Dash button access

[Tegriffic]

Wondering if anyone has any opinion / view on this. The panel that holds the three push buttons in place has come away from the dash to the right end (ie. steering wheel end and right most on the image below). You can see the right most switch sits further in the dash.

I'm not too keen on removing the dash and that hassle just to re-bond the panel. I'm thinking that if I remove the vent this will give me enough access to the switch panel above to re-bond. I'm thinking removing the radio also to get my fingers in there to reattach the vent once I'm done. Is this likely to be possible or is there anything behind the dash there that's going to hinder access the way I'm proposing ?

Thanks.

Edited by Tegriffic on Thursday 23 August 20:38

[BIG DUNC]

It is bonded on the far right of the right hand switch. If it is possible it will be super fiddly. Not sure how you will clean / rough up the surface prior to glueing.

Not that much work to wiz the dash out. I would bite the bullet and do it.

[anonymous-user]

The dash HAS to come out. It really isn't difficult and will give you the opportunity to do the job properly.

Two screws above steering wheel. Remove.
Two screws holding steering wheel shroud together, remove. Remove shroud halves.
Unbolt two bolts holding steering wheel "U" clamp, drop steering wheel.

We are now about 2 minutes in....

Remove car stereo.

10 minutes in now as you had to look around for the metal progs to get the stereo out :-)

Spray silicon around dash opening where dash meets leather/vinyl.

Put hand in stereo opening and pull dash out. Bending it towards you a little to aid removal.

Unplug two or three wiring loom plugs after taking photos.

30 mins max really.

Now you will have the whole thing in your hands, ready to fix properly. (mine is held in place with JBWeld at the end plates (nut holders) Sikaflex 221 along the edges

[gwardman]

I have done it in situ a couple of times - but it is near impossible to clean up well enough for bonding with epoxy (confirming the point made by Big Dunc).
So this has only ever been a temp repair in mine.

Only reason i delayed, was that I knew the dash would be coming out and I didn't want to ping off extra bits of veneer in the meantime.

Once out the world is your onion.

[Steve_D]

While you have the dash out and apart look at changing all those warning lamps.
They fit into the steel sub dash so can only be removed when that sub dash is removed.
The problem is that the bulb is not changeable...if it fails the whole lamp has to be replaced so change them now for the type with a removable bulb holder.



Steve