Description - Dodge Dakota Sport 2001 Service Manual

23 - 90 INSTRUMENT PANEL SYSTEM
INSTRUMENT PANEL SYSTEM
DESCRIPTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
OPERATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
INSTALLATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
ASH RECEIVER
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
DISASSEMBLY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
ASSEMBLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
INSTALLATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
BASE TRIM
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
INSTALLATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
CLUSTER BEZEL
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
INSTALLATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
DEFROSTER GRILLE
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
END CAP
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
GLOVE BOX
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
INSTRUMENT PANEL SYSTEM

DESCRIPTION

The instrument panel is located at the front of the
passenger compartment (Fig. 1). This instrument
panel is molded from a blend of various plastics that
are mechanically attached to the vehicle. Colors are
molded into the plastic components to minimize
appearance degradation from scratches or abrasions.
The panel components are internally ribbed and riv-
eted to steel reinforcements for additional structural
integrity and dimensional stability. The instrument
panel surface components are designed to deform
upon impact without breaking. This type of construc-
tion provides improved energy absorption which, in
conjunction with the dual airbags and seat belts,
helps to improve occupant protection.
The instrument panel for this vehicle includes the
following major features:
• Cluster Bezel - This molded plastic bezel is
secured with two screws and snap clips to the instru-
ment panel supporting structure. It trims out the
edges of the headlamp switch, instrument cluster,
INSTRUMENT PANEL SYSTEM
TABLE OF CONTENTS
page
DISASSEMBLY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
ASSEMBLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
GLOVE BOX LATCH STRIKER
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
INSIDE HOOD RELEASE BRACKET
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
LOWER BEZEL
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
STEERING COLUMN OPENING COVER
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
STORAGE BIN
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
TOP COVER
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
radio, heater-air conditioner controls, the passenger
airbag on-off switch or rear window defogger switch
on vehicles so equipped, and the 4WD transfer case
switch on vehicles so equipped. On vehicles without
the passenger airbag on-off switch or rear window
defogger switch, a small storage cubby bin is pro-
vided in the cluster bezel. Likewise, on vehicles with-
out the optional four-wheel drive system, a small
storage cubby bin is provided in the cluster bezel.
This bezel also incorporates five completely adjust-
able panel outlets for the climate control system, and
fills the opening between the instrument cluster and
the top of the steering column where it passes
through the instrument panel.
• End Caps - A molded plastic end cap is secured
with snap clips to each outboard end of the instru-
ment panel. The end cap on the right end of the
instrument panel is primarily cosmetic. The end cap
on the left end of the instrument panel doubles as a
fuse access panel for the Junction Block (JB) and fea-
tures an integral pull cup on its outer surface to ease
removal, while a fuse layout map, a fuse puller and
spare fuses are conveniently concealed on its inner
surface.
AN
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