Instrument Panel Upper Section

Instrument Panel Upper Section

Removal and Installation

All vehicles

1. Remove the selector lever. Shifter A/T

2. Remove the steering wheel. Steering Wheel

3. Remove the steering column multifunction switch. Turn Signal Switch

4. Remove the instrument cluster. Instrument Cluster / Carrier

5. Position aside the RH and LH door opening weatherstrips.

6. Position aside the RH and LH front scuff plate trim panels.

7. Remove the RH and LH lower cowl trim panels.

8. Remove the 2 pushpin retainers and the RH lower instrument panel insulator.





Taurus, Sable

9. Remove the 2 center instrument panel finish panel screws.

All vehicles

10. Remove the center instrument panel finish panel.
- Disconnect the electrical connectors.

11. Remove the 2 audio unit screws.

12. Remove the audio unit.
- Disconnect the audio unit electrical connectors and the antenna cable.

13. Remove the instrument panel side panels.

14. Remove the A-pillar trim panels. Trim Panel

15. Remove the 2 screws and position the hood release handle aside.

16. Remove the headlamp switch.
- Disconnect the 3 electrical connectors.

17. Remove the glove compartment.
- Disengage the glove compartment dampener from the glove compartment.

- Remove the 3 glove compartment screws.

- Remove the glove compartment.

Taurus X

18. Remove the passenger side air bag. For additional information, refer to Air Bag Systems. Air Bag

19. Remove the passenger assist handle.
- Remove the 2 LH assist handle screws.

- Remove the 1 RH assist handle screw.

- To release the assist handle, pull firmly on the RH side of assist handle.

- Remove the passenger assist handle.





Taurus, Sable

20. Remove the cross-vehicle panel.
- Disconnect the Passenger Air Bag Deactivation (PAD) indicator electrical connector.

21. Disconnect the passenger air bag electrical connectors.

22. Remove the 2 passenger side air bag-to-cross beam bolts.
- To install, tighten to 9 Nm (80 lb-in).

All vehicles

23. If equipped, position aside the Global Positioning System (GPS) antenna.
- Release the 2 clips and remove the GPS antenna from the instrument panel upper section.





24. Remove the wiring harness pin-type retainer, located in the audio unit opening, from the center air duct.





25. If equipped, remove the in-vehicle temperature sensor from the instrument panel upper section.

26. Remove the 11 instrument panel upper section screws.
- Remove 1 screw from each side at the upper panel.

- Remove the 5 screws located in the steering column cover opening.

- Remove the 2 screws located in the instrument cluster opening.

- Remove the 2 screws located in the glove compartment opening.

27. If equipped, remove the light sensor from the instrument panel upper section.
- Disconnect the electrical connector.

NOTICE: To avoid damaging the instrument panel upper section, an assistant is required when carrying out this step. Do not bend or crimp the instrument panel upper section upon removal.

28. Remove the instrument panel upper section.
- When installing, verify that the light sensor connector is routed correctly through the instrument panel upper section.

29. To install, reverse the removal procedure.