Before I replaced all the pods on my CE, I used a piece of wire coat hanger with the tip bent double to make it dull. I would turn on the a/c and then gently push against the flap until it opened. It would actually stay open so long as the a/c was on. That worked fine until the thing started making banging noises after about fifteen minutes. It about drove me insane before I paid $900 to have the dash taken off and all the pods replaced.

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I never go far without a little Big Star

1994 E500 199/Gray 82k
84 300D (Salty) Orient Red/Palomino 141k
88 300CE (Ersatzhammer) 904/Java 163k -- Turbo Technics twin turbo kit, AMG Gen I body kit, Sportline steering box and steering wheel, Sportline/Eibach /Bilstein Sport/500E suspension, Quaife LSD in 210 mm diff case, Silver Arrow brakes.
88 300CE Brabus 3.6 199 on Black 44k