Center Vents NG

[Crappy Gas Pipe]

Can anyone explain how to get the two center vents open by going into the glove box? A/C just blows on the windows.
1984 300D Turbo
So far I was able to get myself cold but my passanger is sweating.

[Biodiesel300TD]

I belive they are spring loaded. When vac is applied they open up and when the vac is taken away they close, so you you have to supply vac to them leave it under vac. Or you could wedge something back there so the actuator arm can go back.

[FA18C]

I like your mod, puts the cold air right up close. My center vents crapped out, I took out the glove box liner and if you look in and to the left you can actually see the valve fitting rotate. Easiest if you turn on the blower and open then center vents with a long screw driver. Usually mine will stay open if I do this, but I tire of carrying around the long screw driver and using it. When you shut the blower off, the vacuum will rotate the center flapper valve closed and you can see the fitting rotate.
My fix was to manually rotate the center vents open, then JB weld to valve in that position. I now control center vent flow by using the rotating vent control. Works exactly how I want it....and cost nothing but time.

Isn't it kind of hard to drive with that wood board on your seat?

[TMAllison]

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

Isn't it kind of hard to drive with that wood board on your seat?

Suspect it makes it doubly difficult to reach the box of crackers in the glove box while driving.

Good place for post it notes though.....or a drink holder.

[jshadows]

take the dash out and fix it correctly, it's worth it. The cost of a new diaphram for the pod is about $6. It's not that difficult to pull the dash, albeit it a bit time consuming. It's less than a day's job, unless your lazy like me, it's hot as hell out and your work area sucks like mine does.

[Crappy Gas Pipe]

Originally Posted by TMAllison

Suspect it makes it doubly difficult to reach the box of crackers in the glove box while driving.

Good place for post it notes though.....or a drink holder.

The plastic drink holder hangs between the window and the door.
The wood is steam bent to alow fingers to clear.
I've added a cardboard pipe w/ a slit paper cup taped to the left vent.

[ray m]

I rigged mine last week to do pretty much what you want. With the glovebox area removed you can reach in and remove (pull back) the rubber cover that covers the 2 center vents. Twist and pull the vent hoses out and move them to the side. You can then see the vacumm control that opens and closes a vent. I used a curved needle nose pliers to wiggle and wedge and pull the washer (securing washer) the holds the pin that connects the vacuum control arm to the vent. After you have seperated the arm from the vent pull the vent open and air will flow through it. I wedged the opened vent under the vac control arm to keep it open. Replace the vent hoses they will twist then lock into position ,then the rubber cover you removed and air will be permanently be directed through the center vent. You will need a small flash light to see inside the dash. take care It can be tricky or easy. In Louisiana I did it to keep my windows from fogging up when the A/C was on. It's to dam humid down here. This Should give a good direction to go. RAY M 1980 300d

[Crappy Gas Pipe]

Originally Posted by jshadows

take the dash out and fix it correctly, it's worth it. The cost of a new diaphram for the pod is about $6. It's not that difficult to pull the dash, albeit it a bit time consuming. It's less than a day's job, unless your lazy like me, it's hot as hell out and your work area sucks like mine does.

What if I get to that $6 flap and its new. Now I'm looking at a vacuum issue. I also think it could be that arm behind the glove box. Pops off.
I'll try what Ray M said. that sounds doable...

[TylerH860]

Originally Posted by jshadows

take the dash out and fix it correctly, it's worth it. The cost of a new diaphram for the pod is about $6. It's not that difficult to pull the dash, albeit it a bit time consuming. It's less than a day's job, unless your lazy like me, it's hot as hell out and your work area sucks like mine does.

High expectations from someone who thrashes his MB tex with a 2x4.

[turbobenz]

is that a veggie gauge i see where his ashtray should be?

[dmorrison]

2 approaches, remove the dash and fix the elements. Or do it the "scratched up hands" way.

Dash removal.

http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/W123Evaporator

Without removing the dash.

http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/W123HVACVacuumActuators

If you remove the dash consider replacing all the elements while your there. If you do it without removing the dash, replace just the bad ones.

Dave

[Crappy Gas Pipe]

DMorrison
Nice doc on that repair. So in otherwords I need to look for another car or live with it.
thanks for your help.

[dmorrison]

Originally Posted by Crappy Gas Pipe

DMorrison
Nice doc on that repair. So in otherwords I need to look for another car or live with it.
thanks for your help.

No, in otherwords you need to replace the center vent as per the element replacement Wiki.

Instead of rigging the system, fix the system. Go through and using a mityvac to check your elements and fix the bad ones. Then the system will work normally.

Dave

[bustedbenz]

Another option for getting the passenger some air would be to put a T-shaped plug on the end of that pipe coming out of the glove box... divert the air both to the left and to the right instead of sending it straight out. Each passenger gets 50% of the available air.