Hey guys, Been working hard on the Merc and started looking at the cable controls for the fresh air vents, Temp control and Defrost. These cable controls are extremely stiff and hard to move. One of the tabs on the side of the ashtray for the passenger vent was actually cracked from too much pressure I'm thinking. I've hit the vent doors with wd40 and worked them a few times but still stiff as hell. Am I going to have to replace these to make them work better or is there some secret to making them work better? Anybody else had this problem?
I'd disconnect the cables and see if the cable is stiff or the vent doors. No sense trying to fix something that is OK. If the cable is sticky, remove and soak in penetrating oil
Once you get them out and off the car, slide the knob and center wire out of the casing and carefully clean the wire of rust and crud by hand while soaking the wire casing in a chemical rust remover like oh molasses or vinegar. Paint the casing after cleaning, lube with a good non-running lubricant and reassemble and install.
Good suggestions above, nothing is better than removal, cleaning, and lubrication. The butterfly valves in the vent doors have metal centers and rubber outer edges. The rubber typically deteriorates, and new ones are available from Mac's auto parts. Maybe you have some broken pieces jamming it up. Your heater valve may also be corroded and jammed.
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