W126 Instrument Cluster Removal
 

It's springtime!!!

This means that all nutcases owning old classics get to work on their air conditioning systems, again!

In my case, I will soon attack the dreaded expansion valve on my 560 SEL. (1989). As I go thorugh the CD, I realized I could do this the hard way by trying to take shortcuts (crowsfoot wrenches, weird angles, and broken wrists), or I could do it by the book, i.e remove the instrument cluster (not hard) and the center console. This may be the longer route, but there are benefits:

1. My flasher relay is acting up occasionally (once every two or three months)
2. My dash lights could use some brightening up

So the more I think about this, the more I ask: Once I am in there, what else should I do? I mean, this is the perfect occasion address anything that could go wrong in there in the future. Any ideas?

Check the condition of the actuators that move the flaps (air direction). Sometimes they start cracking and fail to move the flaps. Common sympton is air coming from defrost and side vents only, and no air thru center vent.

pesyazo,

I have the non working center vent on my '87 126 300SDL. How do I get to the actuator for the center vent?

P E H

Thanks! Excellent idea. Anything else?