This a step by step walk through on how to remove the dash on a 1994 Saab 9000 Aero with a factory CD player and stereo.
Tools you'll need:
-Full set of torx bits/driver.
-Flat blade screwdriver.
-DIN removal tools
-A short handled torx driver and/or a bit of creativity if you don't have one (explained in a bit)
This job is much more difficult than removing the dash on a c900. I can take the dash off a 900 in about 15 minutes, but this job took me around two hours my first time through. I give it a 3/5 level of difficulty simply because it was really frustrating trying to figure a few things out and how long it took. If you've done it is a solid 2.
I found a nice wood grain panel to replace the boring matte grey one that came with the car, so the old one had to come out.
I started with taking out the radio and CD player. If you have installed an after market stereo into your car, you should know how to take it out. If you don't, you unit should have come with removal tools and you can consult your instruction manual on how to get it out.
For those of us with a stock unit you need to stick in a set of standard DIN removal tools till they click then apply pressure to either side <-- O 123456 -->
(that's a radio, by the way) and pull it out.
![Image]()
Same story for the CD player.
Next the cages themselves need to come out. In order to get the cages out you need to take your flat head screwdriver and gently pry all sides of the cage inwards so that nothing is catching. Pull the cages out until you have the wires on the back exposed and can move both of them around freely.
This is where I got hung up. In order for the cages to come fully out you need to undo the cage from the connectors where the radios plug in and connect to each other. I know for sure other years are different, but mine looked like this:
![Image]()
Those 3 wires are on the back of the CD player and run to the stereo and who knows what else. They will not come off. Don't try and unplug them. What you need to do instead is take out the screws that hold that whole unit in. My CD player had the screws on either side of the cage and the stereo had the screws on the top and bottom. They're pretty small, so I missed them and tried to unplug those connectors to no avail.
![Image]()
![Image]()
See where the color changes? That whole unit comes off. After you get it off, the cage can be set down elsewhere and those units stay back behind the dash.
You'll see black male/female connectors that lead out of the stereo (not cd player) that run to the speakers and such. Label them and set them down.
Next I moved to the ACC unit. I had my ashtray/lighter directly below the ACC unit so with the tray still out I reached in and gently pushed it out. Undo and label the connectors that are on it. The dash I pulled was off a '96 and had one pigtail. My '94 had two pigtail connectors, so make sure you remember to plug both back in if you have two. (forgot to take pics here, sorry).
The SID and hazard button are the same story and with the ACC out you have a ton of room.
![Image]()
After all that is done you can start to push out all the switches. Push them from the back toward you and they just pop out except for the ACC fan. Label each one and set them down. Leave the ACC fan in the dash, but unplug its connector from the back.
Next we start looking for the screws that hold everything in.
The first one I went for was the one that held the bottom of the dash in. It can be found underneath the leather shift boot on cars with a manual transmission. If you have an automatic it is in the same place, but I have no idea how to get to it. Sorry.
Shouldn't be too hard. Those with a proper manual gearbox, gently prise up the shift boot from one corner and you'll see this:
![Image]()
That screw holds both the lower part of the dash and the shift boot holder do-da trim in, so don't lose it.
Moving up a bit are two more screws. These guys should be completely visible with the stereo/CD player out but if I recall correctly they are one DIN slot from the bottom most cubby.
![Image]()
Next move on to where your seat heater/ACC fan is. You'll see a little black bar that separates the two rows of switches. With the switches out you can pry that little bar up and you'll see this:
![Image]()
Undo that.
Tools you'll need:
-Full set of torx bits/driver.
-Flat blade screwdriver.
-DIN removal tools
-A short handled torx driver and/or a bit of creativity if you don't have one (explained in a bit)
This job is much more difficult than removing the dash on a c900. I can take the dash off a 900 in about 15 minutes, but this job took me around two hours my first time through. I give it a 3/5 level of difficulty simply because it was really frustrating trying to figure a few things out and how long it took. If you've done it is a solid 2.
I found a nice wood grain panel to replace the boring matte grey one that came with the car, so the old one had to come out.
I started with taking out the radio and CD player. If you have installed an after market stereo into your car, you should know how to take it out. If you don't, you unit should have come with removal tools and you can consult your instruction manual on how to get it out.
For those of us with a stock unit you need to stick in a set of standard DIN removal tools till they click then apply pressure to either side <-- O 123456 -->
(that's a radio, by the way) and pull it out.
Same story for the CD player.
Next the cages themselves need to come out. In order to get the cages out you need to take your flat head screwdriver and gently pry all sides of the cage inwards so that nothing is catching. Pull the cages out until you have the wires on the back exposed and can move both of them around freely.
This is where I got hung up. In order for the cages to come fully out you need to undo the cage from the connectors where the radios plug in and connect to each other. I know for sure other years are different, but mine looked like this:
Those 3 wires are on the back of the CD player and run to the stereo and who knows what else. They will not come off. Don't try and unplug them. What you need to do instead is take out the screws that hold that whole unit in. My CD player had the screws on either side of the cage and the stereo had the screws on the top and bottom. They're pretty small, so I missed them and tried to unplug those connectors to no avail.
See where the color changes? That whole unit comes off. After you get it off, the cage can be set down elsewhere and those units stay back behind the dash.
You'll see black male/female connectors that lead out of the stereo (not cd player) that run to the speakers and such. Label them and set them down.
Next I moved to the ACC unit. I had my ashtray/lighter directly below the ACC unit so with the tray still out I reached in and gently pushed it out. Undo and label the connectors that are on it. The dash I pulled was off a '96 and had one pigtail. My '94 had two pigtail connectors, so make sure you remember to plug both back in if you have two. (forgot to take pics here, sorry).
The SID and hazard button are the same story and with the ACC out you have a ton of room.
After all that is done you can start to push out all the switches. Push them from the back toward you and they just pop out except for the ACC fan. Label each one and set them down. Leave the ACC fan in the dash, but unplug its connector from the back.
Next we start looking for the screws that hold everything in.
The first one I went for was the one that held the bottom of the dash in. It can be found underneath the leather shift boot on cars with a manual transmission. If you have an automatic it is in the same place, but I have no idea how to get to it. Sorry.
Shouldn't be too hard. Those with a proper manual gearbox, gently prise up the shift boot from one corner and you'll see this: 
That screw holds both the lower part of the dash and the shift boot holder do-da trim in, so don't lose it.
Moving up a bit are two more screws. These guys should be completely visible with the stereo/CD player out but if I recall correctly they are one DIN slot from the bottom most cubby.
Next move on to where your seat heater/ACC fan is. You'll see a little black bar that separates the two rows of switches. With the switches out you can pry that little bar up and you'll see this:
Undo that.
