How To: Remove dash panels to access radio or pockets

[ASD Dad]

OK, I had posted asking if anyone could assist me on how to remove the dash on a NVP 3500. Nobody could really point me in a step by step direction. I did get one pdf link for a radio install from Chris (NV Manager) that helped but it was still lacking severely. So I went ahead and did the removal and installation today and wanted to do a write up for future owners. Sorry, no photos as I was under a time crunch but I think written will suffice.

 

Tools needed:

Panel Removal Tools - http://www.amazon.com/Portable-Radio-Panel-Removal-Installer/dp/B00SDFIWGS/

Phillips screwdriver

Patience!

 

You really do need those Panel tools. They're dirt cheap and they work well. They wont mar your plastic like just using a metal flat bladed screwdriver or other metal tool. You may find them locally at an auto parts store but I just ordered off Amazon forever ago for doing installs.

 

Step 1 - Remove the fuse panel coveri by your left knee under the dash. There is one Phillips screw. Remove it.

 

Step 2 - Right below the hood release latch handle is another Phillips screw. Remove it.

 

Step 3 - Using the Panel Tools (PT from now on), start prying along the top seam of that dash panel you just removed those screws from. You can use your hands to pull out the bottom. They are made to be quite tight but you need to be persistent and use a steady, strong pressure. Once some clips pop the rest will follow. You dont need to completely disconnect the panel, just get it unclipped.

 

Step 4 - Using the PT pry off the left air vent cover. Tip - once you start prying you will see notches around the edges. Use the pry bar PT to wedge into those notches and pop it off. Again, once you get a couple clips to let go you can pull it off with your hands.

 

Step 5 - Use the PT to remove the dash cluster trim piece. Yes, the entire cluster trim bezel must come off! This took some work and wiggling. I had to lower my steering wheel all the way for one tip. Be patient and work your way around the edges. Use your hands along the bottom. If you have fog lights you will need to unclip the harness. It is tucked in there with not much slack. I used the phillips screwdriver to push in the tab to release the harness. Be patient and you can wiggle it back and forth up and out.

 

Step 6 - This will expose two Phillips screws on the left of the radio bezel. Remove them.

 

Step 7 - Remove the air vent just to the right of the radio/bezel. It pops out just like the drivers side except there is a harness for the hazard light switch. A lot more slack with that harness so it is easy to unclip and remove the vent trim.

 

Step 8 - This will expose two Phillips screws on the right of the radio bezel. Remove them.

 

Step 9 - Use the PT to remove the bezel ring/climate control module/pocket piece. It is all one piece and will come off as one.

 

Now, if you are doing a radio install you can unscrew the factory radio. If you want access to the panel like I did you can unclip the climate control harness to remove the panel.

 

RE-INSTALLATION - reverse everything in order BUT!!! There are two tricky parts. The air vents! The trim ring snaps right back in, BUT the air vents will not adjust properly. They float back there and they Must be attached to the trim bezel securely to be snug and to adjust correctly. The only way I figured out how to do this was to firmly grasp the vent tab (the small tab used to aim the air vent) with one hand and pull out while pushing in the trim piece. I tried to seat the vent into the trim first before pushing the whole thing back into the dash. It took me a while but it worked and everything looked like it was never removed. Getting the fog light harness back in was a little tricky but there was just enough room for my fingers to push it back in.

 

So there you go. Be patient, buy the cheap Panel Removal Tool kit and you should be all set!

Edited April 28, 2015 by ASD Dad

[ASD Dad]

This is why I removed my dash.  I wanted to use the pocket below the radio to mount my Tekonsha P3 brake controller for our camper.  I did this before in my Tundra and it worked out well.  The NVP pocket is a bit narrower so I couldnt slide the P3 in as deep so I am not quite as happy with the install.  It is very easy to reach and very visible so I will leave it for now but may mod the pocket opening down the road to clean it up.  

[Nv Envy]

Make a faceplate to fit the opening.Will look better and make for additional space for other accesories...

[cwmacphail]

Thank you ASD Dad! Exactly the detailed instructions I was hoping to find. If I notice any further clarifications or tips when performing this surgery, I'll post them. But it looks like you nailed it.

[ASD Dad]

Happy they helped!

[Ksh74c]

This is why I removed my dash. I wanted to use the pocket below the radio to mount my Tekonsha P3 brake controller for our camper. I did this before in my Tundra and it worked out well. The NVP pocket is a bit narrower so I couldnt slide the P3 in as deep so I am not quite as happy with the install. It is very easy to reach and very visible so I will leave it for now but may mod the pocket opening down the road to clean it up.

Have you removed the part that houses the seat heater buttons? One of our buttons pushed thru, and if I could pop that plate off they are housed in and put it back in place that would be awesome.

[ASD Dad]

Have you removed the part that houses the seat heater buttons? One of our buttons pushed thru, and if I could pop that plate off they are housed in and put it back in place that would be awesome.

 

I have not but I am guessing that panel would pop off like all the others.  Get the panel tool and wedge it in the seam and work your way around to see if it pops.  If you dont want to buy the tools (they are dirt cheap) your next best option would be a plastic putty knife or scraper.  The panel tools have a nice sharp edge to really wedge into those gaps though, plus their somewhat strong and wont just bend.

 

Just read where your button actually went through.  Stick your finger in the hole and try gently pulling out.  See if you can get the tip of your finger up along the edge and just pull.  It will certainly help if it doesnt pop off that way if you do use the panel tool.  You can apply outward pressure while prying the seam open.

Edited September 3, 2015 by ASD Dad

[TX MARSHMALLOW]

I have a TON of photos of this that I can add to the thread.  I have taken the entire front interior out of mine. Yes, the entire thing.  I even took that overhead compartment out. I will resize the photos and upload if it can help anyone.  Also as far as the button panel goes you have to pry gently on the right then slide it out towards the passenger side it has a clip that goes around the back of the panel on the left side (by 12V outlet) and if you pry from that side you will break it off or deform it.  I plan on taking photos of the other things I have been doing: adding factory satellite radio, OEM Nissan tow pkg wiring, I am even attempting to add factory cruise control.

[wollip]

Yes - please post the photos as you have time - a great help to a lot of us.

Thanks!

[Wstobbe]

What unit have people been using to replace the factory CD/AM/FM radio with NAV and Bluetooth hands free radio? I have found Rosen Electronics have a Pirhana unit that fits into the NV1500. It does Nav, AM/FM/CD, bluetooth hands free radio.

Questions:

) I have no steering wheel phone controls, can I add them?

    I cannot figure out how to remove the flat panel so I could install factory phone control panel.

) Backup Camera options, my van doesn't have it. Again, the Rosen can take av input so can put in camera.

 

What else have you used?

[Wstobbe]

Thanks AS Dad!

Using your typed directions above I  had access to the radio in my NV 1500 in 15 mins. I did buy the Pry Tools beforehand, and they were definitely needed. I found out why the instrument bezel needed to come off. It provides access to the screws that  hold the radio/climate bezel. It is not pressed in as I expected, and my initial attempts to remove it were thwarted by the unseen screws. My wife's VW needed a radio after it broke, and the bezel pried right out. Overkill I think on the NV1500 to screw it in. Just my $.02.

 

Without these directions I would have never started with the panel above my knees. Sheesh.

 

Has anyone removed a left side phone steering wheel control panel yet? I cannot get mine off, nor do I see screws or retainers that hold it in. It is very secure in it's place, even though I have the blank panel w/no phone controls.  TIA

[Wstobbe]

Oh, and BTW, I just scored a Rosen Pirahana PR-UN1170 Double DIn 4" head unit w/Nav, Bluetooth phone, AM/FM radio on EBay for $140. I hope it isn't a scam. Just what I need to replace my 2014 NV1500 S stock 2DIN am/fm/cd player. My dealer has a set of wiring diagrams for the Radio waiting for me to pick up. They looked them up in their system & printed them for me.  Very good service, I  hope they give me the info I need for the connections. The Rosen unit should come with a manual, or I should be able to get one from them which contains wiring inputs to the head.

 

Will keep you posted on results after my unit arrives. Hopefully no scam, but I am a little worried. Sounds too good a price to be true.

 

Bill Melrose MA

[ASD Dad]

Happy that my instructions helped somebody.  I had to do some digging to find them and got help from Chris_CM here as well as looking online.  It definitely is not intuitive vs. other cars!  

 

I havent touched the steering wheel controls so I am not sure how they are attached.  Maybe ask the dealer about that when you go in for the schematic to wire things up.  Hope that radio works out for you, seems like a bargain with built in nav!  

 

I did find one review - http://www.crutchfield.com/S-KcLBlWC6g6i/p_135CUN1170/Car-Show-CS-UN1170-US.html

 

Same model as the Rosen, just under a private label.  There is also a YouTube review if you search.  Sounds like the nav could be outdated but the unit is decent overall.  

[TX MARSHMALLOW]

Yes - please post the photos as you have time - a great help to a lot of us.

Thanks!

I have a million pictures of the process but my internet speed is so terrible here that I cannot upload images.  I have tried and was only able to resize them to a point where it was worthless.  I will take my computer to a Starbucks or something and see if I can upload them to a photobucket album that I can post a link to. I also have photos of rebuilding the front end damage of the van I will post.   I should also be getting the receiver hitch that I ordered in a couple days and can take photos of where I tied in to the factory wiring harness for the tow harness. 

[TX MARSHMALLOW]

 

 

Has anyone removed a left side phone steering wheel control panel yet? I cannot get mine off, nor do I see screws or retainers that hold it in. It is very secure in it's place, even though I have the blank panel w/no phone controls.  TIA

I had the blank panels and replaced them with the controls.  The controls come as set both left and right go into one harness that plugs into the clock spring.  The airbag has to come out (two screws on the back of the steering wheel under little covers)  The blank control panels just pull out after that.  The panels with the controls have small philips screws in the back side. They are tricky to get to. As far as getting the controls working.  I'm still working on that. I am trying to find an BCM that has the options such as cruise etc and then I will go from there.  I don't have my radio/nav in yet because I still have to make a harness for the USB AUX input on the back of the radio since Nissan does NOT sell that cable and it does not have a good part number.  

[TinyStudio]

What type of connector is used for the video input from the backup cam into the head unit? Before I tear this apart it would be good to know to save some effort or just run new video cable to the new equipment

[TinyStudio]

I want to preface this by saying I have a 2017 Nissan NV 3500 SL with navigation. I followed the directions you guys all had for taking the dash apart to get access to the radio and I think they've simplified it on the 2017 version. You no longer have to remove the screw down at the kick panel or the one with the engine hood release. You can take everything off that you need to without unscrewing anything, get the panel removal tool as ASD dad suggested and start your way from the left heater vent. Pop that off then carefully pop off the trim around the instrument cluster. Remove the two screws on the left side of the trim retaining plate around the radio pop, off the right heater vent on the right side of the radio revealing the two other radio trim screws then you pop that off to access the head unit. There were multiple purple wires going into the 18 pin connectors so I think the next way to maybe activate the reverse cam is to find the power that feeds the camera. I'll post pictures so you guys know actually took it apart.

Edited February 22, 2018 by TinyStudio

[TinyStudio]

I have not but I am guessing that panel would pop off like all the others. Get the panel tool and wedge it in the seam and work your way around to see if it pops. If you dont want to buy the tools (they are dirt cheap) your next best option would be a plastic putty knife or scraper. The panel tools have a nice sharp edge to really wedge into those gaps though, plus their somewhat strong and wont just bend.

 

Just read where your button actually went through. Stick your finger in the hole and try gently pulling out. See if you can get the tip of your finger up along the edge and just pull. It will certainly help if it doesnt pop off that way if you do use the panel tool. You can apply outward pressure while prying the seam open.

When I took off the kick panel on the drivers side I noticed there's a screw on my 2017 holding the gray panel that houses the seat heater buttons on the left. There's probably a screw at the right hand side by the glove compartment door. If you take those out it may pop off but you might have to remove the floor console to remove it, at least it's in the way on mine.

[CaptainLarry]

Hello ASD Dad,

 

I know you're out there.

 

I want to add the bypass switch to the reverse camera.  Have you done that yet?  Do I need to go to all this panel removal process to find the reverse lights wire that signals the camera to come one?  I'm thinking it may be accessible further up stream.

 

Lar

[ASD Dad]

Hello Captain - 

 

Sorry, I missed this the other day.  I have not bypassed the reverse camera, I have actually never removed my radio completely.  I pulled all the panels off to get access to the pocket under the radio to mount my electric brake controller.  

 

You can get free wiring diagrams for the factory harness online.  Crutchfield will have pdf files of all the radio control harness wires.  I am sure the online shop manual will have full wiring diagrams for everything in the van but I have only used that manual once to find a part number years ago.  

 

The switch/relay/wire to turn on the camera and screen should be somewhere closer than the actual connector behind the radio, I just have no idea where.  

 

Good luck!  

[CaptainLarry]

Just call me a dummy again.  I often do find the hard way to do things.

 

I had not found the shop manuals until now!

 

Thanks.