I know people have removed them to have them painted and what-not, i just need to know how to do it. Any links or pics or advice on how to remove these pieces? I have some flexing plastic noises when going over rough pavement that I want to address.

Thanks! :smile:

 

I just had mine painted IB to match the exterior. There are total of five panels to be removed.

1. Air vent panels (left and right): Each side has one screw at the bottom holding it.
2. Steering panel: 2 screws on back of the gauge, accessible from the top after lowering the steering column. The plastic sandwitching the gauge and the rubber surround come off also.
3. Center panel: 2 screws at the bottom.
4. Airbag panel: Be very careful with this one. The entire dash top has to be removed first. It's fairly easy. Pop out the end caps when the doors are opened. Unscrew 2 screws on each side and slide the dash top out. Now you can see 2 bolts holding a chrome metal bar that's attached to the 2 straps holding the airbag panels. Unscrew them and carefully take the panel out.

If you want to paint the 2 down tubes. Remove 2 screws from each side and they will slide up and out with the center panel removed (unscrewed).

I hope this helps! :smile:

 

Sweet! That should help a lot!
I'm not painting them, i just want to try to quiet the flexing plastic creaking sound that is probably coming from whatever clips are holding these pieces on. If anyone has any suggestions as far as what kind of grease to use or other ways of making things quiet, I'm all ears. :smile:

Thanks!

 

>>Sweet! That should help a lot!
>>I'm not painting them, i just want to try to quiet the flexing plastic creaking sound that is probably coming from whatever clips are holding these pieces on. If anyone has any suggestions as far as what kind of grease to use or other ways of making things quiet, I'm all ears. :smile:
>>
>>Thanks!

I feel your pain with all the squeake and rattles, especially when the outdoor temps get cold. I've had really good luck with felt strips or velcro strips (the soft side) with an adhesive backing. That thick white puffy foam tape works well also.
You should be able to get adhesive felt strips from your dealer if you want to go there, as that's what they use for fixing these probs as well.

 

Adhesive felt? I think i know what you mean.
Where do you place this? Along the edges to stop the rubbing of plastic on plastic?
I might try that.
Thanks!

 

You can also try thin adhesive weather stripping, available at Home Depot, Lowe's, or any hardware store. :smile:

 

I have just got all the panels(I bought) painted body color (Liquid yellow), and I want to switch them out. Did you disconnect the battery before you removed the passenger side airbag panel? I just replaced the steering wheel on the Ford Expedition last week, and they said to disconnect the battery and wait 30 minutes for the airbag to discharge. Thanks, K.C.

 

Did you disconnect the battery before you removed the passenger side airbag panel?

That's not necessary as the panel functions as a cover that breaks away and swing upwards upon airbag deployment. There isn't any direct attachment between the panel and the airbag. To removing the "airbag" panel, the entire dash top has to be removed first.

I hope this helps and do post picture of your newly painted dash! :smile:

 

I bought self adhesive felt at Walmart for a couple of bucks. It's peel and stick. I think it was in the craft section.

 

Home Depot has the felt tape as well, located in the same area as electrical tapes. :smile:

 

I have pics of the painted panels, but I dont know how to post. I put the pictures in my pictures on XP. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, K.C.

 

KCSAILS,

Try this for posting a Pic on NAM

1. Get you pic into your computer as a jpeg. Size it SMALL! (1.5 inches wide)
2. IN NAM, go to Member Minis and click on [add photos]
3. Select [one] as your number of pics to load.
4. Click Browse and find your pic and select it.
5. When your pic's location is shown in the box, click [upload now]
6. After the short wait, go to the last of the pages of pics and your pic should be there as a thumbnail.
7. Click on your pic and it will display large.
8. Right click on your pick and then select [properties]
9. Your URL will be shown, highlight it leaving off the "http://"
10. Right click while the URL is highlighted and select [copy]
11. Now go to the thread on which you want to post.
12. After you've typed the copy you want, select the [image] button below the copy box.
13. In the box provided, right click and then select [paste]
14. Now, check to see if your URL has the words "minicooperonline", if so, replace this with "northamericanmotoring".
15. Click [OK] and then upload your post by clicking on [submitt]

 

Charlie, great instructions! Unfortunately, the gallery section on NAM is currently unavailable.