Thanks Mikee! I went to the wrecking yard and practiced on 2 cars, then pulled a mint dash, brought it home, cleaned it up, and while it was being conditioned I swapped out a non tach cluster for a tach one. Had to add a few wires, but the general wiring is all the same from 2000-2005 on these Lesabres. Thanks for the video! Now I feel like I'm a pro! :)
I wanted to thank Buickmikee for making these two, detailed videos on how to remove/replace a Buick LeSabre dashpad. I recently bought a very clean, one owner, 2004 Buick LeSabre with 90k miles. The dash pad was completely warped upward and separated where it had once been glued. Before I found this video I tried to find someone to fix it; car detailer shops, interior repair places, but no one would touch it. I bought a perfect dashpad and followed the videos to take out my bad dashpad and replace it with the good one I was able to find in a salvage yard (which was a challenge in itself!). Before installing my "good" dashpad, I also followed the advice of riveting the dashpad to the plastic backing plate and also applying more automotive glue along the seam. I got it all installed and it looks perfect. I couldn't have done it without the video. My old warped dash was such an obstruction from coming detached that you would have to look over it when driving. Now it looks like it came off the showroom! With the advice on riveting down the replacement dashpad, mine will never come detached again. Thanks for your help! Your video was great!
Your welcome Robert. It took about 6-9 months and 2 dashes for me to get to the point of the video. I could not find anybody that would touch it either. So I wallowed thru it to make it RIGHT.I am glad that a few die hard people can fix what the BIG GUYS wouldn't.
After watching the videos, I took it out in 15 minutes. Thanks so much Buickmikee! Now it is on the glue table and waiting to be riveted! Saved me a whole lot of time and frustration! 2001 LeSabre with 56k :)
I'm no mechanic by any stretch but I am a you tube warrior lol thanks for the video the fix went smoothly and it looks great .Next I gotta figure out a power window the motor run but the window doesn't work.
Mikee....-all three videos are fantastic. You might show how to use a manual rivet tool including the drilling of the hole, drill size and actual installation of a rivet or two. Everything else is very detailed and informitive. Thanks.
Eddie, I didn't show it because I never intended to do a video. I was just "experimenting" with different ideas trying to figure out what might work. After I got the rivets secured I decided I would try installing the newer dash and decided that maybe I should take some pictures along the way. My wife helped me video this . It was one "ONE TIME" shot at it. Later it was suggested to me to throw it on youtube. So I pieced it together to make it understandable the best I could. With that being said, there were no shots of drilling and riveting. Thanks for looking and your comments. Buickmikee
Mikee, I didn't remove the dash. I wanted to stop the dash pad from creeping and buckling. What I did was take a couple of chop sticks broken in pieces. I then wedged the pieces between the dash pad and windshield. Just like when they are putting up support beams to hold the walls in place on prefab buildings. This was the same idea. This kept the pad in place. After two weeks the dash pad got" retrained" to stay down. Although the pad had pulled away on the drivers by about 3/4 of an inch the gap was normal near the passenger side like yours. I purchased a low profile 90 degree drill adapter so 1/4 x1"self tapping sheet metal screws. Since there is nothing underneath (you showed that beautifully) I installed the screws every 2" inches. No problem with the pa.... it learn well. I used a cordless drill with the adapter. I had adequate room to maneuver. I can take some grey material as you suggest and use the vent cowl as a template. I can cut the material to the varying width and glue in place to cover and fill the gap. I really only want to stop the buckle which was getting into my line of vision and the gap which was exposing the inside of the dash. It is fine the way it is. Sorry for not taking photos but it is me. Thanks for the videos.
I am glad something worked for you. I know there are 100 ways to repair this depending on the skill level involved. I thought by showing what is under the dash pad might take some of the MYSTERY away. Buickmikee
Mikee.....One of the best thorough Buick dash removal videos I have viewed.....Thank You! My mothers Lesabre has the same issue as yours, which I now feel confident in fixing :).....A quick question? Is there access to the blend-door motors once the top dash is removed? We have an "04" & "99" Park Avenue that are having A/C issues (muke warm air out of a particular side vents). This is something I want to remedy as well. Thanks for your time.
you guys have a video for opening the glove box on one of these lesabres WITHOUT the handle? Handle's broken off on mine and i can't get into the glove box.
Having some A/C problems, repaired the low and high lines 6 times. Everytime ive done this it snaps on the low line right before the conditioner. Replaced the tube as well and still the same. Ive even got it all sucked out and refilled with refrigerate and same problem. what. could it be?? Bad compressor? Or could the motor mounts effect this? Need solutions without spending so much. Thanks
I love the ideal and it turned out really clean this will make it a hole lot easier to repair ours btw I do believe you mentioned it but what size drill bit did you use to drill the holes for the rivets and what was the rivet head size and how many did you use?
My entire dash is raised and bent up multiple places like ~. Been that way for years. Horrible build quality. It's crazy how they've made cars for decades and then got this one so wrong
my 2003 buick lesabre custom never had this light flashing for 2 months of owning it I purchased it and now the top left side of the radio red light led is flashing yet it goes off always when i START THE CAR IS THIS NORMAL OR IS SOMETHING GOING TO HAPPEN . ALSO CAN i RESET IT TO DEFAULT SO THE LIGHT GOES AWAY LIKE BEFORE
The only place I knew of was a junk yard. You have to find one that has NOT WARPED or Lifted. Remove it and I rivet the front edge so it could not separate in the future. I still have my 2003 Buick Lesabre as of 9/ 2024. It looks as good as new. Its been approx. 10 years since I installed it . Thanks for watching. Buickmikee
Hello Chuck, yes I agree the video seems awkward at times due to tools or not knowing exactly what to pry on with too much force. I was never intending to air this to the public. It was my first shot at getting the dash off. After much discussions on another thread about this subject , I was asked to post what I had. So its RAW footage. If I did it for a second take, it would have been better. It was to help the avg. person with a similar problem. At the time, there was NOTHING to be found about it. Thanks for watching.
Thanks Mikee! I went to the wrecking yard and practiced on 2 cars, then pulled a mint dash, brought it home, cleaned it up, and while it was being conditioned I swapped out a non tach cluster for a tach one. Had to add a few wires, but the general wiring is all the same from 2000-2005 on these Lesabres. Thanks for the video! Now I feel like I'm a pro! :)
I wanted to thank Buickmikee for making these two, detailed videos on how to remove/replace a Buick LeSabre dashpad. I recently bought a very clean, one owner, 2004 Buick LeSabre with 90k miles. The dash pad was completely warped upward and separated where it had once been glued. Before I found this video I tried to find someone to fix it; car detailer shops, interior repair places, but no one would touch it. I bought a perfect dashpad and followed the videos to take out my bad dashpad and replace it with the good one I was able to find in a salvage yard (which was a challenge in itself!). Before installing my "good" dashpad, I also followed the advice of riveting the dashpad to the plastic backing plate and also applying more automotive glue along the seam. I got it all installed and it looks perfect. I couldn't have done it without the video. My old warped dash was such an obstruction from coming detached that you would have to look over it when driving. Now it looks like it came off the showroom! With the advice on riveting down the replacement dashpad, mine will never come detached again. Thanks for your help! Your video was great!
Your welcome Robert. It took about 6-9 months and 2 dashes for me to get to the point of the video. I could not find anybody that would touch it either. So I wallowed thru it to make it RIGHT.I am glad that a few die hard people can fix what the BIG GUYS wouldn't.
After watching the videos, I took it out in 15 minutes. Thanks so much Buickmikee! Now it is on the glue table and waiting to be riveted! Saved me a whole lot of time and frustration! 2001 LeSabre with 56k :)
Thanks for video, had previously got dash from junkyard, but was skeptical about damaging my car, looking at video, i think im ready..
I'm no mechanic by any stretch but I am a you tube warrior lol thanks for the video the fix went smoothly and it looks great .Next I gotta figure out a power window the motor run but the window doesn't work.
Mikee....-all three videos are fantastic. You might show how to use a manual rivet tool including the drilling of the hole, drill size and actual installation of a rivet or two. Everything else is very detailed and informitive. Thanks.
Eddie, I didn't show it because I never intended to do a video. I was just "experimenting" with different ideas trying to figure out what might work. After I got the rivets secured I decided I would try installing the newer dash and decided that maybe I should take some pictures along the way. My wife helped me video this . It was one "ONE TIME" shot at it. Later it was suggested to me to throw it on youtube. So I pieced it together to make it understandable the best I could. With that being said, there were no shots of drilling and riveting. Thanks for looking and your comments. Buickmikee
Mikee, I didn't remove the dash. I wanted to stop the dash pad from creeping and buckling. What I did was take a couple of chop sticks broken in pieces. I then wedged the pieces between the dash pad and windshield. Just like when they are putting up support beams to hold the walls in place on prefab buildings. This was the same idea. This kept the pad in place. After two weeks the dash pad got" retrained" to stay down. Although the pad had pulled away on the drivers by about 3/4 of an inch the gap was normal near the passenger side like yours.
I purchased a low profile 90 degree drill adapter so 1/4 x1"self tapping sheet metal screws. Since there is nothing underneath (you showed that beautifully) I installed the screws every 2" inches. No problem with the pa.... it learn well. I used a cordless drill with the adapter. I had adequate room to maneuver.
I can take some grey material as you suggest and use the vent cowl as a template. I can cut the material to the varying width and glue in place to cover and fill the gap. I really only want to stop the buckle which was getting into my line of vision and the gap which was exposing the inside of the dash. It is fine the way it is.
Sorry for not taking photos but it is me. Thanks for the videos.
I am glad something worked for you. I know there are 100 ways to repair this depending on the skill level involved. I thought by showing what is under the dash pad might take some of the MYSTERY away. Buickmikee
You do a great service to those of us who want to save some extra $$$!
Thank you man I literally just did this job 5 min ago with your video
Glad I could help
Thanks for the great video I've been looking for one for quite some time
Mikee.....One of the best thorough Buick dash removal videos I have viewed.....Thank You! My mothers Lesabre has the same issue as yours, which I now feel confident in fixing :).....A quick question? Is there access to the blend-door motors once the top dash is removed? We have an "04" & "99" Park Avenue that are having A/C issues (muke warm air out of a particular side vents). This is something I want to remedy as well. Thanks for your time.
setag54321 Thanks for the comment. As far as your other issue...I am not familiar with that.Buickmikee
you guys have a video for opening the glove box on one of these lesabres WITHOUT the handle? Handle's broken off on mine and i can't get into the glove box.
Thanks for the videos. My dash cover is now fixed.
Your welcome. Glad something worked out for you.
Is a Cadillac dash of the same year equivalent
Having some A/C problems, repaired the low and high lines 6 times. Everytime ive done this it snaps on the low line right before the conditioner. Replaced the tube as well and still the same. Ive even got it all sucked out and refilled with refrigerate and same problem. what. could it be?? Bad compressor? Or could the motor mounts effect this? Need solutions without spending so much. Thanks
Isac, I only fixed the dash. I am not a certified mechanic. Just someone who works on my own stuff if it needs it. Sorry Mike
I love the ideal and it turned out really clean this will make it a hole lot easier to repair ours btw I do believe you mentioned it but what size drill bit did you use to drill the holes for the rivets and what was the rivet head size and how many did you use?
The word you are looking for is idea. Its a common word.
Great job, thanks!
My whole dash is raising up need it to be gone sun damage its really bad im going to have to bolt down and throw dash cover on
My entire dash is raised and bent up multiple places like ~. Been that way for years. Horrible build quality. It's crazy how they've made cars for decades and then got this one so wrong
my 2003 buick lesabre custom never had this light flashing for 2 months of owning it I purchased it and now the top left side of the radio red light led is flashing yet it goes off always when i START THE CAR IS THIS NORMAL OR IS SOMETHING GOING TO HAPPEN . ALSO CAN i RESET IT TO DEFAULT SO THE LIGHT GOES AWAY LIKE BEFORE
Sorry Rondo, I don't know about all the issues that go wrong with this car. Buickmikee
Thank you .
Rondo Schiavoni , I think if it is the one with tape and CD if you hold the eject button on tape player it will reset the unit.
got it thanks
The front side of my dash popped out slightly on the passenger side middle air duct. I can push it flush but won't stay. Any ideas anyone?
This same repair should fix it.
mike where did you get your dash kit from....
I purchased a good dash from a local junk yard.
Where did you get the dash pad
The only place I knew of was a junk yard. You have to find one that has NOT WARPED or Lifted. Remove it and I rivet the front edge so it could not separate in the future. I still have my 2003 Buick Lesabre as of 9/ 2024. It looks as good as new. Its been approx. 10 years since I installed it . Thanks for watching. Buickmikee
I do not know the answer to that question, sorry.
Where are u located
Thanks.
Yes it did and thank you.
Use proper tools to speed up video
Hello Chuck, yes I agree the video seems awkward at times due to tools or not knowing exactly what to pry on with too much force. I was never intending to air this to the public. It was my first shot at getting the dash off. After much discussions on another thread about this subject , I was asked to post what I had. So its RAW footage. If I did it for a second take, it would have been better. It was to help the avg. person with a similar problem. At the time, there was NOTHING to be found about it. Thanks for watching.