I installed my radar detector and want to clean up the install a little. To do that, I need to get the skinny long piece that is up against the center of the windshield on the dash. It is the piece that has the holes in it for the defrost vents. Does it just have clips that hold it in, or is there more involved. I just need to get some wire through.
Thanks!

 

i'm pretty sure you need to remove the entire dashboard to get in there

 

I couldn't find anything in the service manual, but it looks like rfb351 is right, and you don't really want to attempt to remove a dashboard. It's #10 in the picture, and I can't tell if it holds the vent on or not, but #29 is a tap screw, and it probably does.

 

ron you are right, it's part 10, and screw 29 is holding it in from behind, no way to access it unless you remove the dash.

if you want a clean install, run the wires to the roof, and you'll be able to get a power wire up there

 

Ouch. Yeah, not worth doing that. Thanks for the info. Not so sure about running the wire up above because the radar detector is in my line of sight there and gets kinda annoying. Might look at that option though.

 

I need to double check this, but you should be able to tuck the wire in between where the dash and the fonrt windshield meet. That is how I used to always do it. I go to lunch here in about an hour so I will run down to my car and check.

 

Thanks shalinz, but I actually do have the wire tucked in there right now, which is fine. I was just hoping to clean it up a little more by having the wire come out the vent rather than just coming out from that crevace area It would result in a little more wire being concealed and a little cleaner look. It is really me just being picky and trying to make it as nice as possible.

 

ah ok. Nah I don't think you are being picky. I am the same way at times. I always want to try to make it look as clean as possible.

 

I just confirmed with a little angle mirror, like for dentistry , there are at least 1 screw on the drivers side that is screwed in from the back. And i think i see 2 others that are screwed in from the back. So unless you lost a 50,000 dollar ring down in there, and have some kind of a small reverse angling Phillips head screw driver, then it worth trying to get in there.

The only possibility would be to break or drill or dremel out the existing plastic vent and then replace it with a new one. But even then the corner of the windshield is really hard to get in there because it is tight. Plus you take a chance on not being able to get it back nice and neat or you may do damage to something that you dont want to damage. Bummer.

 

OP - Where did you mount your radar detector that you are running the power cord along the bottom of the windshield?

 

This thread was from 2005 but if I had to guess, I would say he probably mounted his radar detector along the bottom of the windshield lol

 

Holy Thread Revival!