[X(] I am new to this forum. I have owned a Volvo 850 T-5 for the last 1.5 years. I am new to Volvos but not to Swedish cars, having owned two Saab 9000s. That might be blasphemy here, so I apologise. To put my foot further in my mouth, I have to say, owning the 850 hasn't converted me to a Volvo lover......yet.
Anyway, this is about a problem: I am trying to take off the top cover of the dashboard and I think I have all the screws off, including the ones hidden behind the side air vents, right by the A pillars. However, the air bag arrangement doesnt seem to want to budge. I have removed the four downward facing bolts after removing the glove box. I even removed the forward facing silver screws, but it won't move. All the rest of the top cover has moved off, just the airbag area refuses to budge. Would appreciate advice.
BTW I have to admit, Volvos are a bit easier to work on than Saabs. This morning I changed the passenger side motor mount in about 20 minutes, not counting jacking time. Does that make me eligible for this forum?

 

[8D]Failed to mention specifics: it is a '97 850 T-5 with 111,000 miles. The odometer gear is broken, and a few bulbs in the instrument cluster are burned out, ergo the removal of the dashboard cover.
Thanks

 

I also have a broken odometer and burned dash lights, and probably broken dash mounts too.

Check out this link http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/odometer_fix.php

 

Did you get the 2 screws going straight up?
One is next the the light button and the other one is on the other side.

 

Thanks for posting. Yes, if you are referring to the two black screws at the front top edge of the glove box opening, similar the other screws in the vents etc., I have removed them.
Does the airbag module just lift out of the metal bracket?

 

Yes sometimes it is a real pain to get it to come loose.
I always get the drivers side to lift some them push from the backside on the air bag to try to get it loose.

The tape or something makes the air bag stick to the bracket.

 

Makes sense. I can see the tape on the front edge of the glove box opening also sticking to the lower section of the dash.

Anyway, I got the instrument cluster out by lifting only the drivers side like Matthew's website shows. Appreciate the help.

 

No problem just be careful doing it I have had a bunch of Dashes break doing it that way.

Thats why I always take the entire top section off.

The Dealer I was at had to buy a $2500.00 dash for a 850R because it broke when I tried it that way.