Thread: Puma defender radio surround / centre dash removal steps

For the newer defender owners amongst us, it can be daunting putting the tools to the plastic with the potential to damage trim pieces. The radio surround / centre dash panel in the puma is no exception. When I first needed to remove this panel, I looked for a dedicated step by step guide, but had no luck. I'll attempt to outline the steps below:

1. Remove 2x #30 Torx screws from panel, in the lower left and right corners
2. Use suitable prying tool to lever the dash panel towards the rear of the vehicle at the following points. Plastic trim removal tools work well for this. There is 1 press fit clip per side, the rest of the panel is the tongue and groove style fitting.
3. Partially pulling the panel out, remove the necessary electrical plugs for the switchgear clock, radio etc. Pro Tip: Mark the male and female ends of the plug with dots / numbers / masking tape labels etc so that you can quickly re-install them in the right locations. If you forget this, keep in mind the natural 'lay' of the wires, which will help you work out which plug goes where.
4. Remove centre panel. It should basically slide out straight. If there is any resistance, use the pry tool again to inspect the problem area.
5. Installation is the reverse of removal.