PhaZe

Im trying to take out the carpet and the only thing holding me back is that the carpet connects directly behind cig lighter and ash tray, underneath what looks like a hard drive to me. If I don't have to take these side pieces off it to take the carpet out please let me know!.

I have to change the padding because I suffered some slight flood damage. crap stinks.

I have some pics to demonstrate.




and one to see how nasty it is

volkl77

Yes...The Hard Drive. I think I read somewhere that you can get an adapter that will let you hook up your Play Station and allow you to drive the car "by wire". Sorta like a jet fighter.

Did you know that that hard drive records all your driving parameters. Like if you're speeding...not that anyone here ever does.... or swerving around corners... or locking up your brakes....and reports it back to your insurance company on a cell frequency!!!

PhaZe

dude you're in houston help me out!
=P

volkl77

Sorry man.... I couldnt help myself!!!

Thats actually the Engine Computer...ECU. You don't want that lil gem damaged!
Did it get wet when the car got flooded?

For the carpet... When I did my sound system I got about as far as you did in your pics cause I wanted to dynamat and pad the floor. I realized the entire lower dash had to come out and I was tight on time and left it.

PhaZe

Damn man I think I will just cut about 4 inches and I think it will set it free...what do you think? can you think of any potential problems?

Nah the water just reached the carpet..but almost up into the seats ...I had to move it while it was pouring. my damn street floods like the rio grande

volkl77

That was close... That ECU will run you over $500 at the dealer to replace. Auto salvage places charge $100-$300 or so. And thats if you can find the correct service number.

I wouldn't cut it ... especially there. You'll likely end up with it pulling away and tying up your gas pedal. Can you say WOT!

Take the time and many many Advil ( your back is gunna hurt tomorrow, but please do follow the label instructions!) to get that center dash section out of your way. Then you can access the ECU and everything else down in there much easier. I believe the Transmission controlller is there if you have an auto, I know you're 5sp, and the climate control module as well.
Its pretty tight in there and I wouldn't want to be hacking away with a knife and slice a main harness!

PhaZe

is there a write up to what you're telling me?

volkl77

I think all ECU's in Houston aught to be vacuum sealed in heavy plastic.... Hmmmm maybe a product opportunity in that. Too many good cars get screwed up because the city was too damn cheap to put in the correct size sewer pipes when they did the job.

volkl77

No write up that I can think of.

Do you know how to remove the center dash? To get at the cd/radio?

volkl77

http://www.carstereohelp.com/stereoremovalNisMax2.htm

PhaZe

damn thanks <3

volkl77

Start there. That will gut the entire center of the dash and you should be able to see where you need to go next to get the rest of it out. It will look like this when you are done

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member...59_57_full.jpg

volkl77

CRAp.... Just looked at my car. You are not getting that center section out unless its different than my 96. The WHOLE dash including the center is one piece. I thought for some reason the dash splt along the line formed by the passenger air bag. It doesn't.

Still get the stereo, a/c control, ash tray, and vents/emergency/defog panel out of the way and you'll have better access to the ECU and other contollers in there.

I'll look for and ECU removal link for you.

volkl77

No luck on the ECU removal. I know I've read it somewhere before... likely here.

PhaZe

thanks for looking tho man

jargoone

I installed sound damping last year and ran into this problem. I just cut the carpet. IIRC, you'll have to cut a little strip right under the shifter console, as well as a piece way under the dash, near the ECU. To reinstall it, I used 3M spray adhesive. No problems yet.

PhaZe

That's what I was thinking would be the best solution, which side did you cut on, the drivers or passengers side?

volkl77

Thought about this all night.
The cutting option seems like the only practical one.
Putting it back to gether is the real problem.

You could get some heavy carpet thread and stitch it together ..a lot of work... Or try Home Depot or Lowes and look for the reallly realllllly sticky carpet tape. The stuff with the reinforcing fibers in it, and brown paper backing. You'll know it when you see it. The roll is all lumpy because the adhesive is so thick. I doubt this stuff will ever let go.

Best I can do here

volkl77

Cut right down the middle so what ever method you use to put it together again wont be at all visible.

Any luck pulling the stereo etc? Was it any help to get at whats back in there?

PhaZe

I didn't take out the stereo , I don't think it will help all that much,

or actually maybe I should take it out and that will let me cut it down the middle easier?