After a couple weeks of chirping, my blower motor has given up the ghost. It seems quite straight forward in my w126, but I can't get that darn carpeted panel out. Is there a special trick? I think I've already cracked some of the plastic trying to pull it down. I unscrewed the three screws on the face of the panel. Are there screws/fasteners that I'm missing? I can't seem to find them.

Thanks,

Alex
85 300SD 222k

If you are talking about the hush panel that lays horizontal below the glovebox

and above the passenger well, then there are two screws on the sides.

The thing basically falls off.

The screws are located closest to the door pillar and just back after the center console.

__________________
80 300D 340K Owned 30 yrs
83 300SD 440K Owned 9 yrs - Daily Driver 150mi/day
02 Z71 Suburban 117,000
15 Toyota Prius 2600 miles
00 Harley Sportster 24k
09 Yamaha R6
03 Ninja 250

Mine is definitely not falling off. I see the screw on the console side but haven't seen the screw on the pillar side. I'll recheck in the morning. Thanks for the insight!

Alex
85 300sd 222k

If you don't find the side screws, run a tiny flat screwdriver tip gently along each edge of the panel from front of dash towards the firewall -- note where it binds. There's a large plastic "screw" that turns one-half turn and pulls straight out. THEN the panel will drop.

I think. It's raining or I'd go check. That's the deal for sure on the w123, and I'm pretty sure it's the same on the w126, allowing for the addition of the carpeted modules that have the door vent hoses in 'em.

__________________
Anthracite 1980 300D -- 64k original miles with a new engine, on the road again!
Silver 300D -- second owner, Sunny's old baby, Ilse, 210 miles,
Having to thin the herd….
Silver 1983 300SD -- second owner, 325k miles
Gold 1981 300D -- well-traveled, solid little car
Beige 1984 300D -- 292k miles, grease machine, parting out
Seafoam green 1981 300SD -- 250k, windshield frame damage
too many assorted w123 & w126 cars, parts cars, and extras

I am only spotting one side screw (on the console side) and it is out. There doesn't seem to be one on the pillar side-no binding. It seems to be binding under the glove box or back in the middle area near the firewall. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Alex
85 300SD 222k

I just went out and looked at our '85 (it's COLD out there!) and there's no panel in it, i.e. I can see the bottom of the fan assembly behind the carpeted door-vent tube thing. We didn't remove that panel, but we've had no reason to look at it, either (which means, of course, I need to go find a replacement panel....). I notice, however, the carpeted panel on the pillar side that hides a substantially sized electrical component (like a really big CCU controller) is loose and I'm guessing that was loosened in the removal of the panel covering the blower motor.

I'm not sure if you have to remove the carpeted door-vent tube thing right under the glovebox or not, but I bet you do. I took them out of the silver SD to replace the blower motor, and if I didn't need to, I doubt I'd have bothered. If it's binding under the glove box, that may be your problem. Look for small screws buried in the carpet. You can't really see them, but if you run your finger along the edges near the console and the pillar, you'll feel them. There are probably two on each side. Try getting that out and see if it doesn't free the panel.

Sorry to be so little help -- if I get up to the shop before dark, I'll look at the '83. I took the panel out on that one, and it's lying in the trunk (along with the carpeted door-vent tube things), so I should be able to tell you exactly where and what of fasteners you're looking for.

Sunny

__________________
Anthracite 1980 300D -- 64k original miles with a new engine, on the road again!
Silver 300D -- second owner, Sunny's old baby, Ilse, 210 miles,
Having to thin the herd….
Silver 1983 300SD -- second owner, 325k miles
Gold 1981 300D -- well-traveled, solid little car
Beige 1984 300D -- 292k miles, grease machine, parting out
Seafoam green 1981 300SD -- 250k, windshield frame damage
too many assorted w123 & w126 cars, parts cars, and extras

sunnyintx,

Any more insight about the panel under the glove box? I can't find any hidden screws and it isn't falling out.

Thanks,
Alex

85 300sd