Front panel — removal and installation (Renault Espace I)

Cars of the 1st and 2nd stages of production

Removal

1. Disconnect the ground wire from the battery.

2. Remove the steering wheel, steering column switch assembly and instrument cluster.

3. Remove the two screws on each side and remove the lower cover from under the steering column.

4. Remove the two remaining screws on the right side securing the pedal assembly trim and remove it. Disconnect the connector from the light dimmer and, on later model cars, remove the hood release handle. Remove the pedal assembly trim.

5. On later production vehicles, remove the 2 screws securing the hood lock handle on the lower side panel.

6. Loosen the 4 nuts securing the steering column to the bracket and lower the column down until the hinge joint is accessible and can also move down as far as possible.

7. Working through the opening in the instrument panel, unscrew the 4 screws (2 at the top and 2 in the center) and remove its lower casing.

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8. Open the fuse box housing by unscrewing the two nuts. Using a screwdriver, remove the axle and pull out the instrument panel housing.

9. Remove the two screws securing the right side panel (bottom).

10. On early production vehicles, remove the 4 screws on each side and remove the left side covers from the bottom center of the instrument panel. On later production vehicles, remove the trim, remove 2 screws on each side, then remove the two side covers from the bottom center of the instrument panel.



11. Locate the two heating and ventilation control cables and draw their positions to facilitate subsequent assembly. Disconnect the cables from the damper levers.

12. Remove 2 bolts on each side that secure the lower panels of the dashboard to the door pillars (see illustration).



13. Carefully remove the air ducts from each side of the front panel.

14. Remove the screw in the middle at the bottom of the center console.

15. Remove the screws on each side of the front panel.

16. Lift the front panel to access the front studs.

17. After removing the front panel from the studs, disconnect all electrical connectors, having previously marked them.

18. After removing the front panel, you can remove the top panel: to do this, you need to unscrew the mounting screws at the base of the windshield and along the upper edge of the crossbar.

Installation

19 Installation is carried out in the reverse order. In this case, do the following:

• a) Make sure that all electrical connectors are connected correctly;
• b) adjust the ventilation and heating system control cables. To do this, move the incoming air temperature control lever to the position "FROID" ("COLD") and check that the cold air flap is closed. Connect the end of the cable to the flap lever, then secure the outer cable with the clamp. Adjustment is made by slightly moving the cable in its clamp in the desired direction. Move the air distribution control lever to the lower position and check that both air distribution flaps are closed;
• c) put the steering wheel back in place (see chapter 19), instrument panel and steering column switch unit (see chapter 21).

Cars of the 3rd stage of production

Removal

Warning: In vehicles equipped with an airbag, some of the operations described below require intervention in individual components of the airbag. All these operations must be carried out at a Renault service station.

20. Disconnect the ground wire from the battery.

21. Remove the steering wheel and instrument panel (see chapters 19 and 21).

22. Carefully remove the speaker grille from the top corner of the instrument panel. If necessary, disconnect the wire from it (see illustration).





23. Unscrew the 4 screws securing the main speaker, disconnect the wire from it and remove the speaker.

24. Remove the side panel by unscrewing the screw in its front part, covered with a plastic cap.

25. Disconnect the connector from the side panel exterior rearview mirror position adjustment switches. If the mirror has manual adjustment, remove the control handle, unscrew the mounting screw and remove the entire mechanism from the side panel.

26. Remove 4 screws and remove the instrument panel cover through the opening in the panel.

27. Remove the headlight range control bar.

28. Remove the 5 screws securing the lower steering column cover. Remove the screw securing the radio remote control to the steering column and lower the cover. Remove the two lower mounting studs and lift the cover. Disconnect the electrical connector of the wire going to the light regulator and remove the headlight corrector light socket. Remove the front cover of the corrector, remove the 2 screws, and then remove the corrector switch from its frame.

29. Remove the upper steering column cover by lifting it up.

30. Remove the 3 screws securing the top of the instrument panel on each side. Lift the top and remove the heater control unit by pushing it inward to gain access to its fastening elements. Remove the top of the instrument panel housing.

31. Remove the radio.

32. Disconnect all connectors from the instrument panel, marking them first to avoid mistakes during assembly.

33. Unscrew the 2 screws securing the center panel.



34. Unscrew the screws securing the lower air duct grille on each inner side of the center panel.

35. Open the glove compartment, then lower the fuse box by bending back the two tabs on each side. Separate the fuse box from the instrument panel by unscrewing the 2 mounting nuts and the centering pin. 36. Unscrew the 3 screws on each side securing the upper panel to the crossmember. Check that all connectors are disconnected, then remove the upper panel and remove it from the passenger compartment.

Installation

37. Installation is carried out in the reverse order. In this case, do the following:

• a) Check that all connectors are connected correctly;
• b) install the steering wheel, instrument panel, steering column switch unit and radio.