Dashboard Panel Removal

rcgolfer · July 20, 2004

2004 Silverado. The dash lower panel on the driver's side. I want to remove it to look for an ignition-switched 12V source. There are two screws. The emergency brake release is in the way, sort of. If I remove the screws and work the bottom of the panel around the brake release, I would expect the panel to drop down. But it is hung up on something. I can't see what it is. New truck, I don't want to break something before the first payment is due.

Removing this panel should be easy. What am I missing? If you can lead me to an ignition-switched 12V source w/o having to take this panel off, so much the better.

dr9672723 · July 20, 2004

I believe if you open the driver's door, there is a panel at the end of the dash which has some fuses in it. You can find what you need there no sweat.

rcgolfer · July 20, 2004

I have already probed those wires and don't find anything. There is a 10a fuse protecting a clean, ignition-switched circuit, but I can't get at the wires from the front. All I can get at is the fuse itself. If these fuses were the old glass type, I could get a special replacement fuse that would allow me to attach a wire. But with these thin profile fuses the guy at my parts store told me you can't get a fuse that you can connect a wire to.

silverado man · July 20, 2004

Just try and squeeze the wire in that is what I did when I needed 12v switched power. It takes a little patients but it will work.

Nick99Chevy · July 20, 2004

There is a clip at the top of each side of the panel. Pull out firmly but carefully and it'll pop off.

cbrxx · July 20, 2004

If it is similar to our 04 Yukon, there may be two or three screws at the bottom edge, and I think you need to remove the guage bezel first, as it overlaps.

It too just pops off, you just need to have the tilt wheel all the way down, and auto trans lever in low gear.

If I recall, it is still hard to get at the back of the fuse box. You might want to tap into one of the large guage wires at the steering column. That's where they connected everything for our remote starter.

There is also a black box on the bottom edge of firewall, by the left drivers foot, with a cover held in place by a knob. This is where the electronic brake harness connects, but I also notice some empty spots in ours. You might find a switched source there.

Steve

JimG · July 21, 2004

But with these thin profile fuses the guy at my parts store told me you can't get a fuse that you can connect a wire to.

Why not? I've got one - used the Accessory Fuse, it's 10A. All I did was install a fuse tap, used a spade connector on the wire itself, put some heat-shrink on the spade to insulate it and plugged it into the little tab from the adapter I installed with the fuse. Works great! Got mine from Radio Shack - I think they still sell 'em

Anyway - onto removing the knee bolster. I have an 03, which should be relately similar. cbrxx is right. You DEFINITELY need to get the dash bezel out of the way. I don't remove it, instead I pop it out of the clips that hold it to the dash frame. This gets the bottom free where it meets the knee bolster you're trying to remove. After you remove the screws and the bottom edge of the knee bolster is free moving, you need to pull it towards you, straight out. There's 2 giant white plastic studs that serve to align it as they install it in the factory. There's also two clips similar to the ones in the dash bezel. Those will pop when they actually get free, so you'll hear some noise. Once you've done that, it should just come out freely. Just work slowly and make sure there's no screws left before removing it.

tryn2lrn · July 22, 2004

The BlackBird guy above is correct. I have an 04 Sierra and there are 3 screws along the bottom and 2 snaps along the top. The dash bezel will at least have to be popped loose if not totally removed. If you remove the bezel, use the e-brake, chock tire, drop shifter to 1st and put a towel over the steering column or you will get drag marks on the column plastic from pulling the bezel off. I tried disconnecting the fuse box and still couldn't get to it very well. I ended up using a flat blade "quick connect" crimp on connector trimmed down and stuck in one of the empty fuse locations. If you do this make sure you have an inline fuse in series with the device being installed. Good Luck.