99-04 Dash Removal to get to the Defroster Lines....

[Stangman Jonathan]

Can I say what a pita it was or is??? lol

We got most of it off, just can get the driver side free enough to get behind it and remove another huge black plastic piece to get to the red tube that runs to the motor for the defroster that we have to replace....spent almost all day on it today, round 2 tomorrow....if anyone has any pointers please let me know!!!

[white99gt]

Does the motor just not run at all?

Only pointers for the dash I can give is be careful not to break any clips or tabs lol. I've taken out the center console(arm rest, etc) and the middle where the radio/ac knobs, etc are and that's pretty easy but the dash is a whole 'nother job lol.

[Stangman Jonathan]

haha thanks and it does but it makes a high pitch sound when in defroster or floor mode and throws a leaking vacuum code, problem was we cleared it ran the car for like 25 miles and took it to inspection and it didn't pass....so we have to fix it and get it passed again.....paying a visit to the junkyard tomorrow to get replacement parts for some stuff that were broken and others that we broke lol.....

10 year old plastic is very weak lmao The window cowl broke without much pressure and a few other things

[greenscobie86]

Man I wish I had some pointers for you..

Here is one: Try to remember where all the bolts.clips go when you reassemble... That being said you will probably have some extra bolts left over at the end...

I took the dash out before, its not too fun...

[Stangman Jonathan]

ah yeah ^^^ that's pretty much impossible. LoL

We still need to reach the black box behind it but not sure how to remove the dash completely since all the wires all holding it in place

[greenscobie86]

You're gonna need to disconnect the wires.... Unfortunately

[Stangman Jonathan]

Yup! Dad helped me with that since it was too much for Janice and I to do, once he pulled the wires while we held, we got to the lines, and changed it all out....dash is back in....I even had the chance to look under the driver side, and plan on shoving something in Paramus' Ford's face.......

1 year ago we had asked them to remove the aftermarket alarm which they clearly didn't since it was still under the dash attached with lose connections which would cause my gf's car to not start sometimes. I went line by line cutting out the soldier connections and wrapping the original wires in black tape to protect them.To my surprise it all came out like a piece of cake and the car doesn't have to have the steering wheel titled now to get it started.....(reason why that was happening?....one of the aftermarket cables had a lose live wire connection just dangling behind the trim pieces for the steering wheel area! Took out all that out and problem was fixed.

So no vacuum noise, and no aftermarket alarm issues....only problem is we broke the cowl under the wipers and that p.o.s. plastic is on national backorder by ford and we wont have it for a month....so umm anyone know any good junkyards....we plan on checking out the newarks ones on saturday morning at this rate. Jackson didn't have one in tact....seems that the hood is famous for breaking those in impacts.

Okay i'm done with my story...

[white99gt]

Wow, that was quite the fix lol. The dealership I got my car from took out the Viper security alarm by left the antenna(on the windshield) , some button by the inside fuse box, the flashing light for the dash, and some ground wire or something on the passenger side door sill. The wires are all connected back together somewhat poorly but no signs of the main control box for it as the wires are just snipped clean.

LateModelRestoration has the cowl for $219 and it is a Ford product. It says on their site that it ships tomorrow!

http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/item/LRS-02228C

[Stangman Jonathan]

yeah and alot more than what we get it thru from ford lol...thats what's holding us back...too much money to spend so junkyard visit first before anything else. I may glue her's for now so we can take it to pass inspection this week since it will be overdue tomorrow.


Interesting about that! The antenna can be easily removed, just follow it down and unplug it, it will have a little plastic plug or be loosely hanging there.

Side Note: Did you know the 99-04 Mustangs came with an option alarm system? Most don't have a factory alarm system like my 05 for example...not sure how smart that was on Ford's part but what can you do? That's the reason why so many 99-04s have aftermarket alarms for safety...we plan on getting her another viper one for a decent price once we get the car back together and done.

[white99gt]

Yeah the price is pretty high lol. But they have it if it's needed immediately.

I believe that is the PATS system you are referring to, but I'm not sure. All I know is the 'chip' that is supposed to be in my key, was removed so I really have no idea what they did lol. If you have a Viper alarm professionally installed, I think you get something like a 2,000 deductible on your insurance.

Only thing holding me back on the alarm is I have no idea how much it is to have installed.