Center Dash Removal [xA]
12-09-2004, 06:30 AM
#1
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Location: Orlando, Florida
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Center Dash Removal [xA]
In this tutorial, I will be showing how to take apart the center dash of the xA. This is helpful to xA owners who would like to change the EZ-Bake Oven bulb.
Tools needed:
Philips screwdriver
Flathead screwdriver
Duct Tape
I'm sure everyone who has tried to change their EZ-Bake Oven bulb, tried popping out this cover. In my experience, the cover does not come off easily...
To get to the compartments, we have to pop out the two pillars.
With the flathead screwdriver and duct tape, make a makeshift panel popper. Cut off a 4" piece of duct tape and fold it over the end of the flathead screw driver. I went ahead and put another layer of duct tape over the other piece...
Take your makeshift panel popper (flathead+duct tape) and wedge it under the pillar like so:
Be careful not to scratch your A/C Controls. Once you get the panel popper under it, slowly pop out the pillar.
At the bottom of the pillar, the fastener is angled. Make sure you have the pillar at around a 45 degree angle when you take it out. There's no science to it, but just be careful not to break the faster off.
Repeat the procedure with the other pillar.
As you can see, the compartments in the center dash are set up like a audio/server rack system.
To change the EZ-Bake Oven bulb, unscrew these 4 screws using a Philips screwdriver.
Make sure the compartment door is closed, then slide out the compartment.
You can totally disconnect the bulb assembly via the white plug. You can also just change the bulb by unscrewing the bulb holder and swapping out the bulb.
If you want to take the A/C control panel off, unscrew the two screws and pull from the bottom of the panel, upward.
FYI: The A/C control panel consists of the area A/C control panel, the two center A/C vents, as well as the frame around the headunit. There are also three wire harnesses connected to the A/C control panel that need to be unplugged in order to fully take the panel off.
If you have any questions, post it here, pm, or email me.
Tools needed:
Philips screwdriver
Flathead screwdriver
Duct Tape
I'm sure everyone who has tried to change their EZ-Bake Oven bulb, tried popping out this cover. In my experience, the cover does not come off easily...
To get to the compartments, we have to pop out the two pillars.
With the flathead screwdriver and duct tape, make a makeshift panel popper. Cut off a 4" piece of duct tape and fold it over the end of the flathead screw driver. I went ahead and put another layer of duct tape over the other piece...
Take your makeshift panel popper (flathead+duct tape) and wedge it under the pillar like so:
Be careful not to scratch your A/C Controls. Once you get the panel popper under it, slowly pop out the pillar.
At the bottom of the pillar, the fastener is angled. Make sure you have the pillar at around a 45 degree angle when you take it out. There's no science to it, but just be careful not to break the faster off.
Repeat the procedure with the other pillar.
As you can see, the compartments in the center dash are set up like a audio/server rack system.
To change the EZ-Bake Oven bulb, unscrew these 4 screws using a Philips screwdriver.
Make sure the compartment door is closed, then slide out the compartment.
You can totally disconnect the bulb assembly via the white plug. You can also just change the bulb by unscrewing the bulb holder and swapping out the bulb.
If you want to take the A/C control panel off, unscrew the two screws and pull from the bottom of the panel, upward.
FYI: The A/C control panel consists of the area A/C control panel, the two center A/C vents, as well as the frame around the headunit. There are also three wire harnesses connected to the A/C control panel that need to be unplugged in order to fully take the panel off.
If you have any questions, post it here, pm, or email me.
12-09-2004, 11:25 AM
#2
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Hanover, PA
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That's what I needed to see...Thanks! Only one question. What kind of bulb is it and what does it look like? (bulb number would be great) I'd like to try to find a blue one and have it there when I take the car apart.
12-10-2004, 01:34 AM
#8
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Location: South Jersey
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Good info. I took this one step further...
I wired a switch into one of the blanks on the the dash.
I tapped the power from the blue plug under the consol on the floor where the shifter is. With the clip facing up the top left is Positive and the bottom left is Ground. The power to the "Oven" goes back to the switch.
Now the "Oven" turns on by a switch as long as the parking lights are on.
HTH
I wired a switch into one of the blanks on the the dash.
I tapped the power from the blue plug under the consol on the floor where the shifter is. With the clip facing up the top left is Positive and the bottom left is Ground. The power to the "Oven" goes back to the switch.
Now the "Oven" turns on by a switch as long as the parking lights are on.
HTH
02-17-2005, 08:33 PM
#15
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 13,963
a better way to get the trim paneling off is with a strong plastic putty knife like around a 1.5" wide
found out that a screw driver with duct tape on it still mar's up the plastic
plastic putty knife works lot better
found out that a screw driver with duct tape on it still mar's up the plastic
plastic putty knife works lot better
03-13-2005, 04:08 PM
#16
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 4
Which variety of #194 bulb for oven & AC control light?
There are quite a few different kinds of 194 bulbs offered here.
I figure the white "matrix" bulbs will do for the parking lights, so that's no problem.
I also want to replace the bulb in the oven and the bulbs behind the HVAC controls with blue ones, but I'm not 100% sure which kind to get. Based on what I've seen in the take-apart pictures, I think the "opaque focused" 194 would be good for the oven. I want the HVAC control illumination to be as bright as possible, though, and can't tell exactly how the light is diffused. Anyone who has done this mod know which of the bulbs on the page above would be the best? I'm trying to avoid taking the console apart before I actually have the stuff to do the mod, and without having to buy a couple different kinds of bulbs and do trial and error to see what's the brightest.
TIA,
~Philly
I figure the white "matrix" bulbs will do for the parking lights, so that's no problem.
I also want to replace the bulb in the oven and the bulbs behind the HVAC controls with blue ones, but I'm not 100% sure which kind to get. Based on what I've seen in the take-apart pictures, I think the "opaque focused" 194 would be good for the oven. I want the HVAC control illumination to be as bright as possible, though, and can't tell exactly how the light is diffused. Anyone who has done this mod know which of the bulbs on the page above would be the best? I'm trying to avoid taking the console apart before I actually have the stuff to do the mod, and without having to buy a couple different kinds of bulbs and do trial and error to see what's the brightest.
TIA,
~Philly
06-24-2005, 07:07 PM
#17
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Arizona
Posts: 437
Originally Posted by kgzero
Do any of you know if it would be possible to wire a switch to thos bulbs inorder to make it light up whenever the oven is opened? That would be cool.
Did anyone ever come up with a remedy for this?? I've been searching for a collective two hours to see if someone had posted it
07-16-2005, 08:39 PM
#18
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Mesa, AZ
Posts: 274
If you open the "oven" door first, you can easily pry off the silver side pieces without the use of a tool. Open the door, and you'll feel a bit of a lip at the side where the trim meets the oven. Just use your fingers, and that should get it out far enough so you could grab the top of the trim and remove it that way.
