Instrument panel removal instructions on a Volvo 960

The bulb that lights up my outside temperature gauge went out in my 960. The guy at the dealership claims that he could reach under the dash and replace that bulb, I could not do it. I could remove the bulb assembly but not re-install it. So I had to remove the instrument panel to get it back in. These instructions will show you how to safely remove the dash panel and instrument cluster to replace bulbs. Took me about 1 hour.

Tools Needed:

1. Release the latches on the radio and pull the radio from the dash. It was not necessary to unplug it from the wires (I had enough slack to set it in the passenger seat), doing so will require you to enter the radio code once you re-install it. 
2. Remove the ash tray. Open it and press down on the center clip to remove it.
3. Remove the 2 screws under the ash tray (T-20).
   Warning: DO NOT drop these 2 screws, you may never see them again.
   
4. Reach your hand into the hole where the radio was removed and put a little pulling pressure on the dash area. While this pulling pressure is on the panel, release the dash clips with the flat tip screw driver on both sides of the radio slot (pry the clips towards the center of the hole). This will allow the wood grain dash area to pull away from the rest of the dash.
   
5. Carefully pull the wood grain dash area away for the rest of the dash. Try not to twist the panel to much because it will crack the plastic wood grain (I've done it, it sucks). Pull that panel away a little but it is not necessary to totally remove it. It has all the right side buttons connected to it, just pull it away a little.
6. Carefully pull the left side of the wood grain dash away. The switches on the left side are connected to it, so you do not have to remove it.
7. Remove the 7 screws from the vent panel housing.
   One on the far left under the vent (T-25)
   ,
   One on the right just above the A/C controls (T-25)
   
   One above each vent (3x T-20)
   
   Two under the clips above the instruments (T-20)
   
8. Slide the air vent panel housing away from the dash.
9. Remove the 4 screws that hold the instrument cluster in place.
   
10. Pull the instrument cluster away from the dash. It was not necessary to disconnect any wires.
    If you need to replace the bulb for the temp gauge like I did, un-twist the bulb housing and take the bulb out of the housing, wire the bulb into the housing, and re-install the bulb housing into the gauge.
    
11. Re-install everything in reverse order. When re-securing the wood panel trim, look under the trim to insure the clips go into the dash properly.

These instructions can also be used to remove the wood trim panels to replace the bulbs in the switches. It is not necessary to remove the vent panel or instrument cluster.

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End of instructions.