Need Picture of ventilation linkage

[RichardK]

What: My selector does not select footwell / centre vents.
Why: The vacuum bit works fine - I can see it moving with the head unit removed when I move the selector dial - the linkage between the length of plastic coming from the vacuum valve and the metal rod going to the flap has broken. I can move the flap manually.

How I can fix it - I need a good picture of the right hand side of the heater unit ( as you look at it through the radio head slot!) with particular focus on the articulation between the plastic rod coming from the vacuum unit and the metal rod going to the bottom flap (I have a late model car with lots of selector positions in case that helps)

Also if anyone has managed to fix it without taking apart the dash or slicing up their forearm I would be very grateful for any tips!

Cheers

Richard

[John_W]

Richard,
Is this any good? If not let me know what you need and I'll try some more.
John

heater.jpg

[Specky]

I can do pics...

If after i've posted the pics there's an angle you require just say...

I'll do a few tomorrow...

TTFN

[RichardK]

John - That's it!! It's the linkage off the black vacuum actuator. It's come adrift in the middle of the black plastic articulation - looks like a yoke arrangment in your bottom picture. Can you get me a close up of how the plastic rods fit together? Do they easily come apart and if so is there a way of clipping them back together or have I lost a piece do you think?

Didn't know you had a complete heater assembly in your spares box. Clearly I'm just a beginner with the spares collecting!

Thanks

R

[Specky]

Just keeping yourself and others abreast of other variations...

TTFN

[RichardK]

Many thanks Specky - it's the linkage in the top picture - as above I could do with some advice and picture of the plastic to plastic "yoke linkage"

Cheers

Richard

[John_W]

Richard,
Sorry to take so long to reply.

The photos below should help. The broad "fork-shaped" bit of plastic is actually a sort of cup (ie it's got a back to it). I think it also has a broad plastic spindle or knob onto which the plastic rod which comes from the vacuum cylinder locates (the latter has a hole near the end). It looks like the spindle is then melted/formed into a sort of rivet-head shape to retain the two bits together. That's my guess how it works, but I suppose it may also be some sort of plastic rivet rather than a fixed spindle. The rod from the vacuum cylinder can be wiggled up and down the locating spindle about half a mm, but I didn't want to force the joint apart in case it's not meant to come apart.

I must admit that I can't see how/why yours might have parted at this point (crowbars excepted).

John

zoom_3877.jpg

[RichardK]

Perfect pictures John, many thanks. My plastic "rivet" has sheared leaving the bulk of the rivet in the short arm.......I can feel a "dash out" session coming on......

Cheers

Richard

[max and andy]

We have noticed that the heater is not blowing out of the face vents in the middle or the two side vents. We have just had the radio re fitted and the guy had to do some rummaging for the radio fuses. So i was hoping he might of knocked a hose out of line or something like. Looking at the diagram the feed from the heater is straight out of the letter box opening of the heater and near straight into the two front vents and you get air to the sides through the same junction. So no hoses to knock. Any suggestions. I looked at the posts above but find it hard to follow the photo's. Thanks Andy & Max

[Specky]

possibly a vacum pipe off the back of the heater controller

possibly the above arm is playing up...

TTFN

[max and andy]

How do you get to the back of the heater controler. Through the radio whole or from the top panel? Andy

[Specky]

How do you get to the back of the heater controler. Through the radio hole or from the top panel? Andy

It's a bugger...(I think that's an understatement)..

First for the hose conections to the cotroller.... I'd try putting your head in the left footwell, feet on the passengers headrest and going in from the left handside...

Then to check the remaining hoses and plastic actuation arm for movement and clearances have ago from the right, if all else fails then use the radio apperture, failing all that it's the a facia off job..

TTFN

[RichardK]

Just a quick update on my linkage - ITS FIXED!! I used my 11 year old, assorted bribes, rewards and two evenings after school. A real father/son bonding experience. I did not have to take out the dash, the youngun's arm was able to reach through the radio slot.

Fortunately the plastic post moulded into the yoke had not sheared (it was hiding) and it was "just" a case of lining the vaccuum actuator arm and pushing them back together with as much force as possible. It's been fixed for two weeks and now I can have heat in the footwells when I want it.

Many thanks for the pictures almost everything had to be done by feel and without them he couldn't have done it.

Dead chuffed

Richard

[max and andy]

I'm not getting air out of the front window or side vents and face. I had a feel up behind the dial that changes the direction of the air flow from feet to window or face etc. The heater is pumping out loads of air to the feet. I couldn't feel any rods or anything moving behind the dial. I have just had the radio re fitted so i thought he might of knocked something. I took the car to Halfords to pull the radio so i could look from above. But they couldn't get it out. Is there a photo on sit of the back of the dial. So i can see what is supposed to happen at the rear when i turn the dial from feet to windscreen? Or can someone point me to what I'm feeling for at the back of the dial. The Halfords guy pulled the dial off the front he thought the front part looked like it was working fine. A push in the right direction would be great. Andy

[Specky]

Hope these pics help out..

if you need another angle just say

heater 1.jpg

The red circle indicates a plastic clip that locks the metal bar in place

heater2.jpg

heater3.jpg

TTFN

[max and andy]

The dial I'm checking is the top one in the first photo and the one underneath is the blower speed? If i touch the back of the top one with my fingers should i feel it turning when i move the front dial from feet to screen? The photo's are great thank you Andy.

[Specky]

Yes and no..

the selector is a rotary switch

the rear most section of the rotary switch is held stationary by two screws, it's the bit just behind that which moves...

If that doesn't turn then the switch is U/S.... unfortunatley it will require total replacement, it's more likely that when Halfrauds fitteed the radio they stuffed all the wires in which in turn pushed off a vacum pipe...

[max and andy]

Looking at the diagram it looks like the air comes straight out the letter box at the front of the heater and straight into the face vents. I can understand air not getting to the sides or the windscreen with a vacuum hose being off. But this shouldn't stop the air coming through the front face vents. I thought the dial moved something that opened the letter box to allow air to the face sides and windscreen. I thought the wires being stuffed in where restricting the movement of letter box being opened or what ever moves between the dial and the opening. A lever or something. But looking at the photos nothing at the back dial moves. So how does the dial open and close the letter box flap? Andy

[Specky]

all direction is initially vacum controlled...

then mechanical linkage

See here viewtopic.php?f=37&t=13764&p=196103#p178343

you see the group of tubes going to there respective actuators

If it's one of them... it's even harder.. you either have to remove the radio so you can utilize the apperture and work blind, or remove the whole dash...

TTFN

[max and andy]

So 5 tubes like windscreen washer pipe go to the back of the dial. Now I'm with you thanks loads. I didn't feel them in place. At least i know which way I'm going now. Halfords didn't fit the cd player. I got that done last week. I went to Halfords to buy the tool to take the cd out. They didn't have any but they charge £2 to remove for you. They have every different keys to remove. They couldn't get it out? I don't know what to say. The guy last week didn't seem to have a problem. But if Halfords cant do it I'm not sure what to do. I'M not even sure what key to buy when the get them in. He said he tried the right one. Andy