My wife dropped her cell phone down the dash of our 2009 Jeep Wrangler. I need to remove or loosen the top of the dash to get my hand in to get her phone

with a socket + universal and an extension?
you dont have full tools set?
which engine,? gas or diesel? 3.8L
my 2008 6speed, is yours 5 m.t or slush pump.>? a/t
on mine, its easy.
but cant answer with no engine stated or trans.
or car bodies are same ,for sure. 2door.? right>?

mine is 3.8L v6
i own a full FSM. too.
7400 pages.
the books shows removing battery neg lug, or boom.acid bath

then shield
then says remove starter. see the bolts there?
then as it drops down take of the solenoid wires.
its you hands.
it assumes you have full set of tools.
extensions, universals., and sockets.

but no engine options stated.or transmission.

The tensioner can be replaced as just the pulley, by removing the center bolt on this pulley, to release thee tension loosen center bolt then loosentension bolt on top of the bracket.

First off, I would hope that in the 3 months since you had posted the problem, that you have since figured it out or had someone show you. If not, do you have your owner's manual? After loosening the lock, it's just a matter of a good pull or maybe the lever action of a long scew driver to pop it loose. Kind of frustrating when you're on the side of the road in the rain trying to change your tire though... Good Luck!

likely connection behind dash. Easy fix - remove dash, twist cannectors behind dash and put back together. All gauges will e working again. 10-15 mins tops

Easy, Quick and fun.
spray all the bolts with P.B. Blaster. wait a day or so....spray them again....wait.
Lift and secure the vehicle, Remove the front tires....
Loosen all the bolts carefully.
remove the  old and replace with new.
The front top shaft is tricky if the nut won't loosen easily.
I cut off mine with a hack saw because depending on the type  on shocks on there you won't be able to loosen the nut as the complete shaft turns
and  is enclosed in the shock body etc
The back is easier in that there are two bolts on top and two on bottom.
Good Luck

Here's a really high tech test...Slap the top of the dash with your hand when dash goes out...if everything comes back on, remove the dash gauge panel and clean the contacts in both plugs. sometimes slightly bending them will help make better contact.

There are four (sometimes two) bolts that hold the steering column to the dash. remove them & column will come down to let you get in there.
follow instruction sheet with switch. if you don't get it centered correctly it wont work correctly.

Hello everyone,l

For those of you who haven't started removing the gas tank, I'll start from the beginning.
You will need a 1/2" socket, ratchet, extensions, flat head, needle nose, floor jack, rag, broomstick,. A creeper will make this easier. Depending on your dimensions and the height of the frame on your particular vehicle, you may be able to use it without jacking the vehicle up..

• Disconnect the negative battery terminal
• If your engine is fuel injected, you need to relieve the line pressure. This is done from the injector rack on top of the engine. About the center of the rack you will find what looks like a filler valve on your tire, only thicker. The fuel line can maintain over 40 P.S.I. pressure even with key off. Place a rag over the pressure relief valve. Use the corner of a screwdriver to poke the center core through the rag. A second or two should do it.
  
• Place a floor jack under the gas tank shield, jack it up until snug.
• Disconnect the rear exhaust hanger.
• Loosen and remove the three shield nuts above the rear end
  
• Remove the plastic shield from beneath the left rear corner. Two plastic anchors hold it on. Disengage them by pulling the center plug out about 1/2". This will expose the hoses connecting the tank to the body.
  
• Loosen the hose clamps
  
• If you can get them to twist, try and get them off.
  
• Rear nuts next. Loosen and remove all but the center one.
• Make sure the jack is centered and snug
  
• Remove the last nut. The tank isn't going to DROP. It will kind of lean, and jam against the exhaust.
• Insert the broom stick into the exhaust pipe.
• Push and hold it to the right, slowly let the jack down. Stop if it hangs up and work it free.
• When its down far enough to access the top of the tank, disconnect the plug, loosen thew hose clamps, remove the hoses, separate the vent hoses at the 'T' connector.
• Lower it the rest of the way
• The tank can now be separated from the shield.

If you were experiencing a line leak, the top of the tank is where you'll find it. Inspect hoses, gaskets and connections

if it's a top end tick from the engine. probably because oil ran down and it just needs to lubricate the head again.