I tried replacing the one under the steering wheel a couple years ago. After hours of breaking my back trying to get the top screw out I gave up. It just unscrewed into the air tube feeding the left vent. I finally just broke the tab of the old one off. Now that I have a second car and could tear into the dash and not have to have it back together to get to work I started taking the dash apart. I still can't get access to that top screw and can't figure out how to get the top dash pad cover off to be able to get to that top screw. Of all the youtube videos I can find, they only show how to change the ones under the passenger side.

 

You have to have a shallow universal socket/swivel socket/flex socket to make it work, as I understand it:

http://iihs.net/fsm/?d=336&f=Mode%20...oor%20Door.pdf

And for the socket type itself:
https://www.google.com/search?q=flex+socket

I'd be lookin' for a 1/4 drive set, or if I knew the exact head size of the bolt/screw, I'd maybe just get that particular one. Think it's an 8mm?

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As far as the dash top removal... well, you have to pull the entire dash out of the car to get to the screws that hold that top on the entire dash. I believe in you if you wanted to attempt it, but I think I'd get a flex socket, m'self...

http://iihs.net/fsm/?d=461&f=Instrument%20Panel.pdf

I hope that helps ya.

And welcome to the forums!