Mr Noisy said:

hey ian, something i hope you can help me with:

you say dashboard is very easy, but last time (3 years ago) it took me a whole day.

if you wouldnt mind, please gimme a brief step by step so i know where to look. need to get my dash out for a tidy up and bit of a looming session.

cheers

Click to expand...

Ok no probs,

Remove the console. Then remove the centre section of the dashboard containing the heater controls. Very easy just a couple of screws each side at a couple at the top above the controls.

Take out the binnacle. There are four screws to the front fascia. Then lift it off. Remove the clocks etc by removing the four nuts, two each. Now remove the glove box type thingy. Two screws to front top and two underneath. Pull this out.

Now unbolt the dashboard. Two screws at the bottom near the difflock lever, these have small plates with them. Two screws each side underneath the bottom lip. These are 8mm I think. A screw each side adjacent to the door jamb, Phillips type.

Then unbolt the handle, you've done this before so you know the score.

The dash should then come out. Oh you have to remove the steering wheel first.:doh:

It took me about an hour to get mine out and about 45mins or so to get it in. The worst thing was the binnacle as I mixed up the wiring to the switches. Make sure you number them to alleviate this problem

Well I've done the binnacle before, done the console, done the handle, done the facia, god knows why it took me so long to do the rest of the dash that time!

Cheers ian that sounds very easy, cant wait to crack on with it, got a few rust holes i found the other day, and got the wiring to tidy as previously mentioned. Will sort a bank of carling switches then I think cos got some amber beacons to fit, could do with work lights etc so will have a wiring session then slam the dash back in. Very tidy

Carling switches are ally neat.

The dash is quite easy when you have done it once before so I'm sure you will be fine.

I must admit, not too sure why you would go for beacons dude. Is there something I'm missing?

Where are the rust holes? Are they top of the footwell?

I've been looking at Carling switches but can't work out where to put them on the 200tdi dash? Where were you going to put them Mr Noisy? Part of the dash looks like it has ducting from the heater built into it - dont want to cut through those

The dash has been removed and the heater unit is also out, it is slightly different model from the replacement 2nd hand unit ive bought so will swap the motor over. With the unit out I can see a few holes in the bulkhead below the heater air intake so will fix those before putting heater back in.

Also manged to take the head off yesterday and have booked it in at local workshop to redo valve guides. I'm glad to go back to work to have a rest

I thought an ideal place would be smack in the middle of the dash inbetweener the air vents to the windscreen as these vents are fed from each side. Should be enough room behind for the switch and wires OR you could mount them slightly proud.

With them here they are within easy reach of both the driver AND passenger, handy to be in arms reach of the passenger, and you can still use the dashboard shelf.

Alternatively you could build a roof pod for the switches and cb etc.

hi guys

amber beacons are for recovery work, at pay and play and also the off chance of a road recovery. handy to have and i like mini projects.

rust holes are top of footwell and also top/side of bulkhead area. got them from the outside ages ago but must have missed the inner skin. nothing major, but i wasnt quite as thorough at cutting out partially rusted areas when i first started. now, if its brown, its cut out!

switches, yeah id cut the centre of the dash out. the heater box is behind there with very minimal clearance, but all i want is hot air to the screen and variable fan. my heat control is broke anyway so its set to full hot from behind.

as such id be looking at cutting away the heater box/ducting to make a decent amount of room, would get around 10/12 switches in i reckon.

if i get round to it

GreenHornet said:

I thought an ideal place would be smack in the middle of the dash inbetweener the air vents to the windscreen as these vents are fed from each side. Should be enough room behind for the switch and wires OR you could mount them slightly proud.

Alternatively you could build a roof pod for the switches and cb etc.

Click to expand...

Do you mean the short sloping/ angled bit of the dash joining the top flat bit of the dash, where the windscreen vents are, to the dash board shelf where the grab handle is? It looks as if there arn't any ducts behind this bit and it looks tall enough to fit a carling switch.

I was thinking of the rounded portion in between the two centre vents. Could even take the centre vents out aswell and add some gauges