Looks like the actuation of my center vent on the 91 is finally failing. I have no interest in removing the dash and replacing pods (I have a perfectly-working Mercedes...it's called a CDI...haha). All I want to do is jam the vent open. I am happy either to have heat coming through the center vent or close it manually if I so desire.

When I remove the glove box liner and detach the air duct coming from the right side, and I stick my hand in there, is that where I should be able to push the vent?

I need smaller hands...may need to enlist my wife's support.

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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

While I'm still interested in how to jam the vent open for future reference, I discovered that the problem is a bad vacuum signal to the manifold. Once I figure out the leak I should be back in business.

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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Remove the vent and open the flap

__________________
Only diesels in this driveway.
2005 E320 CDI 243k Black/Black
2008 Chevy 3500HD Duramax 340k
2004 Chevy 2500HD Duramax 220k

Seriously? That's pretty involved.

__________________
14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

I've been wondering about this also. I jammed open the center vent flap on the old w123 then was able to control the air there by opening or closing the vents.

I Would Ike to be able to do the same thing in the iceberg

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Current fleet
2006 E320 CDI
1992 300D - 5speed manual swapped

former members
1984 300D "Blues Mobile"

1978 300CD "El Toro"

You need to remove the vent to do a good job. The Micky mouse way would be to put a stick thru the vent and jam the flap open. A chopstick or something similar would do. Or something thicker but can pass the vent slot.

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Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.

Yup, you can even stain the stick to match the trim.

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

Hmmm, I was thinking it would be much more involved, especially if the vent is closed. The vacuum pod and arm works are inside the HVAC box, under that vent. When I took apart a 124 sedan I was parting, I remember looking at how much effort it took to get to that mechanism.

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Respectfully,
/s/
M. Dillon
'87 124.193 (300TD) "White Whale", ~392k miles, 3.5l IP fitted
'95 124.131 (E300) "Sapphire", 380k miles
'73 Balboa 20 "Sanctification"
Charleston SC

To not break anything yes. It takes me two minutes to take the vent out. Very simple.

__________________
Only diesels in this driveway.
2005 E320 CDI 243k Black/Black
2008 Chevy 3500HD Duramax 340k
2004 Chevy 2500HD Duramax 220k

brief description of your procedure please?

__________________
Current fleet
2006 E320 CDI
1992 300D - 5speed manual swapped

former members
1984 300D "Blues Mobile"

1978 300CD "El Toro"

I watched this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERvS-Ag_ahw

It looks like you need to remove cluster to access bolt on left.

__________________
14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

I've taken out many instrument clusters on MB. I also work flat rate. Cluster out, 5mm Allen, screw on the side of the glove box and cluster. In and out. The cluster doesn't have to be taken out completely if you have telescopic wheel

__________________
Only diesels in this driveway.
2005 E320 CDI 243k Black/Black
2008 Chevy 3500HD Duramax 340k
2004 Chevy 2500HD Duramax 220k