Need advise on easiest removal of gauge and passenger side bag covers for a repaint

[ptprice]

To get my mind off of my as of yet, unsuccessful searching in my seat swapping obsession for SOOO BIG temporarily, I'm going to try a weekend repainting of the two covers and the center radio cover beze, "COOL VANILLA WHITE" to match SOOO BIG's finish.

Our local auto paint store, Higg's, can mix up the COOL VANILLA WHITE and magically put it in a standard pressurized rattle can so I can do a spray job on my kitchen table !

I've had the dash raised before when I replaced the remote control key less entry module. I know how to do that. I figure if I get to the point I was in in photo one with the dash cover raised, I can carefully lift out the gauge cluster cover and remove the two blinker lights to get it free. I've done that before. Just experimentally when I was replacing the module. Any advise on that gratefully accepted.

Please advise if I have to disconnect the battery as no electronics are to be disconnected.

My question concerns the passenger air bag cover that I'd also like to repaint. I've never fooled with it.

Does the passenger air bag cover lift off just as easily after reaching the access stage the same way as the gauge cluster cover does? Is it just held in place by Phillips screws under the dash cover or is there more involvement? Are there screws or air bag connections I have to be aware of? I don't want to interfere with the passenger air bag? I don't want that popping out! Please advise.

I'm try for this to be a Saturday, Sunday project. Take 'em out and paint on Saturday. Limp to church on Sunday with everything hanging out. Put 'em back in on Sunday after the paint is dry and finish before the NASCAR race.

Thank you for any advise on taking them out or putting them back in and reinstalling the dash cover. I think I got the dash cover back in right by dumb luck the last time. I forget the tricks to that! Is this more than a weekend project for an old PT geezer or is it too much too tackle for the net result?

Happy PTin', ptprice

user37779_pic5867_1442764394.jpgthe dash cover raised view.jpg
PHOTO ONE

IMG_1501 (640x480).jpg
BEFORE SURGERY!

[rob302]

i believe you just take a couple screws out above and below it and it comes right out
Capture.jpg

then again i have beer in all my pics and i can't really remember

[robadat]

Rule of thumb...
Working anywhere near the airbags, always disconnect battery...

Other than that, I got nuthin, haven't played around with the dash at all.

I do have a small crack that recently appeared on the dash cover, near the defroster vent, I may have to invest in one of those at some point this summer if it spreads anymore...

[vermontpetey]

I recently did this on "Retro". First off - disconnect the battery (always) before playing with the airbags. Once you have the dash lifted and the screws out, there are two 13mm nuts under the airbag. If you remove these and unplug the unit on the left side, you can remove it all together - airbag and cover. I found it easier to do this and then remove the cover from the airbag for painting.

There may be some helpful pics in my build thread :

'05 Convertible "Retro" rebuild thread

Good luck and be sure to post up some "after" pics...

[sanatanadharma]

I removed the passenger airbag and then removed and later replaced the cover when I fitted the American Walnut wood dash to my car; it can be done.

Shop Manual copy and paste
"REMOVAL OF NON-DEPLOYED AIRBAG
(1) Open hood.
(2) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable.
(3) Wait two minutes for the system reserve capacitor to discharge before servicing any airbag components.
(4) Remove instrument panel top cover.
(5) Open glove box, push in on the box/bin sides and lower to floor.
(6) Remove the right instrument panel end cap.
(7) Remove four passenger airbag cover screws along the bottom end of the airbag cover.
(8) Remove two passenger airbag cover screws along the top edge of the airbag cover.
(9) Remove two nuts retaining passenger airbag to instrument panel assembly inside glove box opening.
(10) Lift airbag up until the wire connector is visible and disconnect the wire connector from airbag. Unlock the locking tab and release the connector.
(11) Remove passenger airbag from vehicle"

If you need to then remove the cover from the airbag, the manual says this:
"PASSENGER AIRBAG COVER REMOVAL
(steps 1-6 above)
(5) Unsnap cover from passenger airbag and remove by lifting the airbag cover up towards the hinge.
(6) Reach in under the cover and push down on the metal flap running the length of the top of the airbag housing.
(7) Maneuver airbag cover out of the airbag housing.

INSTALLATION
If reinstalling the airbag cover onto the same passenger airbag, perform the following adjustment. Otherwise, go to Step 1.
² Using a 90° needle nose pliers or equivalent, place the pliers on the rear edge of the airbag cover metal flap retainer.
² Bend roughly 10° so that the metal flap is closed slightly to eliminate rattles of the airbag cover.
² Bend until the measurement of the metal flap to airbag housing is 7 - 8.3 mm (use a drill bit ranging from 9/32 - 21/64 inch).
(1) Snap cover onto the passenger airbag frame."

And a warning!!!!!!!!!!
"WARNING: DO NOT CONNECT BATTERY NEGATIVE CABLE YET (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS - DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - AIRBAG SYSTEM).

There one reads,
"DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - AIRBAG SYSTEM
(1) With the battery negative remote cable disconnected, connect the DRB IIIt scan tool to the Data Link connector.
(2) Turn the ignition key to the ON position. Exit vehicle with the scan tool.
(3) After checking that no one is inside the vehicle, connect the battery negative remote terminal.
(4) Read and record the ACTIVE Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) data.
(5) Read and record any STORED DTC’s.
(6) Refer to the proper Body Diagnostic Procedures manual if any DTC’s are found in Step 4 and Step 5.
(7) If the airbag warning lamp either fails to light, or goes ON and stays ON, there is a system malfunction.
To test the airbag warning lamp (bulb) operation in the cluster, refer to Electrical, Instrument Cluster, Diagnosis and Testing - Instrument Cluster.
Refer to the proper Body Diagnostic Procedures manual for any other system problems"

[ptprice]

Originally Posted by rob302

i believe you just take a couple screws out above and below it and it comes right out
Attachment 22069

then again i have beer in all my pics and i can't really remember

Need advise on easiest removal of gauge and passenger side bag covers for a repaint

Thanks. The beer'd have to be a prerequisite for me! Happy Ptin', ptprice

[ptprice]

Originally Posted by vermontpetey

I recently did this on "Retro". First off - disconnect the battery (always) before playing with the airbags. Once you have the dash lifted and the screws out, there are two 13mm nuts under the airbag. If you remove these and unplug the unit on the left side, you can remove it all together - airbag and cover. I found it easier to do this and then remove the cover from the airbag for painting.

There may be some helpful pics in my build thread :

'05 Convertible "Retro" rebuild thread

Good luck and be sure to post up some "after" pics...

Very helpful. From your photos I see there are screws holding the gauge cluster cover in place to be removed. Maybe I won't have to jack the dash cover as high as I thought and displace it. Another piece of the puzzle filed away. Thanks, Happy PTin', ptprice

[ptprice]

Originally Posted by sanatanadharma

I removed the passenger airbag and then removed and later replaced the cover when I fitted the American Walnut wood dash to my car; it can be done.

Shop Manual copy and paste
"REMOVAL OF NON-DEPLOYED AIRBAG
(1) Open hood.
(2) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable.
(3) Wait two minutes for the system reserve capacitor to discharge before servicing any airbag components.
(4) Remove instrument panel top cover.
(5) Open glove box, push in on the box/bin sides and lower to floor.
(6) Remove the right instrument panel end cap.
(7) Remove four passenger airbag cover screws along the bottom end of the airbag cover.
(8) Remove two passenger airbag cover screws along the top edge of the airbag cover.
(9) Remove two nuts retaining passenger airbag to instrument panel assembly inside glove box opening.
(10) Lift airbag up until the wire connector is visible and disconnect the wire connector from airbag. Unlock the locking tab and release the connector.
(11) Remove passenger airbag from vehicle"

If you need to then remove the cover from the airbag, the manual says this:
"PASSENGER AIRBAG COVER REMOVAL
(steps 1-6 above)
(5) Unsnap cover from passenger airbag and remove by lifting the airbag cover up towards the hinge.
(6) Reach in under the cover and push down on the metal flap running the length of the top of the airbag housing.
(7) Maneuver airbag cover out of the airbag housing.

INSTALLATION
If reinstalling the airbag cover onto the same passenger airbag, perform the following adjustment. Otherwise, go to Step 1.
² Using a 90° needle nose pliers or equivalent, place the pliers on the rear edge of the airbag cover metal flap retainer.
² Bend roughly 10° so that the metal flap is closed slightly to eliminate rattles of the airbag cover.
² Bend until the measurement of the metal flap to airbag housing is 7 - 8.3 mm (use a drill bit ranging from 9/32 - 21/64 inch).
(1) Snap cover onto the passenger airbag frame."

And a warning!!!!!!!!!!
"WARNING: DO NOT CONNECT BATTERY NEGATIVE CABLE YET (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS - DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - AIRBAG SYSTEM).

There one reads,
"DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - AIRBAG SYSTEM
(1) With the battery negative remote cable disconnected, connect the DRB IIIt scan tool to the Data Link connector.
(2) Turn the ignition key to the ON position. Exit vehicle with the scan tool.
(3) After checking that no one is inside the vehicle, connect the battery negative remote terminal.
(4) Read and record the ACTIVE Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) data.
(5) Read and record any STORED DTC’s.
(6) Refer to the proper Body Diagnostic Procedures manual if any DTC’s are found in Step 4 and Step 5.
(7) If the airbag warning lamp either fails to light, or goes ON and stays ON, there is a system malfunction.
To test the airbag warning lamp (bulb) operation in the cluster, refer to Electrical, Instrument Cluster, Diagnosis and Testing - Instrument Cluster.
Refer to the proper Body Diagnostic Procedures manual for any other system problems"

You PT solution are always appreciated.

Sanatanadharma. Thanks. I printed down your instructions. I honestly don't need to or want to have to remove the passenger air bag, just the plastic cover to repaint it. Can that be done without interfering with the air bag? If I've read your notes correctly it could be much more involved than just taking the passenger air bag cover off to paint! I might be diving into the eccentric world of "REMOVING THE PASSENGER AIR BAG"! I just wanted to take the plastic air bag cover off to repaint it. Is it that easy or does the passenger side air bag have to actually come out? That may be too risky to do? But this is why I ran this thread and asked these questions. Maybe a repainting of this stuff isn't in SOOO BIG's future. By the way, your American Walnut additions look very nice. Please advise.

Thanks, Happy PTin', ptprice

[vermontpetey]

Just my .02...

Taking out the passenger airbag sounds frightening until you've done it. It actually turned out to be quite easy (2 13mm bolts and unplug it). The cover could be removed without unbolting the airbag, but I think it would be more difficult in the long run.

Either way, don't give up - you can do it and you'll love having it all freshly painted to match... You got this PTPrice!!

[rckstein]

Originally Posted by vermontpetey

Just my .02...

Taking out the passenger airbag sounds frightening until you've done it. It actually turned out to be quite easy (2 13mm bolts and unplug it). The cover could be removed without unbolting the airbag, but I think it would be more difficult in the long run.

Either way, don't give up - you can do it and you'll love having it all freshly painted to match... You got this PTPrice!!

That's what I'm reading from the instructions, however,

DISCONNECT THE BATTERY