I can't help with the first question. The switch panel has a couple of screws on the botom of it, and a couple of screws up top. You will need to remove the light bar before attempting this. It is probably easier if you remove every screw from the switch panel and gauge area at this point. That way you can have some wiggle room. I found a big screw driver(flat edge) to be handy in "convincing" the panel to come out from the far left side.
Mike
