The Dude

Trying to remove the passenger panel upper and having a beotch of a time.
Is it connected to the air bag itself via rivets?
Service Manual states

INSTRUMENT PASSENGER PANEL UPPER
1. Remove screws.
2. Disconnect metal clips, then remove instrument passenger panel upper

Did this, yet it still feels connected in the middle of the panel.
Right about where the air bag is.

Any Help.
Thanks.

The Dude

Got it.

The Dude

For the people that do searches.
This is the procedure for removing the Passenger panel upper. Also known as the passenger upper dash panel

Unplug the positive and negative wires from the battery and wait about 5 to 10 minutes to allow the circuit to discharge. I've also heard applying the brake for 10 seconds does the same. Just make sure the circuit is discharged to prevent the air bag from deploying.

To remove the passenger panel upper you will have to remove the lower panel first. After the lower panel has been removed you will see 3 10mm bolts that are located on the bottom edge of the upper dash panel. These will have to be removed. You will have to remove the knee saver steel plate (2 10mm bolts) which will be located behind the lower dash panel. It's funny that a steel plate is called the Knee saver.

Once the plate has been removed, you'll need to lay on your back in the passenger foot well and look up under the dash. You'll see the air bag there. Unplug the yellow electrical connector to the air bag. Look up past the air bag and you will see a 12mm bolt that attaches the air bag housing to the actual dash itself and not the dash panel. Remove this bolt.

There are 4 metal clips on the dash panel up towards the windshield. This is the only thing left holding the dash panel in place. lift up from the bottom edge of the panel about 3-4 inches then pull the panel towards you until the 4 clips release. Then lift the panel with the air bag attached straight up and out.
The weight of the dash panel is misleading. You would think it would be real light being its just a plastic panel, but with the air bag attached, it has a little weight behind it.
That's it. I hope this helped.