Definitive Dash Removal Guide

[my996]

Thanks for all who answered questions and otherwise supported my efforts in removing my 1999 996 dash so I could reskin it. What follows is a picture by picture account of how I removed my dash.

Once you have removed both left and right side air vents, the headlight switch dial, the ignition key cover, the instrument console, the steering wheel and all its trim, the radio and all its trim, the alarm receiving unit and its trim, and both left and right side speakers, you can start removing the dash. The Pictures show every screw I removed but one – this one is located under the alarm receiving unit in the center if the dash right next to the windshield. I also removed the right side air vent Phillips screw so I could remove the black air pipe it connects to under the dash. The 2 13mm bolts that hold the air bag in place can be accessed when this black air pipe is removed. I laid on my back in the passenger foot well and looked directly up and found and removed the bolts.

Once all the screws were removed, I pushed all the wires through their respect openings, grabbed the bottom right side of the dash with one hand and the steering wheel area with the other and pulled the bottom out first as I carefully rotated up and out.

The install is just backwards. Good Luck.

Edited August 5, 2010 by my996

[my996]

Continued 1

[Botsy67]

WOW, great job removing the whole dashboard, looks like a lot of work... Just a quick question for you if you don't mind, looks like the passenger airbag can be removed from the dash but can you tell me how to get to the 2 bolts that are behind the airbag? Something is loose back there because I hear an annoying creaking when the car is moving and with my hand pressed down on the airbag, the noise is gone. I would like to add some felt-strips or tighten down the bolts to aliminate this creaking noise. Any help will be greatly appreciate it... Thanks a lot, Cheers,

-Bao.

[my996]

Read the intro at the top and there is your answer. But, briefly, remove the right side air vent, unscrew the air duct which then loosens the black pipe underneath the dash. Remove this pipe; lay on your back in the passenger footwell and with a 13 mm socket, take out the air bag bolts. - About 30 minutes or so.

Edited August 14, 2010 by my996

[996noob]

Read the intro at the top and there is your answer. But, briefly, remove the right side air vent, unscrew the air duct which then loosens the black pipe underneath the dash. Remove this pipe; lay on your back in the passenger footwell and with a 13 mm socket, take out the air bag bolts. - About 30 minutes or so.

Tools -wise, anything special required? Is that a Torx driver? What sizes of Torx were needed?

[Loren]

Buy a good set of Torx drivers - there are lots of Torx on Porsches. Also, a good set of XZN (triple square spline drive) for the larger hardware (like seat backs and transmission drain plugs).