Instrument Panel & Console: Removal & Installation Ford Escape II

Removal and Installation

1. NOTE: The ignition switch must be in the OFF position if disconnecting the Passenger Air Bag Deactivation (PAD) indicator electrical connector. Otherwise, a DTC will be set in the Restraints Control Module (RCM) memory and must be cleared before releasing the vehicle. Turn the ignition OFF and wait at least 1 minute.
2. Remove the upper instrument panel center finish panel. Pull the upper instrument panel center finish panel outward. Disconnect the electrical connector.
3. To install, reverse the removal procedure. Make sure to align the trim panel retaining clips to the retaining clip holes in the instrument panel.

1. Remove the upper instrument panel center finish panel. For additional information, refer to «INSTRUMENT PANEL FINISH PANEL - CENTER, UPPER»(ref-344092-S31235019012009101600000) .
2. Remove the lower instrument panel center finish panel. For additional information, refer to «INSTRUMENT PANEL FINISH PANEL - CENTER, LOWER»(ref-344092-S16555099092009101600000) .
3. Remove the 4 middle instrument panel center finish panel screws.
4. Remove the middle instrument panel center finish panel. Pull outward to release the retaining clips. Disconnect the electrical connectors.
5. To install, reverse the removal procedure. Make sure to align the trim panel retaining clips to the retaining clip holes in the instrument panel.

Vehicles with a manual transmission

1. Depress the parking brake pedal.
2. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL.
3. Disengage the gearshift boot trim ring. Vehicles with an automatic transmission
4. Remove the selector lever trim ring. All vehicles
5. Remove the floor console storage bin.
6. Remove the floor console finish panel. If equipped, disconnect the electrical connectors.
7. Remove the lower instrument panel center finish panel. Pull outward to release the retaining clips. Disconnect the electrical connectors.
8. To install, reverse the removal procedure. Make sure to align the trim panel retaining clips to the retaining clip holes in the instrument panel.

Removal

All vehicles

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1. Remove the floor console. For additional information, refer to «CONSOLE - FLOOR»(ref-344092-S00460581562009101600000) .
2. Remove the steering wheel. For additional information, refer to «STEERING COLUMN»(ref-344094) .
3. Remove the RH and LH A-pillar trim panels. For additional information, refer to «INTERIOR TRIM AND ORNAMENTATION»(ref-344075) .
4. Remove the 4 pin-type retainers and the RH and LH front door opening scuff plates.
5. Remove the RH and LH lower cowl trim panels.
6. Remove the steering column opening trim panel.
7. Remove the RH and LH instrument panel side finish panels.
8. Disconnect the 2 electrical connectors at the LH side of the instrument panel.
9. Disconnect the main steering module electrical connector.
10. Remove the bolts and position aside the hood release handle and parking brake release handle.
11. Remove and slide the steering column intermediate shaft access cover and weather shield up the steering column intermediate shaft.
12. Remove and discard the steering column intermediate shaft-to-coupling bolt and slide the steering column intermediate shaft up.
13. Remove scrivet and the Restraints Control Module (RCM) access cover.
14. Disconnect the LH RCM electrical connector. Vehicles with automatic transmission
15. Remove the selector lever cable from the selector lever assembly. Disconnect the selector lever cable end from the selector lever. Remove the selector lever cable from the selector housing. Vehicles with manual transmission
16. Remove the shift cables from the gear shift lever assembly. Disconnect the shift cable ends from the shift lever. Remove the shift cable retaining clips from the shift cables. All vehicles
17. Disconnect the selector lever electrical connector and wiring harness pin-type retainers from the selector lever assembly.
18. If equipped, remove and position aside the Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) control module and bracket from the selector lever assembly.
19. Remove the selector lever assembly. Remove the 4 selector lever assembly bolts and remove the selector lever assembly.
20. Disconnect the electrical connectors from the Smart Junction Box (SJB).
21. Remove the SJB. Disconnect the wiring harness pin-type retainers. Remove the SJB lower bolts. Remove the SJB.
22. Disconnect the 2 electrical connectors at the RH side of the instrument panel.
23. Disconnect the antenna cable in-line connector.
24. Remove the cowl panel grille. For additional information, refer to «FRONT END BODY PANELS»(ref-344151) .
25. Remove the wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft. For additional information, refer to «WIPERS AND WASHERS»(ref-344102) .
26. Remove the 3 instrument panel upper cowl bolts.
27. Remove the 4 instrument panel center brace bolts.
28. Remove the 4 instrument panel side bolts.
29. NOTE: To avoid damage to the instrument panel, an assistant is required for this step. NOTE: Before removing the instrument panel, make sure that all electrical wiring is free and not hindered. Remove the instrument panel.
30. NOTE: Do not allow the steering column upper and lower halves to become separated if transferring the column. If the column halves become separated, make sure that the upper and lower column shaft master (larger) splines are correctly aligned. Only use hand force when reassembling the upper and lower halves or damage to the steering column may occur.

Transfer parts as needed.

Installation

All vehicles

1. NOTE: To avoid damage to the instrument panel, an assistant is required for this step. NOTE: Make sure all wiring is correctly routed and not pinched. NOTE: Do not tighten the instrument panel side bolts in this step. Install the instrument panel. Install 2 instrument panel side bolts, one on each side, to hold the instrument panel in place.
2. Install the 3 instrument panel upper cowl bolts. Tighten to 20 Nm (177 lb-in).
3. Install the wiper mounting arm and pivot shaft. For additional information, refer to «WIPERS AND WASHERS»(ref-344102) .
4. Install the cowl panel cover. For additional information, refer to «FRONT END BODY PANELS»(ref-344151) .
5. Install the 4 instrument panel side bolts. Tighten to 11 Nm (97 lb-in).
6. Install the 4 instrument panel center brace bolts. Tighten to 20 Nm (177 lb-in).
7. Connect the antenna cable in-line connector.
8. Connect the 2 electrical connectors at the RH side of the instrument panel.
9. Install the SJB. Install the SJB. Install the SJB lower bolts. Connect the wiring harness pin-type retainers.
10. Connect the electrical connectors to the SJB.
11. Install the selector lever assembly and the 4 selector assembly bolts. Tighten to 25 Nm (18 lb-ft).
12. If equipped, install the 4WD control module and bracket onto the selector lever assembly.
13. Connect the selector lever electrical connector.
14. Install the wiring harness pin-type retainers to the selector lever assembly. Vehicles with automatic transmission
15. Install the selector lever cable to the selector lever assembly. Install the selector lever cable to the selector lever housing. Connect the selector lever cable end to the selector lever. Vehicles with manual transmission
16. Install the shift cables to the gear shift lever assembly. Install the shift cable retaining clips to the shift cables. Connect the shift cable ends to the gear shift lever. All vehicles
17. Connect the LH RCM electrical connector.
18. Install the RCM access cover and scrivet.
19. Slide the steering column intermediate shaft down onto the coupling and install a new steering column intermediate shaft-to-coupling bolt. Tighten to 55 Nm (41 lb-ft).
20. Install the steering column intermediate shaft access cover and weather shield.
21. Install the hood release and parking brake release handles and bolts. Tighten to 6 Nm (53 lb-in).
22. Connect the main steering module electrical connector.
23. Connect the 2 electrical connectors at the LH side of the instrument panel.
24. Install the RH and LH instrument panel side finish panels. Make sure to align the trim panel retaining clips to the retaining clip holes in the instrument panel.
25. Install the steering column opening trim panel. Make sure to align the trim panel retaining clips to the retaining clip holes in the instrument panel.
26. Install the RH and LH lower cowl trim panels. Make sure to align the trim panel retaining clips to the retaining clip holes in the instrument panel.
27. Install the RH and LH A-pillar trim panels. For additional information, refer to «INTERIOR TRIM AND ORNAMENTATION»(ref-344075) .
28. Install the RH and LH front door opening scuff plates and the 4 pin-type retainers. Make sure to align the trim panel retaining clips to the retaining clip holes in the body.
29. Install the steering wheel. For additional information, refer to «STEERING COLUMN»(ref-344094) .
30. Install the floor console. For additional information, refer to «CONSOLE - FLOOR»(ref-344092-S00460581562009101600000) .

1. Position the steering wheel down.
2. With a non-marring instrument panel tool, release the instrument cluster finish panel clips.
3. Remove the instrument cluster finish panel. Disconnect the electrical connectors.
4. To install, reverse the removal procedure. Make sure to align the trim panel retaining clips to the retaining clip holes in the instrument panel.

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ITEM DESCRIPTION

Vehicles with a manual transmission

1. Depress the parking brake pedal.
2. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL.
3. Position the seats forward and remove the 2 floor console rear bolts. To install, tighten to 7 Nm (62 lb-in).
4. Position the seats rearward. Vehicles with an automatic transmission
5. Remove the selector lever trim ring. Vehicles with a manual transmission
6. Disengage the gear shift boot trim ring. All vehicles
7. Remove the floor console storage bin.
8. Remove the floor console finish panel. If equipped, disconnect the electrical connectors.
9. Remove the 8 floor console bolts and remove the floor console.
10. To install, reverse the removal procedure. Make sure to align the trim panel retaining clips to the retaining clip holes in the floor console.