Ok, If you own a Gen IV then most of you have or will encounter a cracked dash cap. I happen to be one of these lucky people. So, I decided to rip it out and purchase a new one. If anyone has any tips on how to install a new dash cap, it would be quite helpful. I asked my best friend who happen to be a mechanic on how to do this; he said that he thinks I have to take off the whole entire dash cluster......If that is the fact, I got myself over my head. Well, like I said if you have any tips it would be helpful to me and maybe more, please share them with the group.

 

what year?

 

Its a 95

 

If you mean the distributor cap, as in the thing on the front of the engine behind the water pump, then its challenging but able to be done.
I did mine recently, and will most likely have to again soon. (I bought a cheap distributor Im in college)

You have to take off the intake stuff (elbow, filter, etc.), the water pump, and several other things (ignition coil, some brackets, etc.) to get to the distributor cap.

Chances are, if it cracked, and it hasnt already gotten crap like oil or antifreeze all over the electronics stuff inside, it willwhen you remove the water pump. You will probably need to replace the whole unit. I think its like $500 for the full opti, which is why I went cheap (and am suffering for it).

If your mechanic friend has access to alldatadiy or some other reference for cars, it helps. Alot.

But all in all it is doable.

 

I think he means the big solid piece on top of the dash, the plastic piece that cracks. I got a new one and replaced mine, all I had to do was remove the plastic piece on each side that goes up to the roof and popped the old one out and popped the new one in. Mine's a 97, but I wouldn't think it would be any different.

 

Ah, my mistake. I misread it.
I thought it said dist cap, not dash cap.
Nevermind then.

 

Thanks Marty, for the tip. I will try it out.