Dashboard removal HELP!!!

[hockeylad72]

I am finally fed up with lack of air frow to the windscreen, I am looking to remove dashboard to gain proper access to the heater box and will replace matrix, cables and the air distribution flap or it might be the temperature flap I'm not sure which it is. How do I remove dashboard, I have checked the search function but it did not help any, some pictures would be good for the heater pipes to the dashboard (windscreen vents)
I have checked the wheel at the bottom of the heater box and this appears to be OK at this point I have decided to remove dashboard and hopefully get this sorted once and for all.

any help would be appreciated

Cheers

Davie

[hail-hail]

Are you getting airflow to the other vents?

I get airflow into the 4 cabin vents, but not to the windscreen. It was caused by a break in the mechanism that controls the air distibution flap.
You do not need to take the dash of to look at this.

Take off the parcel shelf and then the gearbox surround, the flap mechanism is in the big box right in front of you. Underneath there are cogs that move the flap. Basically the wire attached to the flap controller (behind your stereo) pushes a wire which moves a lever which moves a plastic cog which moves another and then moves the distributor flap.
One of these plastic cogs was broken on mine, the flap seems to default into the 'air into cabin' postition.

hope this helps

[hockeylad72]

I do get a little airflow to the windscreen but it's hardly worth talking about as it is so poor, I can hear the flap moving but I think one or more off the hoses going to windscreen are disconnected or blocked,
This is the second Golf I have owned with the same problem, this one is the worst, still looking to take dash out to make sure it's done right. Will be easier to replace matrix and cables etc

[tobz.]

You don't really need to take the dash out to do this job. The ducts that supply the windscreen vents just kind of 'plug' directly into the top of the heater control box. It's just a case of taking out the control box and ensuring that they are lined up properly when refitting it.
The heater matrix is replaced with the complete heater box OUT of the car so again no need to remove the dash.
When I replaced a heater matrix I found it easiest to remove all the controls from the dash and withdraw the complete thing with all the cables etc still attached. Also with the controls and the stereo etc all removed you can quite easily get to the ducts on the top when refitting to make sure it all goes back in properly.
Fiddly but not difficult, certainly not as difficult as removing a complete dash!!!

[hockeylad72]

Interesting - is it only neccesary to remove both lower parcel shelfs and speedo/ radio housing?

[tobz.]

Yep that's it both lower parcels, centre console, stereo, dash switch surround panel.
Obviously you'll have to unplug all your dash switches etc but they are fairly straightforward.
The heater control panel can just be dragged down through the dash and taken out with the box.