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View Full Version : Cleaning Under the Dashboard in the Tacoma


Smithers
02-27-2009, 11:28 PM
I could never get my Toyota Tacomas interior to smell very nice. There was just too much dirt inside the cab from off roading and no air freshener could ever hide the basement smell. So while I'm installing my new engine I might as well make the cab smell new inside again. First I just started cleaning out some dirt here and there but I soon realized I had better remove the whole dashboard and do things the right way.

I have put a couple stereo systems in this truck in the past so removing everything is really really easy for me at this point. So I started pulling off panels and removing the glove box and supports. It is not pretty under there!

Here is the AC box covered in dust inside and out.
http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/1uz_tacoma/tacoma_interior_05.jpg

And the fan box and interior intake
http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/1uz_tacoma/tacoma_interior_06.jpg

Smithers
02-27-2009, 11:30 PM
The dash is just hopelessly covered in dust under the whole thing.

http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/1uz_tacoma/tacoma_interior_07.jpg

There are only a few nuts holding the dash on the mounting bar and then there are snapping retainers along the whole top near the very front under the windsheild.

http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/1uz_tacoma/tacoma_interior_08.jpg

Smithers
02-27-2009, 11:31 PM
Once you start pulling out plastic panels you will realize how bad it really is under there.

http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/1uz_tacoma/tacoma_interior_09.jpg

Smithers
02-27-2009, 11:33 PM
And a few minutes after starting I had the whole dashboard off. It really isn't that difficult but doing it your first time might take a noob maybe 20-30 minutes without breaking anything, hopefully.

http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/1uz_tacoma/tacoma_interior_01.jpg

Now you'll see the true power of the force.

http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/1uz_tacoma/tacoma_interior_02.jpg

Smithers
02-27-2009, 11:36 PM
The Tacoma's AC controller unit was equally as dirty and is the last thing I have yet to clean out. I'll probably just use a simple rag to keep from spraying any substance on it. It works great as it is so I want to make sure it works when I reinstall it! A rag and a brush is all it needs to clean up.

http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/1uz_tacoma/tacoma_interior_10.jpg

Smithers
02-27-2009, 11:42 PM
When you start to lose track of time then you will really start to make progress. :p

http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/1uz_tacoma/tacoma_interior_03.jpg

Smithers
02-27-2009, 11:45 PM
Now all the wires are properly wired and routed. I couldn't stand the rust on the dash support. The spray can was handy and the Hammerite dries very quickly. Brushes dust off the rest of the dirt and after a minute of compressed air the loose dirt should be gone. From here I brought out some disposable Armor All wipes and went to work. Time really starts to fly when you are having so much fun. :P

http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/1uz_tacoma/tacoma_interior_04.jpg

Smithers
02-27-2009, 11:49 PM
For all the air tubes I pushed rags through them with a common claw type extension that is good for recovering dropped bolts. Some people call them titty twisters. Anyhow a good wiping with some towels and then I used the Armor All to hopefully remove some of the dirt smell and make things shiny.

http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/1uz_tacoma/tacoma_interior_11.jpg

Smithers
03-01-2009, 08:53 PM
So you already saw how dirty the fan box and the AC condenser box was above now here is the result after a couple hours of cleaning:
http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/1uz_tacoma/tacoma_interior_22.jpg

Smithers
03-01-2009, 08:55 PM
Here is a picture of the AC box just before I put it back together. It all comes apart fairly easily and I was more than happy to spend the time to clean it out! It was filthy on the inside just as it was on the outside. I can't wait to have the new car smell once again. It just smelled dirty before no matter what type of air freshener I tried.

http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/1uz_tacoma/tacoma_interior_18.jpg

Smithers
03-01-2009, 08:58 PM
The condensor was packed with all sorts of little leaves and a few bugs as well. And for some reason there was some fuzz stuck to the little louvers as well. I used some tiny pliers and some pics to try and get everything out but it didn't work so well. So then I resorted to using a propane torch to burn the stuff out of there. That worked great. If the leaves and stuff didn't completely burn at least they shrunk a little and I was able to shoot them out of there with compressed air. Just getting this stuff out probably got back another 20% in AC performance.

http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/1uz_tacoma/tacoma_interior_13.jpg

Smithers
03-01-2009, 09:01 PM
Here are the main AC box and fan box all cleaned up perfectly. Taking pictures really helped speed things up since I could refer to them while putting these parts back together again. It was like taking a little puzzle apart and putting it back together again. The Toyota engineers did a good job designing these AC parts to fit in such a small location in this Tacoma. The fan was REALLY dirty and the dirt didn't come off so easily. I used some small acid brushes and some little scrapers to clean the little squirrel cage out. That took the most time to clean out the fan.

http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/1uz_tacoma/tacoma_interior_16.jpg

http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/1uz_tacoma/tacoma_interior_15.jpg

Smithers
03-01-2009, 09:02 PM
And the result: Super clean like new Tacoma air conditioning system. It will be worth the time invested to have it all working and smelling line new.
http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/1uz_tacoma/tacoma_interior_17.jpg

Smithers
03-01-2009, 09:04 PM
I've got the dash panel all cleaned up and it will pop right back in. It shouldn't take another 5 minutes to put the dash back in and then a couple more minutes to assemble everything else. These all come apart and go back together really quickly.

Smithers
03-01-2009, 09:06 PM
The next job I have to do is clean out the instrument cluster. This thing has always had dirt inside of it and even a couple rocks! I also have some plastic polish and I'll be putting it to the test to try and remove some of the blemishes in the clear face panel.

http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/1uz_tacoma/tacoma_interior_20.jpg

Smithers
03-01-2009, 09:09 PM
I have seen a few people around the internet forums put LED and other colors bulbs in the panel so I really want to try that as well. People say purple is too annoying and the green and amber are the better choices. Also I saw an ice white LED display that was REALLy neat looking. I think I might be going with that or green. Whatever I do I just want it a little brighter looking. The bulbs that are in there right now are original and have just lost a little luminosity over the years. I was happy it came apart so easily! The speedo also made a scratching noise sometimes on cold mornings. It sounds like a mouse scratching the inside of the speedo so I hope a shot of some silicon spray lube should take care of that. Or a dab of synthetic grease at least. To continue on the subject of changing out the light in the dash to something a little newer looking I started another thread - Changing Out The Tacoma Dash Lights. (http://www.fourwheelforum.com/showthread.php?t=257)

http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/1uz_tacoma/tacoma_interior_21.jpg

Smithers
03-05-2009, 09:54 PM
Finishing up putting things back together: The HVAC controller is a pretty important piece so I hope no ones breaks anything while taking theirs apart. Assembling these parts and re-attaching the cables can also be a little tricky. As long as you watch how you route the cables when putting things back you won't have much of a problem. But there is a tricky steel tab from the dash support bar that must go over the controller and not under.

Anyhow here is a look at the Tacoma HVAC controller with the cables reconnected.
http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/1uz_tacoma/tacoma_interior_26.jpg

Smithers
03-05-2009, 09:56 PM
Here is a look under the unit in case anyone needs to see. Just next to the yellow dot you can see the steel tab that the controller must be mounted under. Just installing the HVAC controller with the back end down will do the trick but it's a pain if you forget about it.

http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/1uz_tacoma/tacoma_interior_27.jpg

Smithers
03-05-2009, 10:01 PM
Here we have the controller installed and I'm pointing at the steel tab with a screwdriver. The AC button wiring connector is a pain to reinstall into the controller but to remove and reinstall it you need to release the plastic button on the connector and remove it from underneath. Re-installation requires you to push it up into the controller from the bottom in the reverse fashion of course.

http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/1uz_tacoma/tacoma_interior_28.jpg

To anyone preparing to remove this unit make sure you remove the fan speed selector switch (the big white things underneath the controller in the pictures in previous post) BEFORE you try and remove the cable that it obstructs. And when re-installing make sure you put the cable back and mount it in place before you attach the fan speed selector switch.

Smithers
03-21-2009, 08:56 PM
So waiting for some parts for the welder left me with some time to button up the interior. It's nice to have it all together and over with now. No more stray parts inside. I'm on my way to having a totally rejuvenated truck inside and out.

http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/1uz_tacoma/tacoma_interior_34.jpg

I'm most happy with how the instrument cluster came out. It was really really dirty before and the plastic casing was scratched from cleaning it. Now it's nearly new after taking it completely apart and polishing it clear again.

http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/1uz_tacoma/tacoma_interior_33.jpg

Smithers
12-07-2009, 10:03 AM
And also while I was making a new body lift for the truck I wanted to extend the steering shaft instead of using an extension. I'll get way better piece of mind while going over the woop sections with a welded steering shaft! I always fear the steering wheel coming off in my hands when under the worst conditions!!

Check out this thread page showing the removal, maintenance, extending and painting of the steering shaft. http://www.fourwheelforum.com/showthread.php?t=248&page=14

http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/1uz_tacoma/tacoma_1uzswap_160.jpg