How to Remove the Dash on Pontiac Cars

Removing the dash from a Pontiac car doesn't require a lot of mechanical skill, though it will take some time. The dash itself is anchored under several other interior components and trim pieces that need to be removed to gain access to the retaining screws. Removing the dash is sometimes necessary if you want access to the parts under the dash, such as the radio or the gauges. The plastic on the dash of the Pontiac car can be brittle, so care needs to be taken when removing the dash.

Under The Hood:

• How to Remove the Dash on a Pontiac G6 GT
• How to Remove the Dash in a 2001 Aztek
• How to Remove the Dash From a Pontiac
• How to Remove the Dash From a Firebird

 How to Remove the Dash on a Pontiac G6 GT

Preparation

Have the car's air conditioning system discharged at the dealer's service department or at another shop with a licensed air conditioning technician.

Drain the engine coolant at the radiator, opening the drain fitting at the bottom of the radiator and the cap on the reservoir and letting the coolant pour into a large container.

Disconnect the battery's negative cable, loosening the cable clamp nut with a socket or crescent wrench.

Trim Covers

Place the transmission in Neutral (you need to press the brake pedal with the ignition switch on), then pull the center trim panel rearward on the bottom. Pry the panel's clips off as you move upward and and remove the panel.

Pop the triangular-shaped hazard flasher switch out of the instrument panel -- you can reach the back of the switch and push it out once you remove the center panel -- and unplug the switch's electrical connector.

Tilt the upper steering column cover up and release the four lock rings to remove the upper cover. Remove the three fasteners for the lower cover -- you need a screwdriver with a hex socket -- tilt the column lever down and remove the lower cover.

Remove the three screws for the instrument cluster bezel with a Philips screwdriver and pry the bezel loose.

Pry off the trim panels at the sides of the instrument panel with a trim stick or similar dull, flat-bladed tool. Unscrew and remove the cover at the bottom of the panel with the screwdriver.

Open the small cover on the A-pillar trim panels, remove the screw within the cover using your Philips screwdriver and pry off the panels with the trim stick. Pry around the upper trim panel and remove it.

Remove the fasteners for the knee bolster below the steering wheel with the screwdriver -- you may also need to remove the data link connector by pressing its side tabs and disconnecting it -- and remove the panel.

Open the glove box and remove the mounting screws at the top corners of the compartment using the Philips screwdriver to remove it.

Main Panel

Disconnect the heater hoses and the refrigerant lines from the firewall using pliers and/or a wrench (a socket wrench may work best). Plug the fittings to block contaminants from entering.

Unbolt the heater module at the dashboard plate's front end using the socket wrench.

Disconnect all of the electrical connectors on the instrument panel. Pry off all the switches from the panel using your trim stick.

Slide both of the front seats all the way to the rear.

Remove the two mounting fasteners for the steering column -- these will likely require the hex-socket screwdriver -- and let the column rest near the floor.

Unbolt the panel's center support bracket from the floor with your wrench.

Remove the mounting fasteners at both ends of the instrument panel with the wrench/Philips screwdriver and pull the panel away. Disconnect any remaining electrical connectors that were previously concealed and remove the panel.

 How to Remove the Dash in a 2001 Aztek

Park the Pontiac Aztek somewhere with a lot of room to work. The dash is made of large plastic pieces that need to be placed out of the way so an errant step won't break them. Shift the Pontiac Aztek into Park and pull the emergency brake up to keep the car steady while you work on it.

Pry the rubber bottoms in the two center cup holders out with a flat head screwdriver. This exposes the Phillips screws on the bottom of each. Unscrew them with a Phillips head screwdriver and place them to the side. Open up the center arm rest and remove the rubber bottoms in there as well. Unscrew the two screws on the bottom and place them to the side. Pull the center armrest up and place it to the side.

Remove the four screws at the sides of the center dash that are now exposed. Then open the glove box and remove the two screws that hold the hinges on either side. Pull the glove box door out, then remove the four screws along the bottom that hold the bottom of the passenger-side dash. Pull the bottom of the passenger-side dash off by hand, by pulling up and then out.

Go to the driver's door and locate the eight screws that go along the side of the driver-side dash. Remove the screws and keep them somewhere safe. Go to the passenger side and remove the eight screws that hold the dash in on that side. Go to the center console and wedge a flat head screwdriver into the seam between the center console and the dash. Work around the seam and gently wedge the center console bezel off until it's loose. Remove the center console by hand and place it out of harm's way.

Pull the top dash off by hand and carefully slide it out of the car. If it is stuck, do not force it -- you've probably missed a screw. Go back and check for any screws that you missed.

 How to Remove the Dash From a Pontiac

Disconnect your Pontiac's battery. Open the hood and remove the negative battery cable from the battery with a crescent wrench.

Open the glove box and use a screwdriver to remove the screws holding it in place. Pull the glove box out of the dashboard assembly. Remove the screws that hold the lower dashboard panel in place. Remove the panel.

Pull off the faceplate from your Pontiac's radio. Remove the radio bracket with the screwdriver. Unplug the electrical components that connect the stereo to the vehicle. Pull out the radio.

Remove the screws holding the top panel of the dashboard in place. Pull the dash panel forward to gain access to the electronics on the other side of the panel.

Slide up underneath the dash and unplug all of the electrical wiring. After the wiring has been disconnected, pull out the dashboard.

 How to Remove the Dash From a Firebird

Detach the negative battery cable from the car's battery, using a screwdriver to disconnect the cable from the terminal. Disconnecting will prevent any electrical damage to your car when removing the dash.

Open both driver-side and passenger-side doors and locate bolts that are securing the dash directly to the frame. The bolts are located right along the side of the dash and will run up the edge.

Use a screwdriver to unfasten the radio bracket to remove the radio. Unhook all electrical wiring from the back side of the radio. Slide the radio straight out of the dash of the car.

Open the glove box and locate the both bolts that are mounted to the rear-end of the glove box. Remove these bolts from both sides of the dash. Remove all the bolts that are inside the glove box by using a socket and ratchet and turning counter-clockwise.

Remove both bolts that are securing the frame and dash together -- these are on the center-bottom of the dash, about two inches from the floor. Use the 10-mm socket and ratchet and remove by turning counter-clockwise. Pull forward when removing the dash off the frame of the vehicle.