Center Console Dial Broken <help needed>
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ
Center Console Dial Broken <help needed>
Hello!
The right dial (of the two to control vents/cooling/heating) in my center console spins but does not move the little orange indicator. It also does not spin very freely. I can tell there is something broken or not right with it. Does anyone know what the problem could be?
Also, to remove the panel and see what's going on below, do I just need to remove the 4 screws in the first picture and then pull it off, or is there more to it?
The second picture shows the dial and you can see the little orange indicator at the very bottom (at the H) that won't move when I spin the dial.
Also, can anyone explain all the different settings? I figure the top is blower speed (off, low, mid, mid-high, high) and a couple are obvious like DEF or HTR, but what about MAX A/C, NORM, BI-LEVEL, VENT?
Thanks very much for your assistance!
The right dial (of the two to control vents/cooling/heating) in my center console spins but does not move the little orange indicator. It also does not spin very freely. I can tell there is something broken or not right with it. Does anyone know what the problem could be?
Also, to remove the panel and see what's going on below, do I just need to remove the 4 screws in the first picture and then pull it off, or is there more to it?
The second picture shows the dial and you can see the little orange indicator at the very bottom (at the H) that won't move when I spin the dial.
Also, can anyone explain all the different settings? I figure the top is blower speed (off, low, mid, mid-high, high) and a couple are obvious like DEF or HTR, but what about MAX A/C, NORM, BI-LEVEL, VENT?
Thanks very much for your assistance!
Last edited by Yello74; Feb 26, 2014 at 06:04 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 11,285
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From: Grapevine Tx
2018 C3 of Year Finalist
2016 C3 of the Year Finalist
Those 4 screws plus you have to remove the shift ****. Then when you get the cover off, there should be some small screws to get the controller out.
As for the positions, read the manual. It should explain all the settings.
As for the positions, read the manual. It should explain all the settings.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,271
Likes: 4,362
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Y,
The right side wheel drives a stiff spring steel cable that opens and closes a door that controls the heater/defroster hot (H) or cold (C).
The fact that it moves easily means one of two things; either the steel cable end has snapped off, (it happens), or the string, (yes a string), that the wheel moves to operate the cable has broken or come off it's pulley.
This is crazy but remember it was 40 years ago and we thought the wheels were cool.
You won't know for sure until you take the controller out of the shifter plate.
Regards,
Alan
The right side wheel drives a stiff spring steel cable that opens and closes a door that controls the heater/defroster hot (H) or cold (C).
The fact that it moves easily means one of two things; either the steel cable end has snapped off, (it happens), or the string, (yes a string), that the wheel moves to operate the cable has broken or come off it's pulley.
This is crazy but remember it was 40 years ago and we thought the wheels were cool.
You won't know for sure until you take the controller out of the shifter plate.
Regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; Feb 26, 2014 at 08:32 PM.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,852
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I have some original Needles. http://willcoxcorvette.com/advanced_...eywords=needle
you also have to deal with that goofy retainer under the control. Number 3 in this picture. Everything below the face of the control is under this retainer, the top of the controls is above and screws to it.
you also have to deal with that goofy retainer under the control. Number 3 in this picture. Everything below the face of the control is under this retainer, the top of the controls is above and screws to it.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ
So it seems the little orange indicator strip doesn't move when I turn the dial but there's a tiny **** on the right side that moves all the way back and forth with the dial. Does that mean its functioning correctly but just the orange indicator strip is broken?
Also, I found out why the dial felt weird to turn. It's apparently rubbing against the steel rod going forward from the automatic shifter. When I lift the controller slightly the dial feels normal, but when it sits it rubs against the steel rod. Anyone had this issue or know how to correctly fix it? Thanks again!
Also, I found out why the dial felt weird to turn. It's apparently rubbing against the steel rod going forward from the automatic shifter. When I lift the controller slightly the dial feels normal, but when it sits it rubs against the steel rod. Anyone had this issue or know how to correctly fix it? Thanks again!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ
Also, I found out why the dial felt weird to turn. It's apparently rubbing against the steel rod going forward from the automatic shifter. When I lift the controller slightly the dial feels normal, but when it sits it rubs against the steel rod. Anyone had this issue or know how to correctly fix it? Thanks again!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,426
Likes: 1,559
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Disconnect the battery and take a close look.
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Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
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From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
If you have the control apart.. pete posted a link on how to fix the needle problem...
Willcox
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Last edited by Easy Mike; Mar 7, 2014 at 01:53 PM.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ
The problem (besides the needle) is that the dial is rubbing against the metal rod going forward from the automatic shifter (as shown in the picture). I've re-seated everything and it all seems to be lined up correctly but it keeps rubbing against the rod making it hard to turn the dial...
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Your pic shows no console.
Do you have the assembly instructon manual (AIM)? The AIM has diagrams showing how all this went together on the assembly line. It will also help gettng everything back together after you've rebuilt your HVAC control.