Dodge Dakota (R1). Manual - part 779

INSTALLATION

WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR-
BAGS, DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM BEFORE
ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING WHEEL, STEERING
COLUMN, SEAT BELT TENSIONER, OR INSTRU-
MENT PANEL COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS OR SER-
VICE. DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE THE BATTERY
NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE, THEN WAIT TWO
MINUTES FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM CAPACITOR
TO DISCHARGE BEFORE PERFORMING FURTHER
DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. THIS IS THE ONLY SURE
WAY TO DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. FAILURE
TO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS COULD
RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT
AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

(1) Position the latch striker onto the upper glove

box opening reinforcement (Fig. 16).

(2) Install and tighten the two screws that secure

the latch striker to the upper glove box opening rein-
forcement. Tighten the screws to 2 N·m (20 in. lbs.).

(3) Close and latch the glove box.
(4) Reconnect the battery negative cable.

INSIDE HOOD RELEASE
BRACKET

REMOVAL

(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative

cable.

(2) Remove the steering column opening cover

from the instrument panel. (Refer to 23 - BODY/IN-
STRUMENT PANEL/STEERING COLUMN OPEN-
ING COVER - REMOVAL).

(3) Remove the two screws that secure the inside

hood release handle to the inside hood release
bracket and lower the release handle to the floor
(Fig. 17).

(4) Depress the latch tabs that secure the 16-way

data link connector to the inside hood release
bracket, and push the connector out of its mounting
hole.

(5) Remove the two screws that secure the inside

hood release bracket to the instrument panel struc-
tural support (Fig. 18).

Fig. 17 Steering Column Opening Cover

1 - STEERING COLUMN OPENING COVER
2 - INSIDE HOOD RELEASE
3 - SCREW (3)
4 - PARK BRAKE RELEASE HANDLE

Fig. 18 Inside Hood Release Bracket

1 - TOP COVER
2 - STEERING COLUMN OPENING COVER
3 - INSIDE HOOD RELEASE BRACKET

23 - 104

INSTRUMENT PANEL SYSTEM

GLOVE BOX LATCH STRIKER (Continued)

(6) Remove the inside hood release bracket from

the instrument panel structural support.

INSTALLATION

(1) Position the inside hood release bracket onto

the instrument panel structural support (Fig. 18).

(2) Install and tighten the two screws that secure

the inside hood release bracket to the instrument
panel structural support. Tighten the screws to 2
N·m (17 in. lbs.).

(3) Install the 16-way data link connector into the

mounting hole on the inside hood release bracket.

(4) Position the inside hood release handle to the

instrument panel lower reinforcement.

(5) Install and tighten the two screws that secure

the inside hood release handle to the inside hood
release bracket. Tighten the screws to 3 N·m (25 in.
lbs.).

(6) Reinstall the steering column opening cover

onto the instrument panel. (Refer to 23 - BODY/IN-
STRUMENT PANEL/STEERING COLUMN OPEN-
ING COVER - INSTALLATION).

(7) Reconnect the battery negative cable.

LOWER BEZEL

REMOVAL

RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT
AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative

cable.

(2) Remove the cluster bezel from the instrument

panel. (Refer to 23 - BODY/INSTRUMENT PANEL/
CLUSTER BEZEL - REMOVAL).

(3) Remove the steering column opening cover

from the instrument panel. (Refer to 23 - BODY/IN-
STRUMENT PANEL/STEERING COLUMN OPEN-
ING COVER - REMOVAL).

(4) Remove the two screws that secure the bottom

of the lower bezel to the instrument panel structural
support (Fig. 19).

(5) Remove the three screws that secure the top of

the lower bezel to the instrument panel structural
support.

(6) If the vehicle is so equipped, pull the lower

bezel away from the instrument panel far enough to
access and disconnect the instrument panel wire har-
ness connectors from the receptacles for the accessory
power outlet, the lower bezel console lamp, and the
cigar lighter.

(7) Remove the lower bezel from the instrument

panel.

Fig. 19 Lower Bezel Remove/Install

1 - LOWER BEZEL
2 - SCREW (5)

INSTRUMENT PANEL SYSTEM

23 - 105

INSIDE HOOD RELEASE BRACKET (Continued)

INSTALLATION

(1) Position the lower bezel to the instrument

panel.

(2) If the vehicle is so equipped, reconnect the

instrument panel wire harness connectors to the
receptacles for the accessory power outlet, the lower
bezel console lamp, and the cigar lighter.

(3) Position the lower bezel onto the instrument

panel (Fig. 19).

(4) Install and tighten the three screws that secure

the top of the lower bezel to the instrument panel
structural support. Tighten the screws to 2 N·m (20
in. lbs.).

(5) Install and tighten the two screws that secure

the bottom of the lower bezel to the instrument panel
structural support. Tighten the screws to 2 N·m (20
in. lbs.).

(6) Close and latch the glove box.
(7) Reinstall the cluster bezel onto the instrument

panel. (Refer to 23 - BODY/INSTRUMENT PANEL/
CLUSTER BEZEL - INSTALLATION).

(8) Reinstall the steering column opening cover

onto the instrument panel. (Refer to 23 - BODY/IN-
STRUMENT PANEL/STEERING COLUMN OPEN-
ING COVER - INSTALLATION).

(9) Reconnect the battery negative cable.

STEERING COLUMN OPENING
COVER

REMOVAL

(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative

cable.

(2) Reach under the left end of the instrument

panel to access and unsnap the rod end clip on the
park brake release link and disengage the link from
the back of the handle (Fig. 20).

Fig. 20 Steering Column Opening Cover

1 - STEERING COLUMN OPENING COVER
2 - INSIDE HOOD RELEASE
3 - SCREW (3)
4 - PARK BRAKE RELEASE HANDLE

23 - 106

INSTRUMENT PANEL SYSTEM

LOWER BEZEL (Continued)

(3) Remove the three screws that secure the lower

edge of the steering column opening cover to the
instrument panel structural support.

(4) Using a trim stick or another suitable wide

flat-bladed tool, gently pry the upper edge of the
steering column opening cover just below the cluster
bezel on each side of the steering column away from
the instrument panel far enough to disengage each of
the snap clip retainers from their receptacles in the
instrument panel base trim (Fig. 21).

(5) Remove the steering column opening cover

from the instrument panel.

INSTALLATION

(1) Position the steering column opening cover to

the instrument panel (Fig. 21).

(2) Align the snap clip retainers on the steering

column opening cover with the receptacles in the
instrument panel base trim.

(3) Using hand pressure, press firmly on the steer-

ing column opening cover over the snap clip locations
until each of the snap clips is fully engaged in its
receptacle.

(4) Install and tighten the three screws that secure

the lower edge of the steering column opening cover
to the instrument structural support (Fig. 20).
Tighten the screws to 2 N·m (20 in. lbs.).

(5) Reach under the left end of the instrument

panel to access and engage the park brake release
link to the back of the handle. Then snap the rod end
clip over the park brake release link to secure the
connection.

(6) Reconnect the battery negative cable.

STORAGE BIN

REMOVAL

A cluster bezel may have one, two, or no storage

bins installed on it, depending upon the vehicle
equipment. A storage bin is used in place of the
optional four-wheel drive transfer case switch, the
optional passenger airbag on/off switch, and/or the
optional rear window defogger switch. If the vehicle
is equipped with both of these switches, it will not
have a storage bin installed in the cluster bezel.

(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative

cable.

(2) Remove the cluster bezel from the instrument

panel. (Refer to 23 - BODY/INSTRUMENT PANEL/
CLUSTER BEZEL - REMOVAL).

Fig. 21 Steering Column Opening Cover Remove/

Install

1 - INSTRUMENT PANEL TOP COVER
2 - STEERING COLUMN OPENING COVER
3 - SCREW (3)
4 - HOOD RELEASE BRACKET

INSTRUMENT PANEL SYSTEM

23 - 107

STEERING COLUMN OPENING COVER (Continued)

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