I hope all of this makes sense. It is a fiddly job but very satisfying to have all of the vents working.
Not for the faint hearted. If something I say doesn't make sense I may have left something out or I could be wrong?
Apologies for the sparse and blurry pics but I didn't think of taking them 'til half way through the process
A Dremel tool would be handy but I didn't have one when I did this, I used an old hand drill as the electric one was too uncontrollable.
OK I am stretching the brain box as it was a few months ago
Before starting if you can get some extra vents (they don't have to be perfect) it is handy (probably imperative) to have extra bits as they are brittle plastic and things break easily.
If you can get some that all work (good luck) do that instead it's much easier. I think the Nimbus ones are the same colour as the RVR and may be more around.
I know where there is one at a wrecker locally so I might go and have a look later.
Once you get them out have a good look at the way they go together before you start. It's usually the up and down ones that are busted.
The centre vents I think popped out with a bit of gentle leverage on the sides of the main trim (not on the vents) with wide blade screwdriver on each side.
They come out as a complete unit (both vents) and to get to the internals I used 2 thin plastic rulers to carefully lift up all of the clips (top and bottom) at the same time to get the front of the vents off. This exposes all of the works but don't let them fall out just yet have another good look at how it goes together
The side vent are held on by screws which I accessed by taking off the speaker garnish on the LHS and the lower instrument panel on the RHS
Then take off the speakers and with much wrist action through the hole remove 2 (?) screws holding each side vent in and then remove the side vents.
The front comes off in a similar fashion to the centre ones.
Be very careful as the parts are quite delicate. Don't let the vanes fall out just yet
Be especially careful not to lose or break this bit (It is quite small and all of the plastic bits are brittle) If you do this you are totally stuffed right there.
This is why extra spare vents are a good idea as there are 2 of these in each vent.
Looking at the side view this is where it lives (in the middle)
all of the other vanes clip in on both sides, this one slides out on one side and the little bit you shall not lose or break comes out from the side.
Don't try to unclip it like the others or it will break into at least 2 pieces.
You will also notice that the ends of the vane that this little collar lives on has the slide control for the left and right movement and has a different end on one side to all of the other vanes. The ones with the heads on actually clip into the sides but the centre one slides into the bit you must not lose or break. (Its made like this so the side to side slider will come off over the end) Also notice in the LH picture the tiny little pin that connects to the control link has broken off (In the little square cutout). This can be fixed. (I'll tell you later)
The two vanes aren't lined up but you can see the pin on the LHS of the normal vane
Usually the vertical vanes work OK (left to right) it is the horizontal bits (up and down) that don't work, usually because the plastic link between the vanes is broken (like this)
The sad bit is even if half of it is not broken it will probably break when you start trying to unclip it from the vanes
Keep all of the bits you can find as they can be used by gluing them together onto the straight edge of a thin piece of aluminium and using the holes (or the bits of holes) as guides to make a template. The holes have to be in the right place or the vanes wont line up and move properly.
You then drill through the template to make your new connector. I used a thin black cable tie, drilling it first then cutting it to length.
The holes you drill have to be large enough for the mushroom ends to go through without breaking and small enough so they don't fall out.
That may require a bit of experiment and the purchase of a suitable drill bit.
I can't remember what size it was but it wasn't a normal metric size.
I measured and got the nearest inch fraction drill I think
If the mushroom ends have broken off and you have no spare vanes you can drill a small hole in the end of the vane, superglue a pin into it and then cut it to length.
BUT you may need to drill a smaller hole in the link, I can't remember.
I gave them a dose of armor-all for a bit of lube on the bearings when I finished.
When pressing the vents back in stay away from the vanes or you may have to start again.
And THAT is how I got all my vents working.
I am now very careful and don't let my passengers be rough with them.
Any swear words are acceptable, I am sure you can find a few I haven't thought of.
Edited by penngwyne, 27 March 2014 - 02:06 PM.
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