Taking off the instrument panel in Camry is hard for home mechanics because they can't see where fasteners are, working gets harder as angles get tighter, and many electrical connections need to be marked and unplugged. If you know what you're doing, you can tackle this job. But leave it to professionals if you aren't experienced. When you take off parts, write down how you put them in place so you can easily rebuild it. Although experimenters may find it helpful, taking out both front seats lets you work better and protects your car from harm. Start by taking off the black battery cable, next take away the dashboard trim covers and cabinet below your feet. Unbolt and remove the passenger airbag, after prying out the underside of the side console. First you need to take out two parts: the driver's audio player and air conditioner control buttons. If your car has kneepads on the driver's side, remove and disconnect them too. Take off the plastic covers on both ends of the dashboard, reaching inside to take out the bolts holding the part it connects to. Once done, lift the bottom portion of the steering wheel and attach it to the passenger seat. Remove and tag electrical connectors for future reference, lift the speaker trim and defroster trim panel to access the optical sensor connecting cable. Take out the instrument panel by first removing every fastener holding it to the body. Lift the panel up and carefully slide it away from the windshield to remove it through the door opening. Working with a partner makes this step much easier. As you slide out the reinforcement tube, separate and remove any electric wire connections that get in your way. Next, disconnect the wiring harness and then unfasten it. Pull the reinforcement tube through the door by first removing all hardware. When putting the instrument panel back in place, you undo everything you did to take it out.
