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Odessa
Dodge Dakota
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2/03/2006
14:38:26
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 Subject: How hard isit to take out the dashboard?
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I'm painting all the interior panels and wondering if it's easy to take out the dashboard to paint it also? I can leave it as is, but the color on panels and the dashboard won't match. It doesn't match even with original interior paint, so I don't really care much, but it'd be nice to paint it also.
The whole thing looks like one large piece after you take off smaller panels (which are already off). My biggest concern is the passenger airbag. I have no idea how to take it off and surely don't want to set it off. If I can take off the rest of the dashboard without touching the airbag, then I can paint the airbag inside the truck, but not sure if it's possible to do so.
Anyone ever done it?
Truck is 97, ext cab, auto.
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davec
Dodge Dakota
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2/03/2006
14:59:33
| RE: How hard isit to take out the dashboard?
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I've had lots of dahses out. It's more time consuming than difficult. There are a ton a small pieces and screws, plus wiring harnesseses, etc. It all depends on how inclined you are. I'd try to find a manual with the instructions and see if you think you can do it.
Be careful with the air bags if you choose to go ahead with it. You need to disconnect the battery and wait 2 minutes before touching the air bags. The reason you wait 2 minutes is due to the fact that air bag controllers are equipped with capacitors. Capacitors store voltage. In the event that battery power is lost in an accident, the capacitors store enough voltage to fire the air bags. A lot of people screw around with them and don't worry about setting them off. If you've ever seen one go off, you'll wait the 2 minutes.
Dave
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Odessa
Dodge Dakota
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2/03/2006
15:27:47
| RE: How hard isit to take out the dashboard?
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I've installed alarms/remote starts, audio systems myself, and now I'm doing modification to the interior panels with fiberglass, mdf and body filler. I learned it all on my own with the help of internet. So I think I can do it. Just want to make sure it won't take too long. Isn't it similiar to taking off panels? Unscrew, pull it out, push it back in..?? Or should I just mask everything but the dash and paint the whole thing inside the truck?
Yeah, I've seen an airbag explode just in front of me when I was in an accident once. Didn't really scare me as for some reason the explosion seemed very weak. Maybe it was just a bad airbag.
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davec
Dodge Dakota
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2/03/2006
16:50:45
| RE: How hard isit to take out the dashboard?
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It probably didn't scare you becuase you were in an accident. A lot of other things besides an airbag running through your mind. I've seen them break arms....literally.
You have the right idea on the dash. From what you said, I would think you'd be fine pulling the dash. Though it would be a heck of a lot easier to mask it and spray it.
Dave
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Odessa
Dodge Dakota
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2/03/2006
21:28:01
| RE: How hard isit to take out the dashboard?
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I just took another look at it and it seems as most of areas are reachable enough to spray it inside without taking it out. Maybe the areas near the windshield (especially the back side of the holes) would be very hard to spray, but I think it's not a big problem since that area is not very visible in first place.
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vern
Dodge Dakota
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2/04/2006
06:22:47
| RE: How hard isit to take out the dashboard?
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theres also the dash cover,dash mat and other companys make them,i got one from JC Whitney about $60,lifetime warranty on fading,fit my dash very nice,bought it about 3yrs ago still likes like new
just a thought
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Odessa
Dodge Dakota
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3/15/2006
19:37:06
| RE: How hard isit to take out the dashboard?
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I painted it and it looks very good! Maybe I'll post a picture later if I have time...
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