Will my car start with the dash out ?

[Leafsrule531]

Long story short, I was waiting for the body shop to fix some damage on my car which is why it was sitting for a while. Since the wait was long, decided to do an interior swap and pulled the dash out. Body shop called on Friday and said we have availability on Monday and bring the car asap.

Would I be able to start the car with whole dash and everything out ? I was thinking of putting the steering wheel back on and just driving it since it’s a very short distance.

I did try to start it but get no crank. Battery is dead so charging that as we speak or type. Any of the experts on here know if I need to connect anything else to just get it to start? It’s only a short 5 min distance for me and rather not tow it.

[repoman89]

There’s nothing important in the center console. I’d plug the cluster in and secure it somehow so you don’t get mileage mismatches. You’ll have airbag lights obviously but those are easy to clear.

[Leafsrule531]

Ugh sounds like I’ll have to do some additional diagnostics. I have everything pulled out from the dash so all electrical connections / hvac/ light module etc and only put thr steering wheel back on. I don’t get a crank but it does turn on and I hear the fuel pump. Any suggestions/ thoughts as to what I should look at ?

Car was working fine a few weeks ago and battery is fully charged. Starter is new as well.

[repoman89]

Ugh sounds like I’ll have to do some additional diagnostics. I have everything pulled out from the dash so all electrical connections / hvac/ light module etc and only put thr steering wheel back on. I don’t get a crank but it does turn on and I hear the fuel pump. Any suggestions/ thoughts as to what I should look at ?

Car was working fine a few weeks ago and battery is fully charged. Starter is new as well.

LCM is worth plugging in and securing too, I know it stores vin and mileage. No idea if having it disconnected would prevent starting though.

[Obioban]

If you drive it without a cluster, you will have a tamper dot after.

[oceansize]

^That is the kind of thing that causes people to write a thread title like "things I wish I had known before I did X"

[Leafsrule531]

Thanks for all the advice! I figured out why the car wasn’t starting - the blue / black wire from the ignition switch popped out which prevented me from having no crank. Looks like previous owner had stuck it in with some electrical tape. Anyone know of a permanent solution to fix this wire into place ?

[Obioban]

Thanks for all the advice! I figured out why the car wasn’t starting - the blue / black wire from the ignition switch popped out which prevented me from having no crank. Looks like previous owner had stuck it in with some electrical tape. Anyone know of a permanent solution to fix this wire into place ?

Pin it correctly and insert into plug as designed.