the air intake box.
7. Remove the floor tunnel lining (see "Floor Tunnel Lining - Removal and Installation" and steering column pads (see "Decorative steering column trims - removal and installation").
8. If the car has a head unit for an audio system (radio), remove it in accordance with the installation instructions.
9. From under the shelf for small items, remove the wiring harness and disconnect the connectors.
10. Similarly, disconnect the instrument panel harness connectors located under the fuse and relay mounting block (car electrical circuit diagrams).
Note: The wire connectors differ in shape and number of terminals, so it is impossible to mix them up. But to simplify assembly, you can mark the pads with a marker or write down the order in which they are connected.
11. Using a 10 mm socket wrench, unscrew the air duct mounting nut.
12. Having lifted the air duct, we remove it from engagement with the stud and disconnect it from the heater.
13. Disconnect the wire blocks laid under the air duct.
14. Using a 13 mm wrench, unscrew the two bolts securing the instrument panel console brackets to the floor tunnel (second bolt on the right side of the tunnel).
15. Having disconnected the seals and prying them with a screwdriver, remove the pads from the front body pillars.
16. Near the body pillars, using a Phillips-head wrench, unscrew the two screws securing the instrument panel trim.
17. Overcoming the resistance of the holders, remove the upper instrument panel trim. Using a 10 mm socket wrench, unscrew the seven nuts (located under the removed cover) fastening the instrument panel to the body.
18. Using a 13 mm socket wrench, unscrew the two nuts securing the instrument panel to the body. Remove the ground wire tip from one of the studs.
19. Disconnect the steering column from the instrument panel beam and lower it onto the seat or remove the steering column (see "Steering column - removal and installation").
20. Using a 13 mm socket wrench, unscrew the three bolts securing the instrument panel crossbar to the pedal assembly bracket.
21. Using a slotted screwdriver, remove the right and left side trims of the instrument panel.
22. Using a 13 mm socket wrench, unscrew the instrument panel cross member mounting bolts (two on each side).
23. Remove the instrument panel together with the heater.
Installation
We install the assembled instrument panel together with the heater in the reverse order.