Disco 1 Dash Removal

[LittlePaul]

Right, how do I remove the dash?

I want to stick some wires through into the dash, but cant get it apart.  Without breaking it.
Mr Haynes doesnt even try to explain, just says that there's often a procedure, make it up as you go along.  Helpful.

Have taken out two screws from the centre console where the gearsticks are, and lifted the gators.  Have taken out two screws above the stereo, but nothing moving.  Im guessing the center gearstick console comes off, then the heater controls/clock/lighter one, then the one above with the vents.

Losing the will to live, pls help.

[boss]

have never done it but there are a few screws hidden under the instroment pannel and as you say probibly some behind the sterio and what not. as said just make it up as you go along, take evereything off and look for cunningley hidden screws.

[ben_haynes]

paul if you need a hand give us a shout i should be able to give a hand may put removing the V8 on friday evening if its any use, will bring tom as i have no vehicle at the moment

[LittlePaul]

paul if you need a hand give us a shout i should be able to give a hand may put removing the V8 on friday evening if its any use, will bring tom as i have no vehicle at the moment

cool cheers mate.  andi wants to see if he can pull it apart on wednesday.  if it ends up in too many pieces i'll give you a buzz.  i hate doing dash and trim work.  cabling no problem, pulling plastic apart, yuk.  we should catch up sometime soon
cheers, paul

[LittlePaul]

have never done it but there are a few screws hidden under the instroment pannel and as you say probibly some behind the sterio and what not. as said just make it up as you go along, take evereything off and look for cunningley hidden screws.

ta.  will look for some more.  I found two, and two in the gear lever panel.  But nothing moves.  Will look again in daylight

[ben_haynes]

paul if you need a hand give us a shout i should be able to give a hand may put removing the V8 on friday evening if its any use, will bring tom as i have no vehicle at the moment

cool cheers mate.  andi wants to see if he can pull it apart on wednesday.  if it ends up in too many pieces i'll give you a buzz.  i hate doing dash and trim work.  cabling no problem, pulling plastic apart, yuk.  we should catch up sometime soon
cheers, paul

is that safe letting him loose on it???  :shock: i thing the whole dash comes out as one, bolts under the edges of the dash, and the steerig wheel and cowling needs taking out

[LittlePaul]

paul if you need a hand give us a shout i should be able to give a hand may put removing the V8 on friday evening if its any use, will bring tom as i have no vehicle at the moment

cool cheers mate.  andi wants to see if he can pull it apart on wednesday.  if it ends up in too many pieces i'll give you a buzz.  i hate doing dash and trim work.  cabling no problem, pulling plastic apart, yuk.  we should catch up sometime soon
cheers, paul

is that safe letting him loose on it???  :shock: i thing the whole dash comes out as one, bolts under the edges of the dash, and the steerig wheel and cowling needs taking out

that would explain why it woudlnt budge.  Screws under the glove box and wheel then?

and no it prolly isnt safe letting him on it!

[Disco Matt]

You may find it's easier to feed the wires around the dash than it is to remove the dash - I can give a couple of pointers depending on where you're trying to get to.

[LittlePaul]

You may find it's easier to feed the wires around the dash than it is to remove the dash - I can give a couple of pointers depending on where you're trying to get to.

There are big pipes behind it, so struggling to get my hand round; have taken the fuse panel cover off.  Im thinking of drilling a hole in the top of the dash (to the left of the drivers console - so right in the middle of the car), and feed the wires down to behind where the stereo is, the cigar lighter area.
I figured whilst I took the dash off Id look and see if I can hide a ton of ISO connectors and wires from the stereo under the dash, poked through from the stereo housing, cos there isnt anywhere near enough room in the stereo housing!  If that isnt possible, plan B is for a roof console.

Thoughts appreciated :)

[Disco Matt]

I know the 200TDI is a swine to fit a non-standard stereo to, mainly because there isn't quite enough depth in the slot for a modern head unit. As mine is a 300 most of the things I've learned while skinning my knuckles behind the dash won't apply, but I have found that bits of bent wire can be very handy for pulling cables through.

I have heard of people installing their CB in the slot on the dash, and moving the radio to a roof console as you suggest.

[clover]

The dash is easy to remove on a 200 series but it does require removing a lot of bits. I've done several now to replace dodgy heater units with seized blowers! I was really daunted at first though i must admit.

You have to remove the center console. 2 screws at front and 4 at the back. Remove the gear lever gaiters and the radio and the switch pack for the windows etc...

You have to undo the screws that hold the metal plate on below the heater controls.

You have to remove the plastic cover over the heater controls. The knobs are often a bit stiff to remove but should just pull off with adequate force :-) Then just unplug the cigarette lighter, clock etc...

You have to undo the 4 screws that hold the passenger grab rail on. They screw in from the top with countersunk screws (phillips head) you need to lift the rubber to expose them.

Remove glove box thing (warning has screws underneath as well as the ones you can see!)

You have to undo the 2 bolts that are underneath the clocks (which necessitates removing the clocks and the surrounds).

You then have 2 screws at either side about half way that you have to pull off the rubber door seal to get at properly.

You then have to remove the steering wheel, the cowling and the switches off the steering column.

Then finally you have to remove the brackets at the bottom (bolts x 4 which you will need a 7mm socket or spanner to undo)

It them comes off.

None of this is hard to do all it requires is that you be methodical and careful.

[clover]

The radio thing is pants... I am convinced they had a radio made that is shorter than anything else on the market so that nobody can fit an after market stereo in the hole properly and so that everybody skins their knuckles on the radio when going into low ratio! You would have thought they would have learned their lesson from the RRC which had exactly the same problem and which they attempted to sort out in some of the 3.9 models.

My Panasonic MP3 player just about fits but that is only because it has its own plug lead in the back that has ISO connector block on one end and at the other end of the cable the plug into the stereo does not protrude from the back of the stereo. Fortunately the PO extended the length of this and so I have it poking out the side from between the end of the console and heater fascia and have the block and ISO plugs tucked away under the side of the heater panel.

[Boon101083]

Wicked, thanks.  That's a mammoth task, think I need to hit print.
Im concious that if i drill down on the top of the dash below the windscreen, im going to hit something dangrous.  Whereas if I take the whoel dash off I can see what Im drilling into.

Stereo is a pain.  Our CB is deep too lol.  Was thinking of pushing the stereo ISO connectors and wires into the heater compartment too, glad that works.  Will have another look, if not will put it up top with the cb, and some other stuff.  Is more of a project, so it'll be scraped knuckles in low ratio for a while!

Will post when I get stuck!

[LittlePaul]

[Edited].  What was it logged in as boon for? grr

[LittlePaul]

Well panda and I managed it - the centre two panels came off.  Unfortunately putting it back we boned the handbrake lever somehow.  Doh.  :roll:
Ben - thanks for fixing it!

All good for now.  Inclinometer in too.  And routing cables for the top box already.

[Boon101083]

Thats a good point Paul why are you posting as me??

Makes me wonder what else I've been saying behind my back?

[ben_haynes]

Thats a good point Paul why are you posting as me??

Makes me wonder what else I've been saying behind my back?

you should here it simon  :-# :-# :lol:

its terrible

only joking mate :lol: :lol:

[ben_haynes]

Well panda and I managed it - the centre two panels came off.  Unfortunately putting it back we boned the handbrake lever somehow.  Doh.  :roll:
Ben - thanks for fixing it!

All good for now.  Inclinometer in too.  And routing cables for the top box already.

not a problem mate, now just to stop it sounding like a tank  :lol:

[LittlePaul]

Well panda and I managed it - the centre two panels came off.  Unfortunately putting it back we boned the handbrake lever somehow.  Doh.  :roll:
Ben - thanks for fixing it!

All good for now.  Inclinometer in too.  And routing cables for the top box already.

not a problem mate, now just to stop it sounding like a tank  :lol:

It's a steam roller!  Love it!  Hopefully done this afternoon :)