component belongs to, even though the component is
mounted on or in the instrument panel. If you cannot
locate a listing for the component or system you are
servicing in the table of contents for this group, or if
you are uncertain as to which vehicle system a com-
ponent belongs to, it is suggested that you refer to
the alphabetical Component and System Index
found at the back of this service manual.
INSTRUMENT PANEL
DESCRIPTION
Structural support for the instrument panel in this
vehicle is accomplished through the use of a molded
plastic structural panel and demister air flow duct
assembly. The front and rear halves of this structural
duct are molded from a blend of polycarbonate and
ABS plastics, which gives these components excellent
strength and impact resistance. The two halves of
this structural duct are vibration welded together.
The structural duct provides integral mounting
surfaces for the instrument cluster and other instru-
ment panel-mounted equipment such as the passen-
ger side airbag module, the radio, the heater and air
conditioner controls, the glove compartment latch
strikers and hinges, the instrument panel steering
column support bracket, and the junction block. The
structural duct also features integral vacuum and
electrical harness routing troughs. All of these inte-
gral features help to reduce the total component part
requirements, which reduces assembly complexity
and potential buzzes, squeaks and rattles. At the
same time, these features make the structural duct-
based instrument panel more suitable for recycling
by minimizing the number of parts to be removed.
A patented feature of the construction of this
instrument panel has the heater and air conditioner
housing unit and the steering column secured to the
structural duct and installed into the vehicle as a
unit during vehicle assembly. This feature helps to
improve vehicle quality by allowing the instrument
panel, heater and air conditioner housing unit and
the steering column to be assembled and tested out-
side the vehicle prior to installation, which is easier
and more reliable than in-car assembly and testing.
This feature also adds a floor panel mounting point
to the instrument panel unit, which provides addi-
tional stiffness and system integrity.
A foam-padded cast vinyl instrument panel top pad
covers the instrument panel structural duct. This
surface is designed to deform upon impact without
breaking, while also providing a luxurious feel. The
top pad features a grained outer surface and two
shallow molded depressions on the top, which can
serve as trays to store various small objects. A
unique anti-skid texture molded into the top pad sur-
face in the bottom of these depressions will help to
prevent objects from shifting in the trays while the
vehicle is being driven. The top pad conceals an inte-
gral top-hinged steel passenger side airbag door,
which is located between the two panel duct air out-
lets above the glove box. The top pad also features a
raised hood formation over the instrument cluster
area, which helps to block light reflections from the
windshield onto the cluster lens in the daytime, and
light reflections from the cluster onto the windshield
at night.
The center stack area of the instrument panel fea-
tures two snap-on bezels. The upper bezel has two
integral center panel duct air outlets and conceals
the radio and upper heater and air conditioner con-
trol mounting hardware. The lower bezel conceals the
lower heater and air conditioner control mounting
hardware and includes a concealed integral storage
bin, which features a push-push latching mechanism
and viscous-damped hinges. Pushing in on the face of
the bin releases the latch and the bin opens by itself.
The lower bezel also houses the two switches for the
optional heated driver and passenger front seats, as
well as two accessory power outlets. The accessory
power outlet to the passenger side of the storage bin
is covered by a pivoting door when not in use. The
accessory power outlet to the driver side of the stor-
age bin is covered by a snap-in plastic cap when not
in use. If the optional smoker’s package is ordered, a
removable ash receiver is inserted in the storage bin
and a cigar lighter is inserted in the driver side
accessory power outlet.
The hinged bin-type glove box in the passenger
side of the instrument panel features a recessed pad-
dle-operated latch handle that is offset towards the
driver side of the vehicle for easier access. The glove
box
latching
mechanism
features
two
bolt-type
latches that engage a striker located on each side of
the glove box opening for increased strength and
integrity. Three molded hook formations on the lower
edge of the glove box door are engaged with and
pivot on three hinge pins integral to the lower edge
of the structural duct. The glove box door also serves
as the passenger side knee blocker. A honeycomb
structure between the inner and outer glove box door
panels helps to absorb the impact load and distribute
it to the instrument panel structural duct.
The steering column opening cover serves as the
driver side knee blocker. This molded plastic cover
has an integral ribbed plastic liner concealed behind
it, for increased strength and integrity. The steering
column opening cover transfers impact loads through
a stamped and welded instrument panel steering col-
umn bracket to the cast magnesium instrument
panel steering column support bracket, which is
8E - 2
INSTRUMENT PANEL SYSTEMS
WJ
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION (Continued)