Heater controls

[Niels911SC]

I've got a problem with the red heater control knob. When I move it to either the right or the left to put it in defroster mode it just jumps back to the middle, where it stays.
I only got the car a few months ago but it's been this way ever since I got it.
Anyone got an idea as to why or how I can fix it?

P.S. the picture's not mine, as you can see, since that red knob does stay to the left.

[Andy911sc]

I had the same problem in my '78 924 and upon inspecting the linkage cable. I found a kink at the one end of the inner cable that runs through the sheath. I straightened it the best I could and it's worked fine since. Hope that helps.

[Niels911SC]

Sorry for answering so late; have been busy past couple of weeks. So, I took a look at it, and I think I've got the same problem as you had, the cable is kinked and when I move the lever it just folds itself instead of going into the shaft.
However, the access is very limited and I guess I'll either have to get the mechanism out or remove the ashtray, whichever is easiest.
Any ideas?

[wacko]

Originally Posted by Andy911sc

I had the same problem in my '78 924 and upon inspecting the linkage cable. I found a kink at the one end of the inner cable that runs through the sheath. I straightened it the best I could and it's worked fine since. Hope that helps.

What is the best way to access these cables as i am having the same issue?

[wolds]

I just replaced the center cable on my SC. Mine was also folded and when I tried to straighten it, it just snapped which was predictable because it's just a piece of music wire. Anyway, Once you have the control assembly out of the dash which is a pita you can pull the wire out from the control panel side. Go to a good hobby shop and they should be able to match up a piece of wire ( I believe it is aound .047"). You might also be able to find the wire at a hardware store. I had a pair of Z bend pliers which make bending the two Z bends you are going to need easy to make. These can also be purchased at the hobby shop, they aren't too expensive. Make up one end of the wire. You will also need to round off the other end because if you don't it will want to hang up in the outer sleeve as you push it back in. Once you have that done all you need to do is trim and bend the other end. Here's a tip. The reason the cable kinked to begin with is that some one did not have it adjusted correctly and when the cable ran out of travel someone just kept pushing on the control causing it to kink. Hope this helps. Warren

[woland]

He

Before all, unscrew (4 screws) the panel in the front trunk and verify that all the levers (see picture) move freely, then identify each moving the heater controls

[Jdub]

Do not mean to hijack this thread, but about the lever panel in the pic above: How can you remove just this panel from the dash? Is it an interference fit - screws?

[wolds]

There is a single nut or bolt (can't remember which) that holds it in place. Problem is with the lamps that plug in on the RH side interfere with removal and also because the three cables are anchored at there distal end you won't be able to pull it very far out of the dash.

[Jdub]

But maybe just enough. I am trying to figure out why the light sockets no longer sit into the receptacles on that plate, and backlight the glyphs/icons on that plate. Driving me crazy, even with correct Osram bulbs, cannot get those freaking sockets to stay - in fact they don't appear to even belong to one another!

One poster had mentioned that the receptacles on backside of pictured lever plate warp over time (is this possible?).