Removing the dash

[buzzsaw]

I am trying to get access to the heater fan blower switch on my Chimaera. I have Steve's book and I think I have located the two bolts which hold the passenger side dash in place. Having loosened the nuts on both of these bolts I still cannot get the dash to budge. Is there a technique for doing this? Are there similar bolts in the area (perhaps I have got the wrong ones)? Please help.

[macca]

There are 4 bolts securing the dash. The passenger side can be accessed after removing the the panel hidden under storage pouch. Drivers side can be accessed from beneath the steering cowling.

You will have to search around for the bolts and you will scratch your hands to pieces on the sharp self tapping screws situated everywhere. A good tip I found in an earlier thread was to replace the bolts with 'wing' nuts for easy refitment and removal in the future.

You might find the dash is stuck down a little from all the gunge that has built up over the years (unless it's new of course).

[macca]

P.S. Just a thought, you are trying to remove the top of the dash? When I first looked at mine I thought the dash came away from below but of course, it doesn't, it runs the width of the car and is removed at the top. Apologies, if you know this - it was just that if you have removed the pasenger bolts then the dash should have some give in it. On the other hand, there is a bolt that is fairly central that you may not have undone and this could be the reason it is not moving.

[Marshy]

Wingnuts!

I am an idiot. Had my dash apart recently and didn't think of this. Arse, feck, etc.

Edit: I think there's only three bolts on some of them, see this link: www.motion-lotion.co.uk/Chimaera%20Dash%20Removal.html . And on mine, only two had nuts one, and to hinge the dash up, I only needed to remove one...
Further edit: What was I on when I wrote that??? I meant that there were only two nuts fitted, one passenger side, one driver side.

Edited by Marshy on Wednesday 2nd January 02:25

Edited by Marshy on Wednesday 2nd January 18:07

[Bob C]

To get at the fan switch you will probably only need to undo the passenger side nuts and hinge it up like a bonnet. There are two nuts to undo, firstly undo the two screws securing the glove pouch thingy and let it hinge down. Then get your hand up and locate the two nuts (10mm), the front one is on a vertical thread the rear horizontal. There's no way to avoid glassfibre rash! You may then find it wont shift, get a blunt blade (wall paper scraper) and ease it in between the upper and lower parts of the dash, avoid the temptation to leaver, just break the seal along the whole length. It should them move, don't forget the rear thread is horizontal so you will need to twist a bit, be careful not to damage the trim below the windscreen. Also as you lift keep an eye on what the dash is parting from and not pulling anything off with it.