How to Remove the Dash on an Chevrolet Cars

The Chevrolet car uses a design that makes the dashboard a single piece that extends from the driver's side to the passenger's side of the car. For the purposes of repairing or replacing the stereo, repairing the climate controls or any service related to the instrument panel, you must first remove the singular dash piece. Although you may want to seek the assistance of a professional mechanic for those repairs, you may find that removing the panel itself is well within your capability, despite the many steps involved.

Under The Hood:

• How to Remove the Dash on an Impala
• How to Remove the Dash on a 2007 Chevy Avalanche
• How to Remove a Dash From a Chevy Silverado
• How to Remove the Dash on a Chevy Express

 How to Remove the Dash on an Impala

Pry the plastic ring around the ignition away from the steering column, using a flat-head screwdriver.

Remove the plastic covers over the dashboard fuse panels. Each panel is on the outermost side of the dashboard, near the door openings. Remove the panels by hand or by using the flat-head screwdriver to pry the panel open. Remove the screw above the fuses with a Phillips-head screwdriver.

Press the two tabs on the panel below the steering column dash panel to release the closeout panel. Remove the two screws that are revealed by the removal of the closeout panel, using the Phillips screwdriver.

Pull the dash panel below the steering column away from the dashboard. Remove the screw at the bottom of the upper panel, just to the left of the steering column, using the Phillips screwdriver.

Remove the two screws on the upper dash panel above the speedometer, using the Phillips screwdriver.

Disconnect the dashboard panel near the right fuse compartment, and pull it away from the dashboard. Work your hands along the top and bottom edges of the panel, removing it from the dashboard, all the way to the left fuse compartment.

Disconnect the electrical wiring that connects the hazard light switch and the traction control switch to the dash panel. The wiring is connected by plastic connectors that you pull from the switches by hand.

 How to Remove the Dash on a 2007 Chevy Avalanche

Open the hood and remove the negative cable clamp from the battery by loosening the nut on top of the clamp with pliers. Set the clamp aside and don't let it touch the positive terminal.

Locate the fuse panel cover on the driver's side dash. Open the panel and remove the fuse pullers inside. Find the airbag fuse on the diagram on the back of the fuse panel cover. Remove this fuse with fuse pullers. Wait about a half hour for the airbags to become deactivated.

Twist and pull out all vents on the dash.

Locate two screws under the hood release lever and remove them with a screwdriver.

Open the glove box and squeeze the panels to remove the glove box door. Find and remove three bolts inside the box with a socket wrench. Remove the glove box by pulling it toward you. Set glove box and bolts aside.

Locate the instrument panel above the steering column. Remove the bolts on the panel with a socket wrench and set them aside. Pull the panel out and detach the harness by unplugging it.

Remove the bolts under the steering column with a wrench.

Remove the bolts holding the airbag in place under the glove box location. Do so very carefully so that it does not deploy. Slowly remove the airbag and detach the wiring.

Remove the bolts holding the CD player, then pull it toward you. Detach the wiring behind it. Pull off the air conditioning and heating controls.

Examine the dash for any remaining bolts and remove them with a socket wrench.

Pull up on the driver's dash as someone else pulls up on the passenger's dash. Detach any remaining wires. Pull the dash out the driver's side door.

 How to Remove a Dash From a Chevy Silverado

Disconnect the negative battery cable to prevent electrical damage and injury while working with the dashboard.

Remove the fuse cover on the left side of the dashboard. You should need no tools to remove this cover. Remove the airbag fuse from within the fuse box if the Silverado has airbags. Wait a few minutes for the power in the airbags to dissipate.

Remove the instrument bezel that includes the speedometer and other instruments by gently pulling on it and disconnecting it.

Remove the screws on the knee bolster and pull the bolster out of the Silverado. Disconnect the airbag electrical connector from within the steering column. Gently pull the air vents out of the dashboard.

Remove the screws in the bottom of the glove box and gently pull it out of the truck.

Remove the Silverado's stereo. This may involve disconnecting the mounting clips or using a wrench to remove the mounting bolts, depending on when the truck was built. Disconnect all wiring and pull the stereo out of the vehicle.

Remove the instrument panel by disconnecting the screws and electrical connections and pulling it out. Do the same with the heating and air conditioning element.

Remove the screws from the bottom of the center console and take it out of the vehicle.

Unscrew the lower dash and remove the trim. Remove any remaining screws on the dashboard. Use a trim tool to remove the windshield area of the dashboard in the Silverado. Disconnect all remaining electrical connections before pulling the rest of the dash out of the vehicle.

 How to Remove the Dash on a Chevy Express

Remove the negative terminal from the battery with a socket wrench to avoid an accidental short circuit.

Unsnap the trim panel below the steering column. This small piece of plastic is held on with spring clips. Unsnap the panel from around the instrument cluster, by first moving the shift lever to first gear then rotating the panel counterclockwise and lifting it over the steering column.

Pull off the trim panel around the climate control panel. Remove the three screws from the stereo using a 9/32-inch hex head screwdriver. Pull out the stereo from the center of the climate control panel and disconnect the wire harness and the antenna cable from the back.

Remove all of the knobs and sliders from the climate control panel just below the stereo. Pull out the entire climate control assembly and disengage the cable connected to the brown clip on the back of the unit. Unscrew the three Phillips head screws at the top of the instrument cluster then pull it out. Disconnect the speedometer cable, cruise control wiring, fog lights, headlights and dash light wiring from the back of the instrument cluster.

Unsnap the kick panels at the bottom of the dashboard. Remove the two bolts at the bottom of the storage bin below the climate control panel with a 1/2-inch socket wrench. With the door open, locate the two 1/2-inch bolts on the side of the driver's side dash and two more on the passenger's side. Remove all four bolts.

Remove the three bolts along the top of the dashboard, underneath the windshield. Remove the two bolts on top of the steering column and wiggle the entire dash free. Pull the dash away from the firewall and look behind it to make sure all the electrical connections have been disconnected. Have an assistant help you lift the dashboard assembly out of the vehicle.