This may be off topic but I can't find anything in the Superduty forum. I had to remove part of my dash to get to the PCM (ordered my DP Tune from Clay yesterday!) and saw all the dirt up in the dash. The last owner must have used the truck for a line crew or a work truck as there is 1/4" of dirt everywhere, all the A/C and defrost vents, behind the kick panels & even in the instrument cluster! I decided to remove the entire dash and clean everything! I've removed the all of the panels including the instrument cluster, the glove box and airbag covers, I've found and removed the hidden screws that hold the bottom of the dash to the frame. I can move the dash toward the rear about 2" and then it stops. Looking up under the dash it appears that the dash is attached to the A/C and defrost plenums. I have a Chilton's that is useless and a Ford Factory Service DVD that is also not very helpful. I think I've found 2 screws that hold the main climate control plenum and 1 more that attaches the passenger side vent to the tubular subframe. These will be very difficult to access as they go in from the firewall side. Has anyone ever gone this far into the dash? Do those screws need to be removed? Is there anything else I'm missing? I hate to get this far and have to put everything back together and live with all the dirt falling out from behind the dash.

 

I don't have an answer but I do have a question - what part of the dash did you remove to get to your PCM? You should have to for a crewcab SD truck. Just curious.

 

I only had to remove the kick panel that covers the fuse box just to see the PCM better. But looking up in the dash to see the PCM showed me all the dirt.

 

OK, I was afraid that you may have removed more than you needed to for a typical PCM removal. Normally, you just take a 10mm socket to the firewall side, unscrew and go underneath to remove the PCM.

I hear on the dirt, that would bug me. Hopefully, someone who has removed the dash will chime in shortly.

On edit: if you do remove the PCM, make sure your keys are on the workbench and nowhere near the ignition.

 

Keys in the pocket and both batteries disconnected......

 

No need to unhook the batts, just keep the keys away from the ignition.

 

Very true but I'm like him, TAKE NO CHANCES!!!

Yeah, that filth up under there would bug the heck out of me. Lately I've had my dash apart quite a bit, clean it everytime, and it's amazing how much dust and dirt collects in there so fast!

If you can figure out how to remove it and it's not too much of a pain, let us know. Someday when I put sound deadening in, I want to remove the dash so I can do the firewall.

 

if the batts are disconnected can you turn the ignition without causing damage? (if truck needed to be moved)

 

Yep, but I would give it at least 10 minutes after disconnecting the batts before I tried it.

 

I'll take pics of where I'm at now. If I can figure out how to get the rest unfastened I'll post the pics and maybe do a writeup. I have two Labs that go everywhere with me and I couldn't believe where I found hair!!

 

PM me with your Email and I will send you the info from MotorAllData if you'd like. Not sure if it will be any better than the Factory Service DVD though.