The E9 Eating Rust Project: Digging under the dash

Soon after I bought this E9 I discovered that the electrical system had a few problems, and while pursuing those discovered the wiring under the dash was a mess. Somewhere along the way this car must have been fitted with a radar detector, a different radio, perhaps even a microwave oven. Non-original wire was hopelessly tangled up amongst the steering column, brake pedals, and original fuse block. The fuse block was not attached to anything, apparently because the bracket had rusted away.

The first thing I did yesterday was to remove the windshield. Happily, the rust under the rubber seal was not as bad as I had feared. Nothing like in back.

I decided that to inspect and treat this area properly I had to remove the upper dash panel. It seemed straightforward, except that it was stuck in the inverted "U" shaped piece that shades the tach and speedo. According to my book, that piece is held in place by one upwards facing screw on each side. I think that part of my book is actually about the Bravaria, because on my car that hood is attached by a forward facing stud and an 8mm nut. At least on the left. After removing the nut the piece still would not come off, but the right side was blocked by the center console, radio, and air vent.

I decided it was time to dig into the dash. Finally I would confront that tangle of ugly wires.

The radio came out easily. It was not original. I think it was an 8-track, and I saw some snarled tape in the load slot. Into the rubbish it went. I saved the mounting tray and front panel, as those were original.

Next I discovered my door window switches are not all the same. From the top they appear identical. Underneith, the front pair look like the ones in the book, with push-on terminals, but the wiring is not original. Well done, but all of the wires are red vinal. The rear window switches plug into sockets. I discovered that after removing the switches I could push the sockets down and forward enough to reach the screws shown in the book. Except only the left side had a screw. One PO must have subscribed to the philosophy that where two fasteners were used, one should do, as I have found this in other places.

As it turned out I had to remove three more screws not metioned in the book, which go through a pair of braces that connect the sides of the console. I also had to remove the glove box switch. Underneith I found the original sockets for the front window switches, with red wires neated tapped on.

Even before I had the console out, as soon as I lifted the thin wooden plywood "bottom" under the radio, I ran into a pile of wood shavings. I thought a mouse must have taken up residence. It turns out the mess came from a dilapitated pressed-board bulkhead that was once attached to the front of the console and prevented objects placed on the wooden bottom from sliding off into never-never land.

Anoth piece I took off was the access panel under the steering wheel. It has three switches mounted on it. The two large round switches are push-on/push-off, and when on the button stickes out. The one on the left is green, and I am pretty sure it turns on the emergency flashers. The one on the right is yellow and seems to be for the front fog lights.

My car has an "extra" rectangular red light in back, just inside of the left tail light. I think it is the rear fog warning light described in the wiring diagram. According to the diagram this light has its own switch, and I think that is what the small round switch on the right side of the driver's access panel is for. It is marked "8" and pops out when a small tab at the base is pushed. It reminds me of an aircraft circuit breaker.

There are times when I am working on the car that I feel as though there is too much to do, and that I will never get it all done. I have heard other people say that a major renovation such as this poses a uique challenge in that it takes so long without giving anything back. We humans are motivated by success. In the middle of a project like this one, success is scarce and setbacks, like my broken windsheild, all to common. I find it helps to imagine my car all clean and beautiful again, and to pause and reflect on the good work accomplished each day.