Late Model 944 Dash Replacement (1985.5 and Newer)

Introduction

Replacing the dash in a late model 944 is not overly difficult, but it is very tedious and requires patience. Work slowly, bag and label all fasteners, and take notes on where items go before disassembly.

Tools

Metric wrench set
Metric socket set
Screwdriver set
T30 Torx socket (air bag cars only)
15/16″ or 24 mm socket
Paint pen, colored nail polish, or other permanent marker
Needle-nose pliers
Small flat tip screwdriver

Dash Removal

1. Disconnect the Battery

Disconnect the battery negative lead. For air bag equipped cars, wait at least 30 minutes before proceeding with air bag work.

2. Remove the Steering Wheel

Non-air bag cars:

Remove the steering wheel horn pad by pulling firmly. It will be tight.
For aftermarket wheels with a center horn button: gently pry around the outside of the button to dislodge it.
Disconnect the wire from the back of the horn pad.
Using a 15/16″ (24 mm) socket and ratchet, remove the steering wheel retaining nut and washer.
Mark the orientation of the steering wheel to the splines on the column shaft using a paint pen or nail polish.
Pull the steering wheel straight off the column.

Air bag equipped cars:

On the back side of the steering wheel, two Torx head screws are recessed into the back of the column. Using a T30 Torx socket, remove the screws.
Slide the air bag assembly off the front of the steering column and disconnect the plug on the back of the air bag. Set the air bag aside face-up where it cannot be damaged.
Remove the steering wheel retaining nut and washer (15/16″ / 24 mm socket).
Mark the steering wheel orientation to the column splines.
Pull the steering wheel straight off the column.

3. Remove the Gauge Cluster

Remove the three Phillips head screws at the top of the plastic trim piece around the gauge cluster. A stubby screwdriver works well here.
Remove the two Phillips head screws threading into the trim piece from the bottom, on either side of the steering column.
Remove three Phillips head screws from the center vents: one screw in the vent area at far right of the instrument cluster, and two screws in the vent area closest to the instrument cluster.
Lift the bottom edge of the trim piece up from behind the steering column, pull down slightly on the top if needed, and slide the instrument cluster trim piece out of the dash.
With the trim removed, remove the four Phillips head screws holding the gauge cluster in the dash. Slide the cluster forward to access the electrical connectors.

Caution: There is a ribbon circuit board on the back of the cluster that can snag on the edges of the dash opening and tear. Move the cluster slowly and carefully.
Push outward on the locking levers on each of the three electrical connectors to release them, then disconnect all three from the back of the cluster.
Slide the instrument cluster out of the dash, tilting slightly if needed. Be careful of the ribbon circuit board throughout.
Disconnect the odometer reset switch (to the right of the instrument cluster opening) by pulling it straight away from the dash and tucking it aside.

4. Remove the Temperature Control Unit (TCU)

Remove the four control knobs.

Caution: The fan speed control knob has a light bulb behind it and fragile retaining tabs. Slide a small flat tip screwdriver gently behind the knob while pulling to avoid breaking the bulb or tabs.
Remove the TCU cover by sliding a small flat tip screwdriver under each outside edge.
Remove the four Phillips head screws holding the TCU in place.
Disconnect the electrical connector plug on the back of the TCU and slide the unit out of the dash.

5. Remove the Trim Panel Above the Glove Box

Open the passenger-side door (left-hand drive cars). Locate the side trim panel and remove the single Phillips head screw using a stubby screwdriver. Slide the panel forward slightly to disengage the tabs from the side of the vent.
Remove the two Phillips head screws from the passenger-side vent and remove the vent.
Behind the side trim panel, remove the bottom screw of the three Phillips screws found there.
Carefully remove the rectangular trim cover next to the passenger-side vent control lever using a small flat tip screwdriver.
Remove the two Phillips head screws behind the trim cover.
Remove the temperature sensor intake cover by turning it 90° counter-clockwise (needle-nose pliers work; be careful not to break the vents on the cover).
Remove the single Phillips head screw behind the temperature sensor vent cover.
Slide the clock/cigarette lighter/hazard switch trim piece away from the dash.
Disconnect the wiring for the clock, cigarette lighter, and hazard switch from the back of the trim panel.

Caution: The retaining clips on these connectors are plastic and break very easily. Disconnect carefully.

6. Remove the Center Console

Remove the ash tray: open the lid, insert fingers, and pull straight up.
Remove the two Phillips head screws at the front of the ash tray opening.
Remove the storage pocket from under the radio: press both hands outward inside the pocket while pulling it out.
Remove the two Phillips head screws at the bottom of the pocket opening.
Lift the console insert surrounding the gear shift lever. Remove the radio trim piece if needed for clearance.
Release the two plastic tabs on either side of the console switches to disconnect the electrical connector.

Caution: These plastic tabs break easily. Slide small flat tip screwdrivers under both tabs on each side simultaneously to release all four tabs at once.
If the console has a front-to-rear radio fader knob that cannot be easily disconnected, push the fader out of the console insert and leave it in the car.
After disconnecting all console switch plugs, remove the spring clip from the gear shift knob and slide the knob off the lever. Set the knob and console insert aside.
Remove the radio trim ring (if fitted). Slide the radio out, disconnect the wiring from the back, and remove the radio.
Remove the four Phillips head screws holding the cassette holder insert (two at the back of the ash tray opening, two at the back of the insert). Remove the cassette holder insert.
Remove the two screws at the front of the console (one on each side below the main dash section). Slide the entire center console rearward to remove it.
Remove the two brackets that hold the dash to either side of the torque tube tunnel.

7. Remove the Glove Box

Open the glove box door and remove all retaining screws (several at the front, on the sides, and two near the glove box light, plus a clamp at the back).
From under the dash, disconnect the ventilation hose going into the back of the glove box.
Slide the glove box out — you may need to pull down on the top-front to clear the light.
As soon as the glove box light wiring is reachable, disconnect it.
Air bag equipped cars: Reach into the area above the glove box opening. Disconnect the two red electrical plugs from the back of the passenger-side air bag. Remove the four Allen head bolts holding the air bag in the dash and remove the air bag.

8. Remove the Sun Visors and A-Pillar Trim

Remove the sun visors: remove the three Phillips head screws at the pivot end of each visor. Also remove the sunroof visor clips (two Phillips head screws each).
Remove the A-pillar trim (three screws per side, likely with plastic covers): a. Remove the plastic covers over the screw holes. b. Remove the two lower Phillips head screws. c. For the top screw: sit in the seat and insert the screwdriver straight upward into the hole (not at 90° to the trim surface). The top screw requires this angle. d. Pull back the door-frame weather-stripping that holds the A-pillar trim. e. Remove the trim pieces — the roof panel overlaps the top of the trim, so pull down slightly on the roof panel if needed.

9. Remove the Steering Column Trim and Switch Assembly

Remove the three Phillips head screws for the turn signal trim and remove the trim piece.
Pry out the rubber trim piece surrounding the ignition switch using a small flat tip screwdriver.
Remove the two Phillips head screws for the ignition switch trim, remove the trim, and disconnect the wires.
Pull the headlight knob straight away from the dash.
To the left of the fog light switch, locate the oblong plastic cover with a small notch on one short side. Insert a small flat tip screwdriver into the notch and pry out the cover.
Remove the two Phillips head screws behind the cover.
With the driver's door open, remove the triangular trim piece on the side of the dash (one Phillips head screw).
Under the triangular trim, remove the two Phillips head screws holding the dash trim piece.
Remove the two Phillips head screws holding the left vent and remove the vent.
Remove the trim piece screw just to the left of the steering column and one at the bottom of the dash.
Remove the nut holding the headlight switch in the dash. Reach behind the dash and slide the headlight switch out through the back of the trim piece.
Remove the trim piece to the left of the steering column, disconnecting the fog light switch wires as it comes away.
Remove the switch assembly from the steering column: remove the retaining collar bolt, slide the switch assembly off the column, and disconnect the switch assembly plug.

10. Remove the Dash

Remove the dash upper mounting screws (one at each A-pillar).
Remove the dash lower mounting screws (one on each side at the bottom of the dash, at the outside of each footwell).
Confirm all wiring is clear, then pull the dash straight back toward the seats. Remove the side vent ductwork as the dash moves away from the firewall.

Dash Installation

While the dash is out, inspect all wiring and components normally hidden behind the dash.
Install the upper side vents into the new dash.
Maneuver the new dash into position against the felt ledge at the firewall. Install the top mounting screws at the A-pillars.
Reconnect the ventilation ductwork to the side vents.
Install the lower mounting screws at the bottom outside of the dash.
Air bag equipped cars: Install the passenger-side air bag into the dash (four Allen head bolts) and reconnect the two red wiring harness connectors.
Install the glove box. Connect the glove box light wiring, ventilation hose at the back, and the clamp at the rear of the box.
Install the trim piece above the glove box. Reconnect wiring for the clock, hazard switch, and cigarette lighter as the trim piece goes in. Connect the interior temperature sensor vent tube.
Install the passenger-side upper vent and the triangular side trim piece.
Reconnect the instrument cluster wiring connectors. Insert the cluster into the dash and install the mounting screws.
Connect the odometer reset switch (just to the right of the instrument cluster).
Install the instrument cluster trim piece.
Install the switch assembly onto the steering column. Tighten the retaining collar. Attach wiring as the assembly goes on.
Install the trim to the far left of the dash.
Insert the headlight switch through the trim piece, install the locking nut and switch knob.
Install the remaining steering column trim. Connect the ignition switch wiring as the trim is installed.
Install the rubber trim ring around the ignition switch.
Install the driver-side upper vent and the triangular trim piece on the outside of the dash.
Install the climate control unit and snap its cover in place. Install the control knobs and slider buttons.
Install the A-pillar trim pieces.
Install the sun visors.
Install the center console mounting brackets.
Position the center console and install the two front screws on either side.
Reconnect and install the radio.
Install the shift knob and boot, and the console insert. Reconnect all console switch plugs.
Install the radio fader switch into the console insert.
Secure the console with the four Phillips head screws.
Install the pocket under the radio.
Install the cassette holder (four Phillips head screws).
Install the ash tray.
Install the steering wheel onto the column, aligning marks made during removal. Install and tighten the retaining nut and washer (torque: 45 Nm / 33 ft-lbs).
Air bag equipped cars: Reconnect the air bag wiring and install the air bag into the steering wheel (two T30 Torx screws).
Non-air bag cars: Reconnect the horn button wire and press the horn pad into place.
Reconnect the battery.
Air bag equipped cars: Standing outside the car, reach in and turn the ignition on to check whether the air bag warning light illuminates. If the light is on, perform the air bag warning light reset procedure (ELECT-12). On 944 S2 and 968 models this reset must be performed at the dealer using a Bosch Hammer diagnostics tool.