Remove Dash Pad in 1998 QX4 / Mouse Nest

[slawton10]

I have a 1998 QX4 which sat for a while, and some mice decided to make it their home in that time. I found out when I turned on the fan, and little fibers started collecting on the dash. I took out the blower motor, where most of the nest was, and vacuumed that, the blower intake, evaporator cover, and area by the heater, as that was all I could see down there.

That helped, but turning the fan on, some little stuff would still blow out, so I took a leaf blower and blew into the vents, and tried to fish a shop-vac hose as far as the 1.25" hose opening would go. That cleared out everything except what appears to still be stuck up at the defrost openings on the top of the dash, which is to thin to vacuum out, and the nest is too deep to push out with compressed air from the top. So, I think I have no choice but to take off the top of the dash, take as much of the duct work out as I can and clean it off.

My question is, is it possible to remove the dash pad without removing the SRS passenger side airbag?

[miamiheat3332]

what really startles me is how people manage to get mice nests/animals breeding in their vehicles. i flip if theres even a piece of mud or something inside.


Anyways what might help you out is this:

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/QX4/1998_QX4/

look through the PDF's and it will most likely be in the BODY & TRIM section, you will hopefully find taking apart the dash procedures/instructions.

[slawton10]

Yes, it's quite gross. I had never heard of it till this winter, but found out that it's a fairly common problem up here (Indiana) when it gets cold, as a sitting car becomes the perfect home.

I already looked at the service manual, it does not address my question. in that, it appears that removal of the dash is prior to removal of the airbag, but I have come to the airbag and it seems to restrict the dash pad removal.

I am wondering if it possible to remove the dash pad without removing the airbag, and if so how is that done?