shadow993

Looking to get Alcantara on my dash /door/lower dash/console.

I've read conflicting points on upper dash removal. Is it required to remove the windshield? Is it a major pain in the ****?

Thanks

BesideTheBox

You do not have to remove the windshield to remove the dashboard.

TheOtherEric

No it's not a major pain. Remove the defroster trim piece up top, then the screws underneath. Remove the two black trim pieces at far left and far right and stick a Phillips screwdriver in there to remove one screw per side. Last part is to pry out the clock to get to the nut inside the dash. Sometimes the clock removal can be tricky. Harbor Freight trim tools ($10?) work great. Don't use metal like a screwdriver to pry it up! Once removed, my favorite tool to get that nut is a shorty socket wrench (1/4") then add a universal joint socket adapter, then your socket onto that. The universal joint can be floppy, so just wrap it with a piece of tape to stiffen it up if needed.

shadow993

Thank you for the details on removal.

Install is just as easy?

TheOtherEric

Install is much easier since you don’t have the clock to fight with.

You might start the project with removing the clock since that’s the only hard part. Once removed, spray some Lexol or other vinyl cleaner on the rubber basket and it’ll never be difficult to remove again. Just grab and pull.

vancouver z

whats the trick to removing the two end caps of the upper dash. i pried a bit with a flat head but couldn't get it to unsnap, and i don't want to put pressure on the surrounding solid dash vinyl/foam. any suggestions would be helpful. thanks.

BesideTheBox

No trick, really. But I'm not saying it's easy.
You may want to try a wider plastic trim removal tool, pushing it in until running into the pin, then pry slowly and gently.
I suspect that you will be able to buy new if they get messed up.
They are on the order of $3 each.
There are right and left part numbers: right is 964-552-232-01-01C, left is 964-552-231-01-01C

boomboomthump

You'll inevitably break one removing it. When you buy replacements, buy an extra set (or two). They're so cheap you may as well have extras kicking around just in case you ever need to do the job again.