Series 3 air vent controls

[BobV12]

Hello new to this forum, started dismantling my fern grey OTS a month ago, full refit needed. So far it’s gone well, engine and box out, seats and interior, instruments. Hoping someone can help on something I am stuck on-the bright silver round air vent controls. I cannot see how they are removed from the dash and the manual makes no reference- can anyone provide an answer?

Thanks in advance!
Bob

[Bob.]

Hi Bob,
Welcome to the forum.
You don't say what year your car is but there were two different systems, early type - both controls cable operated, later type one cable and one shaft operated. In neither case does the knob appear to be removable in isolation but ROManual section 80 10 31 and 80 10 36 describe the method of removal of the assemblies. The Parts Manual section 27 30 and 27 31 show both systems, which should help. If the cables don't unscrew as described ISTR that there is a thin hex under the knobs which with a very thin spanner may help removal. (Documents are in the forum knowledge base).
Let us know how you get on and post some pictures if you can.
Bob

[BobV12]

Thanks Bob, on the near side (the car is 1973 and original UK supplied) I was able to remove the tiny split pin that locates the cable inner to the vent. And then with a pair of pliers I rotated the barrel shaped nipple on the inner cable clockwise which loosened the hex fitting you refer to which now simply unscrewed out of the dash. It is not a separate hex nut as one might think but one male fitting and a female thread is built into the dash panel. The cable unit with the silver wheel one end and the barrel shaped nipple (with the split pin hole) the other is now one component which seemingly doesn’t dismantle further, not that I can see a reason to anyway. My goal is to fully dismantle the car in advance of body repairs, panel gaps improvement and a colour changing bare metal repaint.

The off side is harder as it adjusts an air flap inside the skuttle (yet to be fully understood) and I understand from the manual that the steering column has to come out first. My next step!

Bob

[angelw]

Bob Wrote:

The off side is harder as it adjusts an air flap inside the skuttle (yet to be fully understood) and I understand from the manual that the steering column has to come out first. My next step!

Hello Bob,
The Steering Column doesn't have to come out to remove the Off Side control, but if you're fully stripping the car, it won't hurt. The cable is attached to the mechanism just below the windscreen wiper hardware via a small, horseshoe shaped nylon clip. I use a short length of 1mm welding wire with a small, tight hook formed at one end to engage with the loop of the clip to start to withdraw it. Once sufficient of the loop it exposed, I use long, pointy nose pliers to fully extract the clip.

Take precaution against loosing the part by laying a soft, paper towel below on the area below where the clip is, in case you drop it. I've not been able to find a source of a replacement and have to 3D print one in the event that its missing, or lost.

Regards,

Bill

[EmmuWisl]

Indeed, if the cables don't unscrew as described ISTR that there is a thin hex under the knobs, which with a very thin spanner may help removal. So your bright silver round air vent controls are easy to remove from the dash. But it might sound a bit tricky for beginners, so you can just use aircon services, such as ac repair tampa. The professional touch is never meant for harm. By the way, series 3 is a pretty well-built model. I've never had any problems with my air conditioning system, so why do you state "Series 3 is known for its aircon problems"?

[coalboy]

Just resurrecting this thread, I have the later heater control with horse shoe pin but can’t understand the point of the 2 nuts at the end of the outer cable near the inner cable nipple do they actually clamp onto anything?

Perhaps either side of the firewall behind the dash? Thanks

[Bob.]

Hi Nigel,
Are these are the nuts you are referring to?



If so they appear to go here:

[coalboy]

Hi Bob, for some reason can’t see the photos , just my luck lol

[Craig Balzer]

No photos visible from here either

[Bob.]

Strange, they are visible to me although I did have difficulty loading them via Postimage, requiring several reloads to get anything other than the word "image" to appear on the forum page.
Craig the second and third are from your very informative thread on jag-lovers. Apologies, I should have credited you for those.
Bob

[Bob.]

Trying to post the images again.

[coalboy]

Hi Bob, same again for me, but thanks, found Craig’s very good posts and there it is in all its glory in part XVI, ( Craig photos of some unusual bits have helped me a lot), sounds so easy in the bulletin to attach but I know it will be a real pain, especially getting the horse shoe clip on.

Cheers Nige

[Craig Balzer]

Bob

QUOTE
Craig the second and third are from your very informative thread on jag-lovers. Apologies, I should have credited you for those.
UNQUOTE

No need for credit - this (and Jag-Lovers) is an open, public forum.
The photos performed their intended purpose: helped the next guy

[coalboy]

Working now Bob thanks to you and Craig