HOW TO: Remove Front/Rear Dash and Install Deck, Remove Door Panels

so anyway...back to the original topic of the thread. what is a GM tool for taking the door handle off when removing the door panels? im trying to replace my front speakers, but i can't get the damn door handle off. it doesnt have a horseshoe clip, so i can't just pop it off! what do i do, short of bashing it in with a hammer?

I didn't have the GM tool either, I just jammed a screwdriver in there, and then held it while jamming another in the other way, and I just kinda Jimmy Rigged it out... It broke and went flying across the garage, lol...

i am not even gonna cut it. if anything a shop can do it cause i am not lol. but it works fine usin the stock so ima keep it like this thanks for the tip thou

Even tho this thread seems to be dead, i need a bit of help. Heres my situation. I get all the screws out, all of them including the brass ones(big pain). Ever thing seems to be going well, the dash is coming out on the drivers side, and then it strait stops. I wiggle a bit and work it side to side to no avail. I take a flash light to see in there and see 2 little clamp/hook things. These are what seems to be my problem. The thing is that I can get them to unhook. I try and try and I cant even see which way they come out, or even if thats my real problem. So, long story short, I need help. Anyone out there know what I need to do? Thanks

2 hook thing? im not sure where your talking about so a pic would be great. i have taken my dash off like 20 times so i can probly help but need a pic.

Well, i dont have acess to a camera right now, but im not even sure there clips. What ever they are, they are 2 black plastic looking things that have been insertet into a metal sheet that is tooth. The teeth prob keep the black plastic in there, but I dont think thats whats holding it on. I cant realy get a pic, but I can answer anything as I am looking at it right now. Any help you can give to get this dern thing off would be great.

here are some pic i took a while ago, where at is the problem?

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f268/JStumpalump150/IMG_1162.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f268/JStumpalump150/IMG_1163.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f268/JStumpalump150/IMG_1164.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f268/JStumpalump150/IMG_1160.jpg

from the discription of where your getting stuck it sounds like you didnt get the 2 gold brass bolts that you can access from the glove box, you may need a socket with an extention to get to them. i had that problem the first time i tryed to take off the dash.

if you look in the top left corner of the bottom pic in that black area thats where the 2 gold bolts are.

I deffenelty got those brass screws out. Im pretty sure I got all of the screws, all of them. It just wont come out. Im so frustraited, it should come out. I dont know whats wrong, lol.

Well, I feel retarded. I see now which brass screws you where talking about. Got them out and everything else went smooth as silk. Now I have a brand spankin new cd player and its thanks to you Stump, thanks bro.

no problem,
i thought thats what you got hung up on cuz i was doing the exact same thing you were and getting pissed. i was yanking on the fucker to get it out then i looked on here and found i forgot 2 screws, lol. came out really easy after that. glad you figured it out.

Is the glovebox a serviceable item? My 2001 came with a broken one. The plastic that holds the hinge mount completely broke away from the bottom of the glove box. I was thinking of going to a salvage yard and taking one out for mine, but from all the pics, it doesn't look like it will pop out with the removal of more clips and screws. Anyone taken one out before?
Thanks

You should be able to just swap in a new one. Mine broke and I got a new one off ebay but the outer "cover" was a different color. I just unscrewed it and screwed on my original one.

You should be able to just swap in a new one. Mine broke and I got a new one off ebay but the outer "cover" was a different color. I just unscrewed it and screwed on my original one.

Thanks,
Unfortunately, my problem is not just the door, but the whole interior box. Mine looks like a jagged shelf. From the pics I have seen, it looks like I need the whole lower half of the dash. From under the steering wheel, under the radio console and then the whole glovebox section all looks like one piece.

Ohh I see, then yes you will unfortunetly need the whole lower dash...that sucks.

Altho that does suck, it shoudnt be to terrible expensive. Most of the dash bits, tha black part along with the right side dashboard, are pretty cheap to buy new replacements(where they can be found) and very cheapy found at a good junk yard. Good luck.

Yeah but dude, this isn't a small "bit" this is the entire under-dash we're talking about. If he finds one in a junkyard, someone, either him or the workers there are gonna have to take off everything. Top dash, front bezel, side panels, steering wheel, steering wheel column, the heater ducts, the metal support bars. Not too difficult just teedius and time consuming. And if the workers do it, it's probly gonna cost quite a bit.

Yeah but dude, this isn't a small "bit" this is the entire under-dash we're talking about. If he finds one in a junkyard, someone, either him or the workers there are gonna have to take off everything. Top dash, front bezel, side panels, steering wheel, steering wheel column, the heater ducts, the metal support bars. Not too difficult just teedius and time consuming. And if the workers do it, it's probly gonna cost quite a bit.

Yeah, a bit more involved than I would like to do. I ended up making a custom support and tied it at the ends just beyond the door. There is a slight dip on both sides. I used tie strips used to tie lumber together that would be similar to a very flat metal ruler, just not as wide. I used two layers for strength and 1/4 black licence plate bolts with threaded clips to secure the ends on the dash. Not perfect, but the door closes and opens.:)

Hey JStumpalump150 I see you have some aftermarket knobs for your climate control, they look from the pictures as a clear blue.. where did you get these?

Hey JStumpalump150 I see you have some aftermarket knobs for your climate control, they look from the pictures as a clear blue.. where did you get these?


You just peel the rubber boot off the stock ones and you can use nail polish or something on them. Or you can do what i did...

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/4083/20070717image0001ib9.jpg

replaced all my stock bulbs with blue LEDS.

i did what classic said and i pulled the black stuff off then took a green sharpie to them. then i went in and changed the stock bulbs with green LED's so i didnt need the green sharpie on them anymore to make them glow green, so i tried to take it off with rubbing alcohol to make them clear but it left them with a greenish tint.

Cody, I'm already sick of seeing your interior man lol

ok cool! now the next question where do i get the leds? like i have a yellow theme is there a certain type of bulb that needs to be used.. if so what brand and model #?

i get all my bulbs and leds off ebay. Just type in 74 led yellow

http://superbrightleds.com/

^^^that is where i got mine and where cody got his, they are great and fast at shipping.



for the HVAC knobs you need 2 #74 bulbs and for the instrument panel you need 4 WLED-X5 bulbs

Pretty sure ebay's cheaper

idk, i never looked. but i know for a fact you get what you want from this place. thats just my input.

...they're just leds lol

....true, im just sayin

Pretty sure ebay's cheaper

they sell them in pairs of 2 for $5.99 for the pair of the 5 w-led bulbs Plus shipping. They will not combine shipping, been there done that.

I got 10- blue 5 WLED ( 194) bulbs, 3 blue ( 74) bulbs. $41 shipped. with warrenty...

i had to warrenty one of the blubs as well so its good this was a good company to deal with.

Cody, I'm already sick of seeing your interior man lol

teach people to search and we wouldn't have to re-visit it all the time for visual aid for those who have no idea wtf they are doing... ;)

lol $6 for 2 leds!? You're looking at the wrong ads man, I find 2 leds for $2.50 total all the time.

Thanks for all the info, will be helpful for when im rdy to tear down my dash.

thx this post helped alot :] :cwm27::cwm27::cwm27::cwm27::cwm27::cwm27::cwm27:: cwm27::cwm27::cwm27:

I experienced the wild speedometer and fuel gauge problem that is common to these cars in my 2004 Sunfire. I found that the pictures and directions in the OP were not quite the same as my car, so I offer the following 2004 Sunfire addendum to help others needing to open their dashboard and replace their faulty instrument panel (NOTE: I got a brand new set off eBay for $29 plus shipping from a guy that has sold 100's of these clusters).

1) Remove center defroster vent cover with screwdriver (pops off easily).

2) Remove philips head center screw (not in original pics) and 2 bolts beneath defroster vent cover.
http://www.justaddpower.com/pics/Sunfire_screw_under_defroster_vent.jpg

3) Gently pry off the full width trim piece closest to the windshield (held on with quick release clips).

4) There are 4 more bolts to remove across the top of the dash, one near the pillars, and 2 brass bolts near the passenger side airbag cover.
http://www.justaddpower.com/pics/Sunfire_bolt_by_passenger_column.jpg

http://www.justaddpower.com/pics/Sunfire_brass_bolts_behind_passenger_airbag.jpg

5) Use a philips head screwdriver to remove the single screw holding on the passenger side trim panel.
http://www.justaddpower.com/pics/Sunfire_passenger_side_panel.jpg

NOTE: There is not a bolt behind this panel (unlike the OP cav instructions)

6) Use a philips head screwdriver to remove the single screw holding on the driver side trim panel.
http://www.justaddpower.com/pics/Sunfire_driver_side_panel_screw.jpg

There is a single bolt behind this panel, just like the cavs.

7) Take off the center console cowling - just remove the 2 screws on the side of the glove box that hold on the center console cowling and it will swing to the left.
http://www.justaddpower.com/pics/Sunfire_cowling_screws.jpg

8) Remove the bolt behind the console cowling near the ignition switch.
http://www.justaddpower.com/pics/Sunfire_1bold_under_console_cowling.jpg

9) Remove the 2 philips head screws that hold on the glove box metal trim piece
http://www.justaddpower.com/pics/Sunfire_glovebox_trim_screws.jpg

10) Remove the 3 bolts beind the glove box metal trim
http://www.justaddpower.com/pics/Sunfire_3bolts_under_glovebox_trim.jpg

The dashboard should now come out quite easily.

So for my 96',all I need is a new deck mounting kit and antenna adapter?Do I need a new wiring harness or should that come with the aftermarket stereo?Thanks for the write up classicrocjunkie!saved me about $150 in install fees!! (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/member.php?u=172487)

really good information!

i am runing it threw the fuse box i finnaly got it to work ran the remote wire threw the wipper fuse and spent 25 bucks on the rca Converter to speaker wire and it works but then i can 2 subs it only beats with less then half power so i unhooked one and it beats fine just gotta do that till i go buy my new deck. gl to the rest of you



Here's one thing im stumped on, i need to wire my cd deck to the wiper fuse, how do i go about doing this?