Cable off the bottom of the fan speed controller

Where does this go? What does it do? Mine is incredibly stiff, the previous owner has disconnected it from the bottom of the arm in the dash, as it pushes the speed selector back to a central position when you let go.

I believe the temp one on the right controls the flap in the heater box, and the other controls the air direction, but I cannot think what this one would do

C_h_a_z said:

Where does this go? What does it do? Mine is incredibly stiff, the previous owner has disconnected it from the bottom of the arm in the dash, as it pushes the speed selector back to a central position when you let go.

I believe the temp one on the right controls the flap in the heater box, and the other controls the air direction, but I cannot think what this one would do

Click to expand...

It controls the fan speed electronically yes, but it also closes an air flap in the heater assembly mechanically when you select 0. It doesn't really work. When mine is set to 0 I can still feel air coming through when doing a moderate speed on the motorway it's better than the fan!

It's supposed to control the flap in the heater box that lets air past the heater matrix. As you move the lever down, the flap should open and warm air "should" be felt coming through the vents inside, particularly when you're moving fairly quickly. Once you get the lever near the bottom position, it switches on the fan. Lubricating the cable can help it work a bit more effectively.

zeaphod said:

It's supposed to control the flap in the heater box that lets air past the heater matrix. As you move the lever down, the flap should open and warm air "should" be felt coming through the vents inside, particularly when you're moving fairly quickly. Once you get the lever near the bottom position, it switches on the fan. Lubricating the cable can help it work a bit more effectively.

Click to expand...

You are getting confused with the temp flap. He is, I believe, talking about the cable on the speed controller which controls airflow entirely through the assembly totally independently of the temperature setting.

There are two flaps, one for hot or cold - laughable, which controls air direction, through the matrix, not through the matrix or anywhere in between as a % of each. and one that is supposed to cut air flow entirely so that you don't have air blasting in hot or cold while on the motorway.

If you do a search, this was discussed in depth with drawings just a few days ago.

cheers

Quite right......fan speed is the electrical connection on the slide mechanism itself, I think it copies the system used by Thomas Edison to switch on his light bulbs....

The bottom end of the same lever movement should engage the 'stopper' flap in the system to keep out smoke, smells, the reek of the great unwashed as you go through London, that sort of thing.

Mine was pretty useless for years - last year I disconnected, made a plastiscene funnel round the raised end and left 3in1 feeding into the cable for a couple of days - amazingly the cable now moves pretty freely and even engages the flap - I can risk trips into the big city again..... ;-) A

The mother in law had a tiny bottle of liquid silicone stuff. I think it's meant for curtain rails, stiff drawers etc. I dripped some of that down the end of the cable and not it moves effortlessly. So, the moral of the story there is..........mother in laws aren't all bad ..........

As with the other heater controls, this flap is only as effective as the adjustment of the cable and the condition of the seals.
Correctly adjusted it will stop all flow through the heater-box but when open will allow unrestricted flow.

Having used a LRX (now KBX) inlet grill for many years now I get excellent through-flow even with the blower off, the trick is not to move the lever right to the top of its travel but to leave it a couple of inches down (just before the fan starts on speed-1).

Thanks guys. Sorry I didn't search hard enough, but I wasn't really sure what I was searching for.