The plastic strap you cut is a tether for the top vent assembly to keep the unit from becoming a projectile during airbag deployment. Those screws will NOT hold the unit if the airbag deploys.

Mercury Milan, 2010, exact same process. Very good video, and I really appreciate your thoroughness. I found other videos that, while good, the person had already popped all the tabs, and removed all the screws, and then just quickly talked you through the process. It was very nice to be able to see the pry points 👍🏻

Very helpful video. Exactly what I needed. I found that you can just raise the dash lid just enough to get the 2 bolts out so no need to cut the strap or unscrew the bolt holding it.

I appreciate this video. Wasn't working on my radio, but it helped me get that pesky panel out of the top to halfway fix my vent. Now I know what to do when I fix it fully, and already disconnected that safety cable. Will be much easier to work around in the future. Thank you!!

Thank you for the video! I’m needing to check my HVAC control head and now I know what I need to get to it.

The plastic strap you cut prevents the top shelf section from come flying off into a passenger during a crash. Great video!

Thank you! That cable is what was stopping me from getting my vents seated again 🙏

Great video dude! I'm sure having a third hand would've been great!

None of the other videos about this show that strap thing, so thanks for the heads up on that!

Good job. Very helpful.

Thank you so much for taking the time to show and explain that strap that you had to cut . It was making my life miserable till I found your video.

Very helpful video!!! Thank you so much!!

Thanks for another very informative video. Followup - my 2012 doesn't have the strange yellow useless tether. Plus all the plastic edges are razor sharp.

Very nice video! Thank you so much! My uneducated guess on the strap that you mention around 3:20 is that it's there in case of an auto crash. The strap may be to prevent the dash component from flying into the cab potentially causing injury.

OMG Ed, I bought the replacement Bezel and 4 pc Trim & Molding tools and downloaded your video to my cell phone so I would have it in the car as I was working and my God the job turned out beautiful with your easy to follow instructions "Kudos" from me and my Girlfriend and everyone thinks I did a great job but you get the credit Ed

It is a safety retaining strap. You can find the other end bolted near the driver side of the panel. It is held in place by a 10mm nut. If you get on the driver side floorboard and look up near the gas pedal you’ll find it near the blend door actuator. It is kind of difficult to get off if you try pulling that top compartment first. I would recommend starting with unbolting the retaining strap.

Great video. I’ll be using your video tomorrow to disassemble my center dash. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

Great video thank you very much

So will my small screen still work for my heat and AC if I completely swap out radios?

Thanks! Helpful.

Is it possible to upgrade to sync nav do I just need wiring harness and bezel ? I have the same stero factory as you in this video want to upgrade to factor nav unit

I have done the same but when I swap the panel from one 2012 to mine 2010 the AUX is not working when I press the message shown NO AUX

Good looking

Thanks!

The piece that you cut is a retention strap the other end is attached below the steering wheel. I was working on my 2012 fusion and the Ford Dealer actually cut this strap to do a an air conditioner repair. It does not serve a vital function. It might be theft deterrence, but if you are going to steal a radio I can not imagine they would care about your dashboard.

Hi what if you dont have bolts to screw off on the inside of the compartment. then how would you remove it?

its to keep that compartment from flying in your face if the passenger side airbag deploys in an accident!, which comes through the dash and destroys it.

Very informative do you think you should also work on the Lincoln MKZ

Is it possible to fish the strap with the 10mm bolt back where it belongs after removal? Should I tie a line to it before removal to fish it back where it belongs?

What were all the tools used ?

That piece just keep that middle piece from hitting you if you wreck and screw hole break on impact

You are lucky the air bag was not activated! Step 1, disconnect the negative battery lead. That strap you cut does provide an important function. I'm not sure just what but it could be (like others have stated) to keep that assembly from becoming a projectile when the passenger air bag is deployed. Years ago my instructor at a GM Training Center made the statement that every part is import and needs to be present. He followed up with "if the manufacture could leave a part out they would have, saving a lot of money".

I was thinking It had to do with a collision,? In the event of a collision ( God forbid ) that piece Is a safety strap to prevent it from hitting passengers .Makes sense no?

Where can I get a wiring harness that comes from factory harness to radio?

Before you start this removal make sure your child hasn’t put 2 quarters in your CD player. Great video very through. Good job.

That piece holds dash together in a crash

That us a teather to hold that panel during a crash or airbag deployment

Every part was great except you skipped the connectors for the radio front. I’ve been stuck on how to disconnect one of them for like an hour :(

It is. Safety feature to keep the console from flying off if in a high impact and airbags deploy...

Can you swap this normal cd player kit with the navigation kit that comes with some of the fusions in this model?

Strap keeps that piece from flying around in a crash and just above the gas pedal is a 10 mm nut holding it on losen that and remove without cutting

Dude the radio in my Ford Fusion constantly advertises serious xm or whatever it’s called. If you have no source selected and cut the volume all the way up there the ads are constantly playing.

Why did you need to replace the radio module, was yours draining power with the car off too? I'm caught between wanting to replace the radio, install a battery cutoff switch, or push the car off a cliff.

That plastic strip is bolted down under the steering wheel. You can pull off the panel under the wheel to unscrew it without having to cut it

The plastic strip is a anti theft detterent for the radio,it's supposed to make it harder for thieves to steal your radio

The strap would prevent the console piece from unplugging and thus disabling the passenger airbag in an accident. Could be a liability issue if a passenger was injured and this cord was cut.

how do u fix the heat in a 2012 ford fusion car i have no heat

No that's a safety strap there's a screw holding the other end of that strap down under the steering wheel somewhere I saw in another video

Excellent description of that piece of shit strap that holds that piece of plastic in. Excellent description! You said if anybody knows what it is, let me know please. Obviously people did but if that piece of plastic is going to kill me in a crash, anyway, excellent description.

It's a strap.

nice video. thanks. that strap made my life miserable for some time

It is a tether device to keep reduce he effectiveness of thieves idk best guess

nice check out my custom ford fusion

its for safety so it dont hit you in face.

shouldnt you disconnect the battery before removing it?

That thing makes sure you break all that shit when trying to fix fords useless radio. I broke the door and both vent holes and Hazzard button

Why is your car in low with the e brake on😂😭

So that whole top piece just needs to be loose not removed to do install do not cut that strap

Shouldn’t the vehicle be turned off and the batter disconnected just to be safe, I’m not a car expert just cautious… 🤔

You cut the light pipe for the Passenger Airbag Warning light.

He skipped over the plug removals. The only part I wanted to see. Oh well thanks anyway.

My compartment refuses to come out.. my vent fell in trying to put on one of this stupid phone holders!!! 🤬🤬🤬

Bro watch the video to remove that chime

Looks like a grounding cable

Why are you doing this with your car running ? Wtf