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After several years of putting up with the ridiculous Shift Up light in my 2000 9-3, I finally couldn't take it any more. My dealer couldn't or wouldn't shut it off electronically with the Tech tool. (This car uses the T7 ECU.) So I set about to neuter the thing myself. I was extremely hesitant about cutting wires at the ECU because one snip of the wrong wire could mean big trouble. I chose to disassemble the dashboard.
Here’s the procedure I used. I don’t know whether it applies to any model year other than the 2000 9-3. It definitely does NOT apply to the newer generation 9-3 sedans. Allow a minimum of two hours for the whole procedure.
DISCLAIMER: THIS PROCEDURE IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART. YOU CAN DEFINITELY BREAK EXPENSIVE PARTS, PERMANENTLY DAMAGE YOUR DASHBOARD, AND/OR SERIOUSLY SCREW UP YOUR ENTIRE CAR’S DRIVABILITY ATTEMPTING THIS. DO THIS PROCEDURE ONLY AT YOUR OWN RISK. DAMAGE INCURRED IN ANY PROCEDURE OF THIS TYPE WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER ANYBODY’S WARRANTY, AND I EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE YOU INCUR ATTEMPTING THIS PROCEDURE. IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO PERSONALLY ACCEPT THE RISK OF SUCH DAMAGE, DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS PROCEDURE.
1. To get at the instrument panel, you need to remove the flat portion of the dash (the big oval piece) This piece is held in place by nine Torx screws. Remove the screws located in the following places:
-two below the steering pod, one on each side (easy access)
-two immediately above the instrument panel, pointing straight up (easy access)
-one behind the lower left switches (pry out the dimmer switch and blank button)
-one behind the headlight switch (pull switch straight out)
-one above the computer display (carefully pry out the whole computer panel)
-two below the radio (remove radio with special radio removal tools, then remove the metal shell that holds the radio to the dash)
2. After disconnecting all the buttons, switches and connectors, gently pry out the whole dash piece. This is quite tricky to do, and you can definitely break the whole piece if you aren’t careful. Loosen the steering pod (using the lever at bottom) and pull it as far from the dash as possible. Watch out for two issues removing the flat section of the dash. First, if you use any implement to pry at the edges of the flat piece, you are likely to damage the surrounding soft portion of the dash. Second, the two vents attached to the flat section contain numerous loose pieces that will fall out if you detach them from the front piece. DO NOT DETACH THE VENTS FROM THE FRONT PIECE. Then slowly and carefully jiggle the whole dash piece around until you get it free. (This step alone took me about 30 minutes after all the screws were out.)
3. Remove the four Torx screws holding in the instrument panel (two high and two low). Then pull out the panel, disconnecting the two wire connectors at the back.
4. Remove the eight brass Philips screws on the back of the instrument panel. Note which screws came from which holes. (There are two different types of screws.) Then pull off the rear cover of the instrument panel.
5. The Shift Up lamp is on the lower circuit board (beneath the top circuit board). To remove the top board, you need to disconnect one of the ribbon cables connecting it to the lower board. The Shift Up lamp holder is clearly labeled on the board. Remove it by twisting counterclockwise. Remove the lamp from the holder, then reinstall the holder in the circuit board. (Don’t leave an empty hole in the board.) Put the top board back in place, and DON’T FORGET TO SECURELY RECONNECT THE RIBBON CABLE BETWEEN THE TWO BOARDS.
7. From this point, everything is the reverse of the removal process. Make sure to reconnect all wires and replace all screws along the way. I suggest that you take a short drive after you have reinstalled the instrument panel but before you reinstall the oval dash piece, to make sure all the instruments are working OK.
8. After everything is back in place, you’ll need to reset the day/date/time on the computer display using the procedure in the owner’s manual.
9. Smile, knowing you have at last rid yourself of the Shift Up light.
posted by 24.91.25...
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