Before you can remove the lower dash closing panel on either the driver or passenger side, it is necessary to remove the corresponding vertical panel that seals off the transmission tunnel in the footwell. Officially called the "center console closing panel", this is the one that contains the vertical wood trim on the left or right side of the heater controls. Removing this panel is quite easy, and is the same for left or right sides (right side described here).

Photo at right shows the right hand panel in place, with the glove compartment above it at upper right. Arrows and dots show positions of fixings (see below).

First, unscrew the single Phillips screw attaching the forward area of the panel to the fascia support structure in the footwell (right hand arrow in picture).  Now, the panel is only held on by plastic clips. To be sure you don't break them while removing the panel, start by pulling the lower rear corner of the panel in the outboard direction. This will pull out the the two plastic studs oriented in the left-right direction (positioned roughly under the white dots in the photo at right). At the top of the panel is another built-in peg in the fore and aft direction (roughly where the left hand arrow is in the picture). This is disengaged by pulling the panel rearwards and slightly downwards after disengaging the first two clips.

Under-Dash Closing Panel -- Driver's Side

With the center console trim panel removed, you can now get the panel above the footwell out, giving you some access to the area behind the lower dash. This sis simply called the "closing panel" in the shop manual. Its means of attachment varies slightly between driver and passenger sides. On the driver's side it is attached by four torx head screws and one trim stud. The latter is a cheesy plastic stud into which a plastic screw is inserted -- this attaches the panel to the firewall.