How to Disassemble a Camry Dashboard

by Daniel Valladares

If you own a Toyota Camry and wish to perform repairs or maintenance on devices such as the radio, the instrument cluster or the heater core, you are going to have to disassemble the dashboard. Removing the dashboard mainly requires you to remove screws and pull off the dashboard one panel at a time. Although it is a very simple process, it takes a long time because of all the pieces that have to be removed. In addition, be sure to disconnect the battery before beginning to prevent your Camry's airbags from deploying.

Step 1

Open the Camry's hood. Make sure the engine is off and pull off the negative terminal from the battery by using a socket wrench. Wait approximately 10 minutes for the airbag system to disengage.

Step 2

Remove the kick panels on both sides of the vehicle. The kick panel is the part of the dashboard found at your feet. The passenger-side kick panel is below the glove compartment, and the driver-side kick panel is below the steering wheel. Remove the two screws from each kick panel with a Phillips screwdriver and pull them out of the vehicle.

Step 3

Remove the two screws on the far right end of the dashboard with a Phillips screwdriver. Remove the two screws on the far left end of the dashboard as well. Use a slotted screwdriver to pop out all of the vents from the dashboard. On the upper portion of the dashboard, there are two screws under the defroster vent. Remove the screws with a Phillips screwdriver.

Step 4

Pry off the dashboard trim around the center console using a slotted screwdriver. Although not part of the dashboard, you can remove the radio and AC unit by unfastening the two screws holding them in place, disconnecting their electrical wire connectors, and pulling them out of the vehicle.

Step 5

Remove the two securing screws from the upper dash trim around the instrument cluster. Pull the upper dash trim off to access the cluster itself. Remove the two screws holding the cluster in place, disconnect the two electrical wire connectors from the rear of the cluster and pull the cluster out of the vehicle. If you are having a difficult time pulling it out, use a slotted screwdriver to slide it out.

Step 6

Remove the four screws below the windshield holding the dashboard in place. Remove the two screws below the steering wheel and the two screws below the glove compartment. At this point, pry the dashboard off the Camry with a slotted screwdriver and pull it out of the vehicle.

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