W123 center air vent (ring nozzle) re-installation..? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

johnd · #1 06-30-2006, 04:05 PM

I've been doing little jobs as I wait for the A/C overhaul, and yesterday as I r/r'd the glovebox I decided to take care of the malfunctioning center vent door while I was at it. Previously, it'd open with the engine on and close when the A/C was engaged -- backwards, right? It could've probably been solved by some vacuum work, but remembering this totally awesome mod, I pulled out the right side ring nozzle, stuck my hands thru the nozzle hole and the glovebox (noting that the pin connecting the door and the actuator's bar was missing -- if there ever was one), rolled back the rubber boot and popped the whole rear of the pod off with a big screwdriver stuck through the nozzle hole. I pulled the rear off, removed the spring and the bar, and plugged the empty end of the vacuum line "Y" with a golf tee -- the bottom of the pod is still there only 'cos I can't see how to remove it through the dash. If anyone's got a photo of the pod from the top, or could describe where the screws I need to remove are, I might be able to actually take the whole thing out using a short screwdriver!

Now that it's out, two issues have presented themselves. I tried pulling at the little white cap at the end of the hinge which the door rotates on with a pair of pliers, but only succeeded at scratching it and my hand up a little bit. I figured I could remove this side and pull the door out through the top, letting the pin at the other side fall onto the back of the driver's side bottom dash panel. Will this work? And if it will, what's the correct way to do it?

Also, when I removed the right nozzle, there was a steel ring between the outer ring and the nozzle itself not mentioned in the Climate Control manual's section on r/ring the side ring nozzles. Try as I may, I couldn't figure out how to re-install the nozzle correctly. What's the proper way to do it?

I know quite a few have successfully performed this mod without removing the dash, but I'm stuck! Any help's much, much appreciated!

Jeremy5848 · #2 06-30-2006, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnd

Also, when I removed the right nozzle, there was a steel ring between the outer ring and the nozzle itself not mentioned in the Climate Control manual's section on r/ring the side ring nozzles. Try as I may, I couldn't figure out how to re-install the nozzle correctly. What's the proper way to do it?

The steel ring that you describe is a type of spring washer that helps keep the two halves of the nozzle together. If you will look at the two halves of the nozzle, you will see that the inner part has indentations in four places while the outer part has protrusions to fit the indents.

You can either hold the inside part up to the hole in the dash while pushing the outer part through the hole or you can push the outer part through the hole first and then push the inner part onto it. Which ever way you do the job, the four protrusions must snap into the indents. The steel ring goes in between the two halves but it must go on the inside of the dash. The right nozzle should not be difficult (compared to the center nozzles which are a real PITA!).

After removing the glove box, push the outer piece through the hole, remembering where the protrusions are. Then reach in back and snap the steel ring over the protrusions. Then reach back and snap the inner piece over the outer piece until you hear the protrusions snap into the indents.

You can also hold the inner piece while pushing the outer piece through but it's harder to get the steel ring to stay in place that way.

Once you have the two halves snapped together with the ring trapped between them, you can reattach the hose and you're done.

Jeremy

johnd · #3 06-30-2006, 08:02 PM

I realize I didn't indicate: I'm talking about the right center nozzle!

The Climate Control manual has a section on the outer nozzles (which has no mention of this locking ring), but no section on the center nozzles -- as far as I see.

Thanks, I'll have another go at it!

Jeremy5848 · #4 06-30-2006, 08:33 PM

OK, same procedure, the left center is difficult because the right center is in the way but the right center is not bad at all. Same technique as for the far right nozzle.