instrument panel removal, passenger airbag - tips

i search this forum a lot when im looking for advice, and just in case others are doing the same:

i removed the superficial panel that surrounds the instrument cluster and the driver vents yesterday, while installing new bits and pieces. i learned a couple things that i would have found useful before. i have a 97 escort wagon.

to remove the panel, first, take off the three screws under the steering wheel (phillips, not all identical), and wriggle the black plastic pieces that house the steering column down. (incidentally, they can be forced off and on without breaking them. ive done this in the past, but is unnecessary to remove the instrument panel, etc).

remove the plastic panel under the steering wheel by loosening the hood release (17mm) and remving one torx screw near the bottom. pop out the remaining fasteners.

then remove the three torx screws inside the hood of the instrument cluster, and one more from each side of the bottom. carefully pry these bottom bits up, so the pins are not engaged (they pop back in easily and make life difficult later) and start pulling the panel out. a couple press fit fasteners will pop loose, and in my car two fasteners at the far right of the panel (past the vents) wouldnt come out. i actually removed the passenger airbag to see what was going on, but this seems to be unnecessary. i think all i needed to do was fit something under the panel and pull it out without diddling with the airbag. there are no screws on the right side of the panel, hidden behind the airbag or anything.

the first time i took the passenger airbag out, it was an enormous headache to put back in, as the ducting behind the airbag stopped me from being able to thread the forward bolts back in straight, etc. this time i put the airbag in in two minutes. i accomplished this by putting the airbag in its spot, then with one hand tilting the airbag so the four bolts angle further back. i was then able to start all four bolts easily with a short ratchet extension, and then when the airbag was settled into its proper spot i could crank them down easily.

Much thanks for the how-to. Its appreciated!

one more t hing- there is a separate piece of dash plastic just above the steering column, part of the black piece that surrounds the instrument cluster. this can be removed easily, allowing access to the top innards of the steering column (to remove change that fell back there) or to add LED lights to the plastic for an anti-theft device.

to remove it, take the big panel under the column off (17mm bolt loosened, one torx screw) and then use a knife to depress the two black plastic tabs , one on each side, of the piece. it only takes a minute. way easier than getting the big black panel it is mounted to off.