And without further delay, I present the long awaited instructions:TOPIC: Removing The Upper DashboardDIFFICULTY LEVEL: (1 hammer = easy - 5 hammers = pro)TIME REQUIRED: 1-2 hours first time, 20-30 minutes thereafterTOOLS REQUIRED: Phillips screwdriver, 10mm and 13mm sockets and driver, covered container for screws=================================================CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE!!!This install guide was compiled with the assistance of VibeOwner's walkthrough (
http://home.comcast.net/~vibeowner/buzz.htm). He was the original adventurer to undertake this task, and I in no way intend to replace his guide. I simply compiled this as a slightly more photographic, and a tad more detailed, install guide. I want to be sure Vibe Owner gets the credit he deserves for this project! GENERAL INSTALLATION NOTES* Use a container with a lid to keep all the screws, retainers, and miscellaneous clips you remove together, and from getting lost. Also consider using tape and taping screws to the parts they were removed from to keep them from getting confused.* Be ready to dedicate a good day to the first removal. Once you've done it once, future removals will be easier because you will know exactly what to do.STEP 1: DISABLE SIR SYSTEM* YOU MUST DISABLE THE AIRBAGS BEFORE PRECEDING. FAILURE TO DO SO MAY RESULT IN UNINTENTIONAL DEPLOYMENT, WHICH CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY AND MAJOR DAMAGE AND/OR REPAIR COSTS.* Turn the steering wheel so that the vehicle's wheels are pointing straight ahead.* Turn the ignition switch to the off position.* Remove the fuse block cover. Locate and remove the AM2 fuse from the under-dash fuse block. * Disconnect the negative battery cable. Secure it so it can't accidentally come in contact with the negative battery terminal. I put a workglove over the cable.* WAIT 2 MINUTES. The SIR sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) retains an energy reserve to provide deployment power for the airbags for up to 2 minutes after disconnecting vehicle power. Wait 2 minutes or more as an added security measure before proceeding to the next step.* Pump the brake pedal a few times to discharge any power that may remain in the system.* Remove the lower steering column trim cover. You can do this by removing the two screws behind the wheel, as well as a third screw by the wheel adjustment lever. * Gently tug at the lower trim until it unsnaps. Set the cover aside.* Disconnect the yellow harness to disable the driver airbag. * Remove the glovebox. Open the box, and remove the phillips head screw on the right side holding the opener to the box. Lift gently until the box unsnaps from the hinges. Maneuver the box out of the opening. Allow the black tension rod to hang freely. Set the box aside.* Look up into the dash and find the passenger airbag harness. * Disconnect the passenger airbag harness.* Using a 13mm ratchet, unbolt the passenger airbag module from the support bar. STEP 2: REMOVE THE RADIO * Using a small screwdriver, or other flat tool, gently pull the trim plate around forward to release it.* Grab the bottom of the trim and pull outward. It should come free, leaving it connected only by two clips on the top. Tilt the trim upward to release the two clips and pull it free of the dash.* Once you have freed the trim of the dash, disconnect all wire harnesses on the back. * Also remove the black recirculate mode deactivator cable by prying back on the white tabs holding it in until the cable comes free.* Set the trim aside.* Using a 10mm ratched, remove the 4 bolts holding the radio. * Pull the radio outward. Remove the two harnesses, as well as the antenna wire. In the case of an aftermarket radio, disconnect all wires. Set aside the radio. STEP 3: REMOVE THE GAUGE CLUSTER TRIM * Release the height adjustment lever for the steering wheel so the wheel moves freely up and down.* Push the wheel down as far as it will go. Lock it in place if you'd like, though not necessary.* Using the pry tool from the radio removal, gently pull at the bottom of the trim until it starts to come free. Continue pulling until the entire circular trim has been removed. The button for the trip odometer WILL NOT fall out, but you can remove it if you wish. Just give it a tug and it will come free. Set the trim pieces, and the button if you removed it, aside. * Look up above the now exposed gauges, and disconnect the wire leading to the Twilight Sentinel sensor. STEP 4: REMOVE THE MIRROR CONTROL AND GAUGE BRIGHTNESS PANEL *Again, using the pry tool, work around the perimeter of the trim piece holding the mirror controls and left-most vent. This, from my experiences, was the most stubborn trim piece of all, and took a very good yank to break free. * When it comes free, disconnect the harnesses for mirror adjustments and gauge brightness.* Set the trim aside. STEP 5: REMOVE THE DASHBOARD SCREWS * Remove Screw #1, located at the lower right corner of the opening behind the now removed mirror control / gauge brightness trim panel.* Remove Screw #2, located right at the top of the gauges.* Remove Screws #3 and #4, located at the lower left and right corners, respectively, of the opening behind the now removed radio trim. STEP 6: REMOVE THE A-PILLAR TRIM * Gently pry at the A-pillar mouldings until they unsnap from the body of the car. Gently lift the A-pillar out of the hole in the dash. Set aside. STEP 7: REMOVE THE UPPER DASHBOARD * Starting on the passenger side, gently lift up on the upper dash to release the snaps holding it in place. Continue down the board, release snaps until you get to the opposite side. * If you encounter resistance, STOP. DO NOT force the dash. Ensure you removed all screws, and no wires or harnesses are
tangled and keeping the dash from lifting. * Once you release all the snaps, lift to clear the snaps from the lower dash, and begin pulling forward. This will release the snaps from under the windshield. * Make sure the steering wheel is set to the lowest height before continuing.* Once the dash is freed of all retainers, lift it from the passenger end (the airbag will still be attached to the dash, making it heavier at the passenger end), and maneuver it up, over the steering wheel, and then out through the passenger door.* The upper dash is now removed! Some shots from inside the dash. STEP 8: PREVENT RATTLES BEFORE THEY DEVELOP Many have commented on rattles within the dash, located directly in front of the driver. While I have never experienced these rattles, VibeOwner was kind enough to point out that he traced the rattle back to the Cruise Control module. That module is visible in this picture as the silver box: I removed this box, and placed a piece of Armaflex directly over the hole the box screwed into. I then rescrewed the box down over the armaflex, so at no point did the metal of the box bracket contact the metal of the dash. This screw WILL NOT tighten beyond a certain point and will continue to twist freely. I sense this may be a reason rattles eventually develop. Anyway, don't worry, it's a design flaw.* Another potential source of squeaks is the passenger side air vents. As you can see in this picture, the vents are simply screwed onto each other, making it possible they can rub back and forth, yielding a squeak. I simply unscrewed the upper vent, placed armaflex at any point the two tubes contact each other, and rescrewed it down.STEP 9: REINSTALLING THE DASHBOARD* Carefully maneuver the dashboard back into the car, and over the steering wheel. Use care NOT to bang the passenger airbag module or subject it to any significant trauma. This could damage the unit, causing it to not deploy in a collision, or even have it deploy when it receives power again.* With the front end of the dashboard lifted up to clear the lower dashboard, slide the front end snaps under the windshield. When they have succesfully reseated, lower the dash and press downward to resnap the dashboard into place. Don't overtighten.* Replace the two screws from both corners of the radio area. Don't overtighten.* Replace the screw above the gauge cluster. Be sure that the screw goes into the gauges, as that screw holds them in position. Don't overtighten.* Replace the screw from the opening where the mirror controls / gauge brightness dial were. Don't overtighten.* Reattach the twighlight sentinel sensor to the harness located directly above the gauges.* Reattach the wire harnesses for the mirror controls and gauge brightness dial. Resnap the trim panel into place. Be sure to press all four sides and ensure they are properly seated.* While the steering wheel is still in it's lowest position, replace the gauge cluster trim panel. If you removed the trip odometer button, push it into the hole it was removed from until it snaps into place. Then begin to resnap the cluster trim into place starting at the top. Before you snap in the bottom, use your pinky to make sure the trip odometer button is being threaded properly through the hole in the trim. Snap all sides of the trim into place.* Reconnect all wires to your radio. Using a 10mm socket and driver, rescure the radio on all four corners. Ensure they are tight, but as always, don't overtighten.* Resnap, in the following order, the harnesses to the radio trimplate: black recirculate mode deactivation cable, A/C button harness, hazard button harness, rear defroster harness, passenger seatbelt light harness. When you verify all harnesses are properly secured, hook the top tabs onto the two holes on the top of the dash by tilting the bottom upward. When the tabs lock on, press all four sides of the trim into place. Be sure it all snaps back in properly. * Using your 13mm socket and driver, resecure the passenger airbag bolt through the eye above the glovebox. If you have a torque wrench available, tighten the bolt to 15 ft-lb (20 N-m). If not, tighten it as much as you can.* Reconnect the passenger airbag wire harness. Be sure to push it on until it locks securely together.* Remaneuver the glovebox wings behind the dash, and then push downward until the glovebox locks in place on it's hinge. Rescure the tension rod to the box using the screw removed at the start.* Reconnect the steering wheel airbag harness. Press it securely into place until it locks.* Replace the lower steering wheel trim panel. Maneuver it around the height adjustment lever, and snap it into place until there are no gaps visible. Replace the three screws: one by the adjustment lever, two behind the wheel itself.STEP 10: ENABLE THE SIR SYSTEM*NOTE: YOU MUST FOLLOW THESE STEPS IN ORDER TO AVOID ANY MALFUNCTIONS OR ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENTS OF THE SIR SYSTEM.* Connect the negative battery cable to the battery.* Reinstall the AM2 fuse. Replace the fuse block cover.* USE CAUTION while reaching in and turn the ignition switch to the ON position (NOT START). * The AIR BAG indicator will flash and then turn off.* If the AIR BAG indiciator does not light, turn the key to off, wait 2 minutes, and turn the key again to ON (NOT START). You should see the indicator flash and go out. * At this point, you're all set! Congratulations, you just disassembled and reassembled the upper dash!
YES!I still visit GenVibe periodically. I have not forgotten about my "original" family over here!
2009 PONTIAC G8
3.6L V6 (256 HP @ 6300 rpm, 248 ft-lbs. @ 2100 rpm)