I've got a heat related problem in my 2005 Montero. I've found a shop that will work on the heater box and/or replace the front heater core. They agreed to let me partially disassemble the dash--remove the passenger seat, floor console, glove boxes, stereo, disc changer, etc. to save on labor costs. Can I still drive the Montero without those items and without the instrument cluster? I figured I would take it apart over several afternoons (weather permitting) and crank it periodically to see if it still runs. I have to drive it 3 miles to the shop and don't want to take it apart and not be able to drive it. Anybody try this already?

Thanks

 

In the worst case scenario, you can just plug in the instrument cluster and zip-tie it to the wiring harness

 

I removed all components until I had to lower the steering column--and then I stopped. Turns out the only issue was the Montero was operating on battery power only. Once the instrument cluster was removed, the charging system no longer worked.