850 Dash Pad Removal Problems

Post by **850 LPT** » 07 Apr 2018, 09:58

Hello everyone,

I'm trying to get the dash pad off so I can replace the odometer gears in the cluster, but I'm running into a problem.

After removing all the screws the airbag seems to somehow still be attached with something because it will not come loose. I can lift up the pad on the driver side, but not on the passenger side. I watched Roberts video and read other write ups on the topic, and as far as I can tell, I got all the relevant screws out. From what I understand, the airbag is secured with 4 screws, and then there is one torx screw holding on either side of it from underneath the pad. But it feels like it is still bolted on.

What am I missing?

Here is how far I got:

Any help is appreciated, I was hoping to get this done today.

Post by **scot850** » 07 Apr 2018, 12:26

After being in place for so many years they can be a little reluctant to release. I'm working from my aged memory, but this is what I remember:

1) Either end there are 2 plastic tubes that have to be prized out to access a Torx screw either end that have to be removed.
2) Remove the 2 x dash speaker covers (Carefully leaver up from the front) and they each have a Torx screw in them to remove that is almost horizontal at the back of the recess.
3) You need to remove the LH outer air vent, as well as the dual center one. Prize from the bottom and they should release. The LH outer vent has one Torx screw, and the dual center one has 2 in it.
4) There are x 2 Torx screws above the speedometer housing to remove.
5) In the opening for the glove box there are 2 vertical Torx screws kind of hidden either end of the opening.
6) There are 3 (or x4?) 10mm headed bolts holding the airbag in place that are set back in the glove box opening.
7) Remove the airbag connector (having had the battery disconnected for at least 30 minutes first).

Naturally you have already removed the glove box liner. On the 850 you have to also remove the glove box latch.

If you have removed all those parts then it should come out. The airbag can be a bit of a pain to preventing the whole dash top coming out. You have to lift the dash top fairly firmly forward slightly and then up at the front to get it loose.

Good Luck!

Neil.

Post by **850 LPT** » 07 Apr 2018, 13:20

Thanks for your reply, Neil.

I have all the screws out that you describe. Driver side lift up with no problem, and even though I have all the screws out on the passenger side, it feels like the airbag is still being held in place by something. I can't figure it out.
Maybe I have to try a little harder to lift up the airbag to be able to slide it out front. But I'm worried I might brake something, it feels that tight.

To get things going with the odo repair I went ahead and pulled the dash up just enough to get the cluster out. But this is what I wanted to avoid.

Post by **scot850** » 07 Apr 2018, 16:06

It can be done that way but like you it worried me that it is easy to catch the speedo unit and damage it or the mounts. let alone the cover itself.

Have another look with a flashlight and even a mirror to make sure nothing has been missed on the RH end. The 850 is harder to get the airbag loose the first time than a V/S70 due to the shape of the airbag.

I used to have an airbag assembly for a 850 kicking around somewhere. If I can find it I will post a picture to see if it helps.

Neil.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 07 Apr 2018, 16:10

It has been a while since I have pulled one but I seem to recall a screw under the speaker grill that needs to come out.

...Lee

Post by **850 LPT** » 07 Apr 2018, 16:54

Thank you guys.

I was pretty confident that I had all the screws out and so I tried pulling really hard on the airbag once again. It did finally come out, but boy that was scary tight. Must have been the first time out of the car.

Good news is that the dash and the cover are in amazing shape, no cracks or brittle plastic anywhere. The original owner must have had the car always garaged. Plus, I know he was a doctor at a local hospital, and maybe during the day it was always parked in the garage there and this way the car had very little sun exposure. Also, it has only 95k on it now

Bad news is that my odo repair didn't work out too good, it's still not working. I don't know what happened, but it has to come out again, yikes

But at least this time I will be able to do it in half the time because everything is still fresh in my memory.

Dirk

Post by **abscate** » 07 Apr 2018, 19:22

I think the air bag came out with the dash on my 1999, so there might be a V70chassis change

Build date 11.1998

Post by **850 LPT** » 07 Apr 2018, 19:29

abscate wrote: 07 Apr 2018, 19:22 I think the air bag came out with the dash on my 1999, so there might be a V70chassis change

Build date 11.1998

That actually works the same way in he 850. The only difference is in some of the mounting points.

On a side note, while I was tugging at the stupid airbag I pocked a hole in the passenger side tweeter with my finger. Maybe this one should be added to the "blunders and bloopers" thread

Post by **abscate** » 08 Apr 2018, 07:08

I might have a parts car spare, Dirk

Post by **850 LPT** » 08 Apr 2018, 11:09

abscate wrote: 08 Apr 2018, 07:08 I might have a parts car spare, Dirk

If you could check, that would be awesome.