91-94 Dashboard removal

[Skrip]

this is a question that appeared numerous times and I was just wondering if it's possible to sticky this as, after personal experience I learned just how hard it was. I was trying to clean out my AC ducts and that required much removal procedures. I have the Chilton's repair manual but it has veyr simplistic direcitons and things are deffinitely not nearly as simple and that is why I decided to write my own guide.

Firstly, you would need the right tools. A metric set of wrenches, both socket and regular. A set of screwdrivers, short and long. A carbeurator adjuster (or a similar device - a screwdriver with a bendable neck, to reach around the back of the dash). And a lot of patience. Only do this procedure unless absolutely nescessary, it can be very frustrating. I just hope that this saves some of you fellow Tercel owners the headache I had. My car look like this for a few days:



DISCONNECT THE BATTERY

Remove the visible, obvious screws and bolts. Take off the stereo trim (couple of screws under there), take the stereo out, for easier access. Pop off the clips on the steering wheel, CAREFULLY remove the airbag and disconnect it. Take off the steering wheel, be careful when pulling it off, mine felt like it was glued on, try to move it side to side slightly. Take off the instrument panel, the AC controls, the glove compartment. Once all the screws/bolts have been taken off (try not to lose any, esp when putting them back on, i lost a couple my self) get the carbeurator adjuster (flexible screwdriver). There will be a very thick bunch of wires running behind the dashboard and it is held in about 5-7 places by plastic clips with medium phillips screws. Don't break them nor pull the wires out of them. Do not cut the tape holding the wires together, they come out as a whole, with the clips. Try to position your self so that you can reach around to the screw with the adjuster and unscrew them. There are also a few bolts that keep the dashboard attached to the long pipe-like frame, unscrew them. Chilton's diagrams helped somewhat here. Once you got all that you could, carefully pull the dashboard up and out. There are 6 or so clips right under the windshield that keep it in place. Carefull with how you pull it out because you dont want to break them. They might get stuck on the frame, you'll have to pull them out and put them back on the dashboard before reinstallation.

Reinstallation procedure is basically mirrored, just be sure to put the clips back into the dashboard, and attach that wire bunch back to where it was with the same method as the removal. Try not to drop the screws as they may fall into the transmission shafts, I lost 2 that way.

Good luck, try not to break anything.

If anyone has any additions, alterations, or corrections, feel free to share. If any admins come accross this, I think a sticky would be nice, this deffinitely is not an easy procedure.