Ok, so a few weeks ago some punk broke my window and tore up the dash trying to steal my AVIC-D1. He didn't get the stereo but broke it and my dash panels around the radio. My insurance fixed everything except the panel in the attached picture. They tried to 'repair' it and it looks alright but I'm pretty picky. They said they cannot replace the panel because it's part of the whole dash and not itself easily removable.

So that got me thinking I don't want the dash taken apart and chance some crazy dash rattles. So just seeing if anyone knows if this panel is easily replaceable or not? Thanks!

Steve

 

Easily replaceable for $40. In fact, I have an extra one sitting on my shelf right now, waiting for me to chop it up for a carputer install.

Here's a link to one for $35.45 + shipping for an '05-'07 Mustang. Be sure to give them your VIN number when you order so you get the EXACT part that you need (as in, when I ordered one for my '08, it turned out it was slightly different from the '07's). Make sure you click on the link, and don't cut/paste, because what's being displayed as the URL is slightly different from the actual link:
http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...=8&catalogid=2

Good luck.

 

Thanks Steve,
Actually the panel you linked is the radio panel. The insurance company already replaced that along with panel#3 and panel#5 (from the linked diagram). Your link does help though, it appears I would need panel#1 but thats $800! It's the panel above the glove box and below the passenger airbag but from the drawing looks like its all one big piece.

 

I believe the panel you need comes as part of the air bag so they probably didn't want to replace it to save money, I doubt it had anything to do with taking the dash apart. But, I could be wrong

Never mind, I just noticed the piece you need in your pick, I thought it was the one with the 2 on it so I was in fact wrong, I told you it was possible!

 

I think it is a part of the passenger airbag assembly, but if it's broken, or damaged, they should have to replace it, tell them it could cause the airbag to malfunction or something.

 

Ahh, that panel... yeah, I would request it be replaced with a new one, and cite it as a safety issue: If that panel has been compromised structurally in any way - or if it reacts to an exploding airbag in any way other than how Ford intended it to, you could be showered with plastic shrapnel instead of having it open harmlessly. I'm pretty sure that argument will get it replaced...

 

OK, now I'm confused. Is it the metal part were the air bag is or is it the plastic part were your knee's would be between the glove box door and the metal air bag part? After looking at your picture were you put "this part" I thought it was the plastic part.

 

It's the plastic part that is right above the glove box and right below the airbag panels. On the trademotion website it is the panel#1 far right bottom side of the picture. According to their pic it appears to be one big dash piece.

 

Yeah, that's what I was afraid of. I think that would be a pretty extensive tare down to replace that piece. If you want it replaced then the insurance company should pay for it regardless of the amount of labor but if you can live with it I would rather not have my dash taken apart to that extent if I could help it. I learned my lesson with my Expedition, I had to have the heater core replaced in it and it requires removing the entire dash. I almost always do all my own work but this was a time consuming job and at the time it was my daily driver and I was very busy so I opted to take it to the Ford dealer to have it done. Now 4 years later I am still find things they did wrong when I work on it. Half the bolts and screws are missing, I just got done spending 4 months chasing a dash rattle that popped up and I finely found it was a missing bolt under the passenger side dash. I have decided warranty or not I will never let anyone take my dash apart unless I am supervising the process or else I will do it my self.

 

I would be against a teardown as well, no rattle now will only lead to one later.

 

Thanks guys, I decided to leave it as is and my insurance will give me some extra cash back instead. With no radio the last few weeks has really made me notice some dash rattles from the panels they already replaced. I'll fix those when I get a new radio.

 

Yeah, when you drive with no radio, you hear lots that you've never heard before, which is why I tell people to turn the radio off when they take a test drive.

 

I have my whole interior out because I am dying my tan interior black. The insurance company is right about that particular piece. I had to paint that piece inside the car because it is part of the whole dash. Every piece of plastic trim around it comes off except that piece.