Dash gauge cover

[dpotter]

Got some Autometer gauges for Christmas and want to mount them to the cover over the speedo & tach. I don't want to break the plastic dash cover trying to take it off. It's a 2006. Anyone removed this without breaking it? I would like to know how. Thanks.

 

[rbattelle]

Does this help? Courtesy the 2006 service manual.



I assume you already know how to remove the lower trim panel (the one beneath the steering wheel) and the trim panel around the radio/HVAC controls.



It may be hard to tell from this diagram, but there are 2 retaining clips at the top of the bezel where it mates with the rest of the instrument cluster. You'll have to pry those up after you remove all the screws.



Unless you live in a warm climate or have a heated garage, I'd advise not doing this until the weather gets warm. The plastic gets very brittle at low temperatures.



-Ryan

 

[dpotter]

Dash cover

Thanks, that does help. I didn't want to just start janking on plastic parts that can be expensive at the dealership. Anything special I neeed to know about the radio cover area or is it pretty straightforward? Thanks again for your help.

 

[rbattelle]

Anything special I neeed to know about the radio cover area or is it pretty straightforward?

Remember to remove the screw behind the purse hook on the passenger side.



-Ryan

 

[dpotter]

I don't have a purse hook on the right side. I have never had the radio bezel off. Does it attach with screws or just cliped on? Thanks again, I am sure you have saved me from an expensived mistake.

 

[rbattelle]

I don't have a purse hook on the right side.

Where do you hang your purse!?

Here's the diagram for the center bezel. Hopefully someone who has a 2006 will comment, but it looks to me like there are 2 screws to be removed from the bottom part of the center bezel. It's unclear to me how you access the heads, though.

-Ryan

 

[dpotter]

Thanks for the pictures, they will really help. I can't see the screws in the picture, so I think I will have to start with the shifter console and work up from there. Seems kind of funny you have to dismantle half the truck starting at the floor to get the cover off the top of the gauges. Thats what happens when designers, not the mechanics that have to work on the truck, put things together. Mechanics should be part of the design team so this type of thing can be avoided. I have seen this too many times working in new car dealerships for 20 years. 8 hours of labor for a $4 part to be replaced (3rd gen heater doors). Thanks again for your response and the pictures. I'll let you know how it turns out.

 

[TLane]

I remove the radio bezel from my 08 by starting at the floor and removing the cup holders. You have to pull the rubber inserts out to get to the screws. I then removed the blank panel in front of the manual shifter, only to find that the two screws shown in the diagram were not installed in my truck. I was thinking I would leave them out anyway. The rest of the radio bezel is held in be clips, so start prying at the bottom and see if the screws are installed first.

 

[dpotter]

Thanks, its what I thought I would have to do. My bezel must have the screws in it because I cannot pry it away from the dash. I will wait until I have a few hours to dismantle almost the entire dash just to mount 2 gauge cups! This is a lot of work just to hide wires I could just route thru the vent in the top of the dash, but looks do count! Thanks for all the replys & assistance. This is what the TDR is all about. I hope I can help someone in the future for pay back.







dpotter, 2006 quad cab long box 4wd 6speed stock except for an AFE air filter

 

[dpotter]

Thanks to everyone for their replies. I was able to get my truck apart without any damage. I left the 2 botttom screws out that hold the radio/heater control bezel on (one gauge was backordered, and as this was a Christmas gift from my kids, it wasn't ordered from Geno's) and now I can take the bezels off without removing the shift consoles. No rattles that I can hear and much easier & quicker. As has been said many times before, this is what makes the TDR special and worth 10 times the price.