If you mean removing enough plastic so that you can work on the electrical system... then it is NOT difficult at all (1987 Vanagon GL).

Pop the plastic off the steering column area.

remove fuse box cover, and either pop the fuse box out or unscrew the large screw. You will want this out anyway for any miring projects.

Pop the plastic dash cover off from the rear, and remove the 4 screws holding the speedo and stuff in place, and remove all the light switches carefully by squeezing them and pushing towards the windshield. You may ned to detach the connectors before removing the switches.

there is one large connector which is plugs the printed circuit sheet in to the wiring harness... it is white or brown, and it pretty much directly behind the steering column, up high... unplug it. You should now (if I am not missing anything) be able to lift the speedo cluster mess right off (after removing speedo cable) and set it on the passenger seat (do not bend or knich the green flexible circuit thing, or you will be in trouble).

The first time you do this you will probably drop a screw or something down into the void, and it will all seem strange and unfriendly... but after a few tries, it becomes second nature (especially if you have to troubleshoot as many electrical issues, and install relays, and radios, and antennas, etc.)

Have Fun!

RSF

IMPORTANT!!! In order to reply to me, you must have the word "FISH" somewhere in the subject line of the email. Otherwise it goes directly in the trash.

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Robert S. Fish Salzburg, Austria 1987 Wolfsburg Vanagon 2.1 GL Weekender 1987 Golf Cabriolet 1991 Golf

----- Original Message ----- From: "Dan Barrett" <dan@OFFTHEHILL.ORG> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Friday, July 26, 2002 7:46 PM Subject: Re: removing dash?

> Removing the dash isn't a minor procedure -- the Bentley (in the > heating/ventilation section, I think) has all the nasty details, but you're > looking at removing the plastic covering the steering column; the headless > bolts holding the steering column (which, thanks to the list I know can be > removed with vice grips); and a bunch of other crap. I looked at it and > decided that it could wait until I take my two weeks of vacation in August, > when I can throw more than two hours at a go at rewiring the stereo, doing the > headlight relay conversion, etc. etc. > Best, > d. > > ________________ > / | > / | -------- > | | ------ > +-( )------( )--+ --- >