I have never had such a hard time removing an interior in my life! EVERY time I try to remove something plastic it breaks apart like a cracker. I have a list a mile long of parts that I now need replaced because of brittle plastic. Not only that but how the heck do you get the 2 screws out that are under the 2 gauge cluster screws? They hold the surround that sits between the steering wheel and the dash. I got one out but I know for sure it wasn't made to come out that way. It looks like it wasn't made to ever come out. I just want to pull the dash but this is the worst dash pull ever!

 

I am going to get some pictures and maybe someone can help me.

 

OK here is where I am right now.


I want to know what I need to do. I want to remove the wires connected to the steering wheel but the bottom plastic piece that goes around the steering column and around the key hole seems to be permanent and makes it impossible to remove the wires. + this part is in the way

I don't know how to remove all this without breaking something so I just stopped. Do I have to remove the steering wheel to do this? If so how? I cant afford to break something on purpose. It will be hard enough trying to replace everything that just fell apart in my hands because it was brittle old plastic.

 

What exactly are trying to do?

Whenever your working on your car and get fustrated, take a break. it really helps and go back at it later and youll get it done

 

and have a beer ... that is if you are legally old enough of course... be responsible :P

 

I am 25 so yes it is legal lol. I am trying to remove the dash. I want to clean out the vents, put some sound deadening mat on the firewall, and remove the wood grain dash trim so I can paint it.

 

and u checked audidiy for dash removal??

 

I did not. I have no idea what you are talking about. I am fairly new to this site. I have never owned an Audi. I have never had this much trouble removing a dash before. I have removed 5 dashes and none of them were this annoying to remove.

 

audidiy.com they link to lots of good articles for maintenance type DIYs. Never done the full dash removal before but I feel for you breaking the plastic. I'm pretty sure that when you are doing the full dash removal, it helps if you follow the steps in a specific order to help you access the next fastener/screw. I think you have to pull the steering wheel to get to the fasteners for the column plastic, and yes I think you need to get that off to disconnect the wires.

Again, never done it before so I could be completely mistaken. good luck. maybe you can make a good DIY when you are done and get it all figured.

 

I am bad at making DIY threads. Thanks for the info. I wish I had known about removing the steering wheel before I dropped it. I removed a bolt that I REALLY wish I hadn't but its too late now! I will have fun trying to figure out how that goes back together because after I removed that bolt a lot of small parts went flying! I have them all but trying to figure out where they go will be an adventure in itself.