Re.: Climate control deck

Thanks Steven for your help.

Gee, it's harder to describe than it is to do.....

First the leather-like surround of the shifter has to come off. It's retained by straight plastic pins that push into nylon bushings, six or eight of them. If yours has a plastic bezel around the Cruise and Trans switch, it comes off the same way. I use a plastic lever tool, looks like a tack puller, to remove them. Be ready, you'll probably break one or two of the plastic pins, over time they really get stuck. Then unscrew the switch panel, two 7mm nuts and two 7mm screws, and remove it. Now you can lift the veneer panel at the rear 'til it clears the studs ahead of the shifter. This is where to be really careful, there is a tab at the top center of the veneer above the climate panel. You have to wiggle it gently until the tab releases and the veneer moves downward to dislodge the tab. It will make better sense when you are actually doing it.
Then you have top remove the three screws holding the radio/switch panels and ease them out.
Given the age on your car, you can count on the panel mountings to be really fragile/brittle.

Good luck!

Hey Steven

Not wanting to break anything but is there a simple and safe way to remove the wooden frame around the control deck?

Thanks Steven.
I just wated to know it was repairable before I took it off.

Thank again.

LCD backlighting bulbs [2] are P/N JLM11965. Requires removing the control panel for access, but not a bad job.

Cheers,