Tom:

Most likely the cables are at fault, not the flaps, since they are just wire in a hole in the plastic case. Unless, of course, you have a family of mice living in there that built a nice nest in the heater box...... Don't laugh, I've seen it before, even on new cars.

Unclip the lever for the flap to check. You may need to remove the console cover -- one screw under the carpet on the passenger side, just hooks under the shift column (or somewhere, I don't remember) on the driver's side.

Heater lever lamps are accessable from the speaker gille, in case you didn't find them -- under the little black cap on top of the levers.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!