Dodge Neon / Neon SRT-4. Manual — part 393

REMOVAL - RHD

WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR-
BAGS,

REFER

TO

ELECTRICAL,

RESTRAINTS,

WARNINGS BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING
COLUMN, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT
DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. FAILURE TO TAKE THE
PROPER PRECAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN ACCI-
DENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE
PERSONAL INJURY.

CAUTION: LOCK THE STEERING WHEEL IN THE
STRAIGHT AHEAD POSITION. THIS WILL PREVENT
CLOCKSPRING DAMAGE WHEN THE STEERING
COLUMN

IS

REMOVED

FROM

THE

VEHICLE.

(Fig. 6)

(1) Disconnect and isolate the negative battery

cable.

(2) Remove the floor console. Refer to Body, Inte-

rior, Center Console, Removal.

(3) Remove the right and left side instrument

panel end covers (Fig. 7). Using the finger grip fea-
ture, pull straight away from the instrument panel to
disengage the (3) retaining clips.

(4) Remove the right and left side A-pillar trims.

Refer to Body, Interior.

(5) Loosen the (2) screws retaining the instrument

panel top cover. Located in the defroster grille (Fig.
8).

(6) Using the heel of both hands, lift up to unclip

and remove the instrument panel top cover.

(7) Unclip and remove the instrument cluster

bezel. Refer to Body, Instrument Panel, Instrument
Panel Top Cover, Removal.

(8) Remove the (2) screws retaining the lower

steering column cover and remove the cover from the
vehicle.

(9) Remove the (2) screws retaining the steering

column shroud and remove the shroud from the vehi-
cle.

(10) Disconnect

the

clockspring,

wiper/washer,

multi-function, ignition and if equipped, the two
SKIM module connections and the shift interlock
cable on automatic transaxle equipped vehicles.

Fig. 6 RHD INSTRUMENT PANEL

Fig. 7 RHD INSTRUMENT PANEL END COVER

1 - INSTRUMENT PANEL END COVER

23 - 56

INSTRUMENT PANEL

PL/SRT-4

INSTRUMENT PANEL ASSEMBLY (Continued)

(11) Remove the steering shaft coupler pinch bolt

retaining pin.

CAUTION: The steering wheel must be in the locked
position before removing the coupler pinch bolt or
clockspring damage can occur.

(12) Remove the steering shaft coupler pinch bolt

and separate the shafts by pulling them straight
apart (Fig. 9).

(13) Remove the (4) steering column retaining nuts

and remove the column from the vehicle.

(14) Pull back the weather-stripping and remove

the right and left side lower kick panels.

(15) Rotate the A/C outlet registers to the full

down position. Grip each outlet at its outboard end
and gently over rotate to release from its pivot point.
Swing outlet straight out and remove by hand

(16) Remove the (4) HVAC control knobs by pull-

ing them straight off the switch shaft by hand.

(17) Remove the (2) screws from the center instru-

ment bezel (Fig. 10).

(18) Remove the center instrument panel bezel.

Gently pull it straight out to unsnap the (4) retaining
clips.

(19) Remove the (2) HVAC control head retaining

screws. Pull the control away from the instrument
panel and rotate the control horizontally to position
the assembly through the hole in the instrument
panel. This will eliminate the need to disconnect the
control cables.

(20) Unclip the Data Link Connector (DLC) from

the right side of the instrument panel reinforcement.

(21) Disconnect the instrument panel wire harness

from behind the right kick panel. To disconnect the
harness remove the (2) screws retaining the instru-
ment panel connector to the steering column casting.
Remove the plastic clips from the connector retainer.
Unclip the bottom retainer and slide the mated
instrument panel and headlamp connectors out of the
holder. Disconnect the instrument panel wire harness
connector.

(22) Disconnect the (3) wire harnesses from the

top of the instrument panel.

Fig. 8 INSTRUMENT PANEL TOP COVER CENTER

RETAINING SCREWS

1 - TOP COVER RETAINING SCREWS
2 - INSTRUMENT PANEL TOP COVER

Fig. 9 STEERING SHAFT COUPLER PINCH BOLT

LOCATION

1 - STEERING SHAFT COUPLER
2 - STEERING SHAFT COUPLER PINCH BOLT

Fig. 10 CENTER BEZEL RETAINING SCREWS

1 - CENTER BEZEL
2 - CENTER BEZEL RETAINING SCREWS (BEHIND A/C OUTLET
LOUVERS)

PL/SRT-4

INSTRUMENT PANEL

23 - 57

INSTRUMENT PANEL ASSEMBLY (Continued)

(23) Unclip the wire harness along the center con-

sole and disconnect the airbag control module, park-
ing brake and transmission range indicator lamp if
equipped.

(24) Gently pry the right front door wire harness

boot away from the A-pillar to access and disconnect
the right door wire harness connector.

(25) Gently pry the left front door wire harness

boot away from the A-pillar to access and disconnect
the left door wire harness connector.

(26) Disconnect the radio antenna located below

the glove compartment.

(27) Remove the (4) instrument panel retaining

fasteners from the top of the instrument panel.

(28) Remove the (2) instrument panel retaining

bolts which attach the instrument panel to the body
at the tunnel bracket (Fig. 11).

(29) Remove the (4) instrument panel retaining

bolts from the right and left side body side cowls
(Fig. 12) and (Fig. 13).

(30) With the assistance from another person,

guide the HVAC control head through the instrument
panel opening while removing the instrument panel.

(31) If replacing the instrument panel, transfer all

parts to new instrument panel.

INSTALLATION

INSTALLATION

If replacing instrument panel, transfer parts from

old instrument panel as necessary.

(1) With help on an assistant, place instrument

panel assembly into vehicle and onto the roll down
bolts.

Fig. 11 CENTER INSTRUMENT PANEL RETAINING

BOLTS

1 - CENTER INSTRUMENT PANEL RETAINING BOLTS

Fig. 12 RHD INSTRUMENT PANEL RETAINING LEFT

SIDE BOLTS

1 - A-PILLAR TRIM
2 - INSTRUMENT PANEL TOP COVER LEFT SIDE RETAINING
SCREWS

Fig. 13 RHD INSTRUMENT PANEL RIGHT SIDE

RETAINING BOLTS

1 - RIGHT SIDE INSTRUMENT PANEL RETAINING BOLTS

23 - 58

INSTRUMENT PANEL

PL/SRT-4

INSTRUMENT PANEL ASSEMBLY (Continued)

(2) Feed the HVAC control into its opening in the

back of the panel. Align the 75-way electrical connec-
tor and carefully guide the panel into position on the
dash.

NOTE: The use of two drift pins or 1/2 inch diame-
ter bolts through the B-pillar pilot holes will assure
proper vertical position of the panel. Otherwise,
visual align these holes before tightening the first
bolt on each side.

(3) Connect the center console wiring:
• Airbag Control Module (ACM)

• Parking Brake Warning Lamp Switch

• Transmission Range Indicator Lamp

• Brake Interlock Cable (ATX)
(4) Pull HVAC control head out of instrument

panel, twist 90° and position in place (Fig. 4).

(5) Connect the one vacuum harness connector.
(6) Connect the one instrument panel wire harness

connector.

(7) Install the two retaining screws to the HVAC

control head.

(8) Install the center A/C duct through the opening

in the instrument panel, making sure it snaps down
over the mating duct on the A/C unit. Tabs on each
side will guide into slots in instrument panel.

(9) Position the center bezel and firmly snap into

place.

(10) Install the two screws retaining the top front

of the center bezel.

(11) Snap in the A/C outlet barrels.
(12) Firmly push on the HVAC control head knobs.
(13) Connect one left side harness connector at top

left of instrument panel for vanity and rear view mir-
rors.

(14) Connect two harness connectors to HVAC at

right top instrument panel (Fig. 3).

(15) Install the left and right A-pillar door harness

connectors (Fig. 2).

(16) Connect the right side antenna connector.
(17) Install the left and right A-pillar mounting

bolts. First the lower bolt, then the upper bolt on
each side.

(18) Install the two center support mounting bolts.
(19) Install two bolts on top of the brake pedal

support bracket.

(20) Install the two cowl top instrument panel

retaining nuts (right side).

(21) Position the Data Link Connector (DLC) into

mounting slot and firmly snap into place in instru-
ment panel reinforcement.

(22) Install the center console. (Refer to 23 -

BODY/INTERIOR/FLOOR CONSOLE - INSTALLA-
TION)

(23) Install the left and right cowl side panels.

(24) Install the left and right instrument panel

end covers.

(25) Install the steering column. (Refer to 19 -

STEERING/COLUMN - INSTALLATION)

(26) Position

the

steering

column

cover

over

mounting slots and firmly snap into place. Install the
two screws on lower edge.

(27) Position the cluster bezel over mounting slots

and firmly snap into place.

(28) Install the instrument panel top cover. (Refer

to 23 - BODY/INSTRUMENT PANEL/INSTRUMENT
PANEL TOP COVER - INSTALLATION)

(29) Position the left and right A-pillar trim mold-

ings over mounting slots and firmly snap into place.

(30) Install the door seal.
(31) Connect the battery negative cable.

INSTALLATION - RHD

(1) Before installing the instrument panel, be cer-

tain the (2) instrument panel wire harness connector
retaining screws have been removed. The wire bun-
dle should hang between the two connector mounting
tabs on the instrument panel (Fig. 14).

(2) If replacing the instrument panel, transfer all

parts to new instrument panel.

(3) With

the

assistance

from

another

person,

install the instrument panel into the vehicle. Guide
the HVAC control head through the instrument panel
opening while installing the assembly.

Fig. 14 INSTRUMENT PANEL WIRE HARNESS

CONNECTOR

1 - INSTRUMENT PANEL CONNECTOR MOUNTS
2 - TOP OF INSTRUMENT PANEL
3 - INSTRUMENT PANEL CONNECTORS
4 - RETAINING SCREWS

PL/SRT-4

INSTRUMENT PANEL

23 - 59

INSTRUMENT PANEL ASSEMBLY (Continued)