hi, i'm a noob here, i'm just wondering if anyone has removed the instrument cluster of an '04 crossfire, and is it mandatory to remove the steering wheel (as mentioned in the FSM), or is it possible without the steering removal?, any insight would be highly appreciated

 

There is a fairly detailed step-by-step procedure in the Service Manual. Search this forum and you will find many links to download it.

P.S. I would follow the recommended procedure closely because you'll be messing around with the airbag wiring. Setting one of those off at the wrong time could be painful.

 

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This should help, and yes, it states to remove steering wheel.


Instrument Cluster Cover
REMOVAL

1. Remove the steering wheel.
2. Remove the lower instrument panel.
3. Remove the sentry key antenna ring from the key cylinder.
4. Remove the screws attaching the instrument cluster cover to the lower instrument panel.
5. Disconnect the instrument cluster cover (1) from the top with a plastic wedge.
6. Tip the instrument cluster cover toward the rear at the top. Lift it over the jacket tube covering and simultaneously guide the adjustment ***** through the cover.

INSTALLATION

1. Tip the instrument cluster cover toward the rear at the top, then lift it over the jacket tube covering and simultaneously guide the adjustment ***** through the cover.
2. Connect the instrument cluster cover (1) to the instrument panel top section.
3. Install the screws attaching the instrument cluster cover to the lower instrument panel.
4. Install the sentry key antenna ring to the key cylinder.
5. Install the lower instrument panel.
6. Install the steering wheel.

 

I know this is an old thread but as usual one instruction just does not make sense and I'd rather not break anything.

It is the "Remove the lower instrument panel." and shows a picture that does not really match anything.

Is it because this is an '07 and the posted service manual is for an '05 ?

I have removed the small piece at the base of the steering column and the two exposed screws. The four screws on the big swinging piece, the screws behind that, but now am at a standstill. There seems to be a smaller piece that includes the swinging door, and then a larger piece that surrounds the ign sw on the right and the light sw on the left.

It looks like the larger piece must be removed but that seems to require removing the brace to the fuse panel and involve things like the hood release and OBD-II socket and I cannot see what must come off on the console side.

I need to replace the speedo light bulbs but suspect I know why they were not done before.

Am I just missing something ? Please help.

ps I reviewed the colored lights thread. The only relevant piece was "I did NOT have to actually remove the lower console assembly. I did have to unbolt/unscrew most of it's anchors so I could drop it down and remove the upper part located just below the gauges and steering wheel column."

This would seem to be the upper piece in my picture, it is the "most of its anchors" part that is troubling me. Anyone know how many anchors we are talking about and does the hood release need to be removed ? YWTK.

 

This pretty well covers all the steps for removing the lower panel :
https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...key-fix_v2.pdf

 

Thank you, is very good but mine is different. Did '07s have a knee air bag ?

 

Upper and lower (knee pad) are one piece, the part around the light switch has to come off first as it clips to the top and bottom dash panels and slides in, see the Sticky Ignition post for details. You do not have to release the light switch brace as it stays with the bottom dash panel and switch when it is lowered.
The hood latch etc stays put.
I have had an 04 and 05 and they appear to be slightly different, that (swing) panel stayed attached to the lower dash and did not swing on its own, it came down with the lower dash. When the upper and lower dash separate the ignition switch stays put on the upper portion as the lower dash swings down.
After that I have not a clue, sorry.

 

Think I found the problem: this bar with copper screws that is under the swinging door and appears to be attached to the lower panel. Had to take picture from pedals, can't get head in there and door only opens part way.

Does anyone know what this is (part of a knee air bag ?) or if anything nasty happens if you remove the bar. I think this is what is not letting the lower panel drop.

 

You have disconnected the battery I hope.
Not on the '04 and '05 that I've seen. So I guess its part of the air bag system, or a pipe bomb.

 

Disconnected the battery first thing. Waited a few minutes for residual charges to dissipate. Seems incredible how hard it is to change a speedo light bulb.

Guess no one has had one of these apart before.

BTW all of the fasteners so far have been torx.

The bar has nutplates that cannot be removed from this side. Wish I had known on Friday, was just at my local dealer that has been very cooperative - Central Florida Chrysler Jeep (plug) - and could have asked to see an '07 Service Manual.

If no-one here knows than I'll just put it back together until I can find the proper way to change a dash light bulb.

 

Look here for cluster removal. https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...-pictures.html

 

Yes, very good description of one without the knee air bags. I need to know the proper way to remove one with.

I suspect the airbag comes with the lower cover and you need to pull the two bolts (can see one in post #11) on either end but if no-one knows will get a short TA subscription ($35/3 days) and check there or drive over to the dealer.

Would have bought the service manual CD for $41.20 but the 50% shipping and extra profit surcharge bothers me.

 

Download the manual for free:
https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...ollection.html

 

(Something about grandmothers and eggs ?)

Thank you but the only service manuals are 2004 and 2005, the TSBs have nada as do the owner's manual.

What I need is the 2007 Service manual which is $40 from TA for a CD (plus another $20 shipping and extra profit.) or $35 for a 3 day subscription, or visit my FLD and request the information.

Unless someone here knows how to remove the lower instrument panel with knee air bag attached.

I have never seen a dash light bulb that was so hard to replace.

ps it seems to be KNEEBLOCKER, Steering Column Opening, Inflatable which is in the 07 parts book but not the 06.

pps just ordered the '07 CD from Tech Authority $65.02 total for the $41.20 manual. Oh well not as bad as for my WK2. Wonder if it will play with IE 11 or if the javascript will need diddling again. Should be here in a month or two based on my last experience with them.

 

Did you see this thread?

 

Yes but my difficulty is here " I simply unbolted/unscrewed the anchors of the lower console so I could drop it some and get out the section just above it". On my 07 the lower cover is attached to the knee air bag (new that year) and it must be removed also.

Since no one knew how (and I like having one anyway) I have ordered the 2007 Crossfire Service Manual CD from Tech Authority. If it is like my '12 Jeep CD (and the description - Windows & IE only - sounds like it is) it may use an odd combination of vector graphics, JavaScript, and XML that was incompatible with Windows 8/8.1 or IE 10/11 and totally unlike the .pdfs of the 2004-2005 manuals.

I *suspect* it is a matter of two additional bolts that are visible under the drop down cover (see earlier post). but do not know and have better things to do than mess with an airbag without the manual.

So until it arrives I'll just use my cell phone to display speedo info at night.