Operation - Dodge Dakota Sport 2001 Service Manual

AN
INSTRUMENT PANEL SYSTEM (Continued)
Fig. 1 Instrument Panel
1 - DEFROSTER GRILLE
2 - CLUSTER BEZEL
3 - TOP COVER
4 - LOWER BEZEL
5 - END CAP
6 - INSTRUMENT PANEL
• Glove Box - The modular glove box in the pas-
senger side of the instrument panel features a
recessed paddle-operated latch handle, a storage bin-
type glove box, and a fixed owner's manual shelf at
the top of the glove box opening. A metal hinge on
the lower edge of the glove box door is riveted to the
module and secured with screws to the lower edge of
the instrument panel support structure. The glove
box door also serves as the passenger side knee
blocker. A honeycomb structure between the inner
and outer glove box door panels helps to absorb the
impact load and distribute it to the instrument panel
structure.
• Lower Bezel - The instrument panel lower
bezel is located on the lower edge of the instrument
panel, near the center. This bezel features an ash
receiver with a hinged door that is secured with a
push/push-type latch and an integral cigar lighter, an
accessory power outlet, and a center stack light that
illuminates the storage tray at the front of the center
floor console on the floor panel transmission tunnel
below.
• Steering Column Opening Cover - The steer-
ing column opening cover serves as the driver side
knee blocker. This molded plastic cover has an inte-
gral ribbed plastic liner concealed behind it, for
increased strength and integrity. The steering column
opening cover transfers impact loads to the instru-
ment panel structural support. A paddle-type parking
INSTRUMENT PANEL SYSTEM
brake release handle is also incorporated in the lower
left corner of the steering column opening cover.
• Top Cover - The instrument panel top cover is
the molded, grained, and color impregnated plastic
panel that forms the top of the instrument panel.
This panel features an integral hood formation over
the instrument cluster on the left side and two inte-
gral storage tray formations over the right side. A
removable side window demister outlet is incorpo-
rated near each outboard end of the top cover.
Hard wired circuitry connects the electrical compo-
nents on the instrument panel to each other through
the electrical system of the vehicle. These hard wired
circuits are integral to several wire harnesses, which
are routed throughout the vehicle and retained by
many different methods. These circuits may be con-
nected to each other, to the vehicle electrical system
and to the instrument panel components through the
use of a combination of soldered splices, splice block
connectors and many different types of wire harness
terminal connectors and insulators. Refer to the
appropriate wiring information. The wiring informa-
tion includes complete circuit diagrams, proper wire
and connector repair procedures, further details on
wire harness routing and retention, as well as pin-
out and location views for the various wire harness
connectors, splices, and grounds.

OPERATION

The instrument panel serves as the command cen-
ter of the vehicle, which necessarily makes it a very
complex unit. The instrument panel is designed to
house the controls and monitors for standard and
optional powertrains, climate control systems, audio
systems, safety systems, and many other comfort or
convenience items. When the components of the
instrument panel structural support are properly
assembled and secured in the vehicle they provide
superior instrument panel stiffness and integrity to
help reduce buzzes, squeaks, and rattles. This type of
construction also provides improved energy absorp-
tion which, in conjunction with the dual airbags and
seat belts, helps to improve occupant protection.
The instrument panel is also designed so that all of
the various controls can be safely reached and the
monitors can be easily viewed by the vehicle operator
when driving, while still allowing relative ease of
access to each of these items for service. Modular
instrument panel construction allows all of the
gauges and controls to be serviced from the front of
the panel. In addition, most of the instrument panel
electrical components can be accessed without com-
plete instrument panel removal. However, if neces-
sary, the instrument panel can be removed from the
vehicle as an assembly.
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