OK the pliers makes sense because these pods on the SDL are suppose to be "bayonet style. Not screws or rivets to the bracket. Meaning they just twist and release outward.

But, how do you access the actuator rod on the door flap ?? I.e., get it off and then back on again ? How does twisting the pod release the the rod ?

That seems like that would be the difficult part. It seems to be inside the plastic vent surround. I may be wrong here but no one has an answer on that.

One thought would be to just remove the pod, some how and try to access the the flap rod, if one knew how, and wire it (pull it) permanently open and use the sliders to open and shut the center vent.

Not an elegant fix but no one, I mean absolutely no one on this whole site, seems to have a better alternative.

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1986 SDL
My Other Car is a Porsche. When it stops leaking, I'm out of oil.