A/C, Air recirculation 300E, Please HELP !!!

I have problems with my AC. The air recirculation door is not operating. I took out the glove box and took a look in the back. I can barely see a pink colored actuator all the way in the back. Is this the actuator for the air recirculation flap? If it is, is there any way to take it off and replace it?

[vinamg]

The car uses two elements for the recirculation flap. The glove box side can be replaced without removing dash, but frankly isn't worth the hassle. The other one is even tighter. You can see it when you remove the cluster.
I've done the glove box side once, but spent so much time on it that it would have been faster removing the dash. You should remove the dash it's the easiest way of doing it, trust me.

Vinamg

Thanks. I took out the instrument cluster today and I realized that there is one more actuator on the driver's side, for a total of three actuators. The rear actuator can not be reached with the instrument cluster removed either. I decided to take out the dashboard. Since I am aware of the big work involved for removing the dashboard I want to make sure that if I removed it i will be able to get access to the rear actuator. Has anybody done it?? I need to know for sure before i do the removal. Please let me know.

[vinamg]

I'm sorry for not being clear enbough. Removing the dash is the only way of doing it. What I was trying to say is that the glove box side is possible (with a lot of hassle), but the other one, no way.
I've done this a bunch of times. You need to remove the dash.

Vinamg

Thanks. I have one more question. How do I go about removing the dash. Does the steering wheel have to come off? Also, does the lower part of the dash (under the steering wheel and the glove box) have to come off, too?. Finally, do the front door pillars have to come off? Since you have already done it, I would be gratefull if you could give me some directions on how to remove it so that I will not waste too much time trying to figure out everything. Thanks again.

[vinamg]

The following has to be removed:

1. Center console
2. Bottom part of the dash on steering wheel side only. The passenger bottom is part of the whole dash.
3. Steerinjg wheel
4. L and R A-pillars
5. Cluster and glove box of course
6. Small stuff: headlight switch, brake release, hood
release, shift gate wood, AC wood, AC PBU, radio, ashtray, center vent (has small allen bolt inside the vent for the flap), side vents, etc.

Good luck,
Vinamg

[ron@rydinterior]

Originally Posted by vinamg

The following has to be removed:

1. Center console
2. Bottom part of the dash on steering wheel side only. The passenger bottom is part of the whole dash.
3. Steerinjg wheel
4. L and R A-pillars
5. Cluster and glove box of course
6. Small stuff: headlight switch, brake release, hood
release, shift gate wood, AC wood, AC PBU, radio, ashtray, center vent (has small allen bolt inside the vent for the flap), side vents, etc.

Good luck,
Vinamg

I have read what is here so far, now I need to ask - is there any guide book that shows this proceedure in detail that is available for purchase?
the one thing that I am nervous about is the SRS bag in the steering column exploding! is this possible? is there anything that I should do to prevent this from happening? and one more thing I pulled the cluster out as far as it will go and I can't reach everything to unplug it! also nervous that I will unplug things and not remember where they go, any tips for this as well?
thanks for feedback!

[Mike Murrell]

http://mb.braingears.com/