Disco heater bodge?

Hi,

I have a 1993 Disco van.

The heater fan blows like crazy, but not onto the screen. The contol levers feel floppy, so I assume a cable has come adrift. I can live without heat, but I do like to see where I am going.

I don't really want to pull out all the interior. Is there anywhere that I can drill a hole, so I can poke my fingers in to reset the flaps?

602

Can you get your hand up the side from the drivers footwell?

w3526602 said:

Hi,

I have a 1993 Disco van.

The heater fan blows like crazy, but not onto the screen. The contol levers feel floppy, so I assume a cable has come adrift. I can live without heat, but I do like to see where I am going.

I don't really want to pull out all the interior. Is there anywhere that I can drill a hole, so I can poke my fingers in to reset the flaps?

602

Click to expand...

The centre section of the dash comes out quite easily and once out gives great access to the heating and ventilation unit.

I used Haynes to get mine out last week and all it took was about 10 screws then the whole centre section came out.

Do what he ^ ^ ^ ^ says. the chances are the cable has come adrift fro the control knob, they do.

Hi,

What do you mean by centre section of dash? NOT the instrument panel I assume? I didn't notice anything in the middle that looked easy to pull.....I'll look again tomorrow.

602

w3526602 said:

Hi,

What do you mean by centre section of dash? NOT the instrument panel I assume? I didn't notice anything in the middle that looked easy to pull.....I'll look again tomorrow.

602

Click to expand...

Hi 602, the centre section I was referring to is the bit that contains the two centre vents, the clock, the heater controls and the radio. This is one plastic frame that the Haynes manual describes very well in terms of the method of removal.

Having done it once I would say it takes 20 mins at most to whip it out - oooh errrr missus

Hi,

I took a peer around last evening. Nothing obvious to remove easily. But my radio sits near vertically in the centre CONSOLE which includes the parcel box between the seats, and the window switches. I think I must have an earlier model (pre-1994) and the console has to come out.

Heater control panel has clock on one side, and cigar lighter the other. I will pull the cigar lighter and peer thru the hole, see if I can find a lever.

Pulling the console looks easy in the manual. I've learned not to fix things that ain't broke, and even if they are broken don't fix them if you can avoid it. Little jobs have a habit of "maturing".

602

Yep pre 94 models you need to pull out the centre console (radio first), then two screws at the bottom of the radio slot, two screws under rubber mat ahead of gear sticks, window switch panel unclip and put to one side no need to take wires of, another below window switch panel, 4 screws in the bottom of the cubby box/armrest, , put car in gear and remove gaiters (both sticks), remove clevis pin and handbrake lever can now go vertical lift out centre console.

Pull the buttons off the heating control levers, remove screws above heater control levers and under the dash returns either side for the centre panel, pull clock and ciggy lighter out and unplug, unplug illumination careful with this as it is a simple printed circuit on plastic and can rip. Now remove panel trying not to crack the panel when removing it from where it returns under the dash both sides, this is a common thing to happen if it's your OWN CAR!! The heater controls will all stay in place, look at the centre panel you just removed and identify the control you need to look at.

Just grab the offending cable and push pull to get what you want, normaly the outer sleeve retainer has come adrift but the whole thing is very easy to comprehend.

If the cable has come away at the flap controls the just follow the cable up under the dash and either fix/adjust by hand, depending if you have air conditioning or not will dictate how hard this is to do.

Apologies if I have forgotten the odd screw as this is all from memory,

regards

Dave

Hi Dave,

Thanks for that.I just KNEW I didn't want to do this job.

602

Hi,

While I am delving under the console.......

The PO had fitted a 300TDi gearbox. I find gear selection to be very hit and miss. The detents across box to prevent selection of reverse, and premature selection of 5th do not seem to line up with where the lever ought to be. So I often go from 2nd to 5th, graunch a lot, or lever won't go in at all. Other times its slick. Reminds me of my old FIAT Ducato.

Should I look at this at the same time as the console is off?

602

Hi,

With all your encouragement, I pulled the console, etc, managed to get at the heater controls, though still not a lot of room.

Problem was the left lever, fresh air control. The plastic clip had broken up, so the lever was not moving the push-rod to open the vent. Push rod needed a lot of grunt on a small jemmy, to push it up, after which air blew onto the windscreen. I left the push-rod disconnected and dangling, hoping it will stay there. I don't think a new clip will be strong enough to overcome the stiffness. However, I have found that it is possible to pull the clock out the dash, and using a torch........

The dash panel is back in situ, with the remaining heater controls doing what they should. My thanks for your assistance and encouragement.

I have not yet replaced the console, as I have raised another question about my nasty gear shift.

602

w3526602 said:

Hi,

While I am delving under the console.......

The PO had fitted a 300TDi gearbox. I find gear selection to be very hit and miss. The detents across box to prevent selection of reverse, and premature selection of 5th do not seem to line up with where the lever ought to be. So I often go from 2nd to 5th, graunch a lot, or lever won't go in at all. Other times its slick. Reminds me of my old FIAT Ducato.

Should I look at this at the same time as the console is off?

602

Click to expand...

I am unsure if the later R380 gearbox has the bias springs as does the LT77, if it has, at the base of the gearlever (remove rubber flange gasket and flange) will be a plate with two springs that press against the gearstick. They are upposed to hold the gear stick in the middle of 3rd and 4th.

The plate can be adjusted by loosening IIRC 4 bolts which allows you to position the spring bias correctly however, the plate is prone to breaking so check this first. It is a common problem and cheap to fix.

When adjusted correctly you should be able to select 3rd & 4th with a simple push forward or back WITHOUT applying any force left or right.

Also the stiff heater cable can normaly be worked in/out/up/down or whatever to loosen it off.

Hope that helps

Regards

Dave

w3526602 said:

Hi,

While I am delving under the console.......

The PO had fitted a 300TDi gearbox. I find gear selection to be very hit and miss. The detents across box to prevent selection of reverse, and premature selection of 5th do not seem to line up with where the lever ought to be. So I often go from 2nd to 5th, graunch a lot, or lever won't go in at all. Other times its slick. Reminds me of my old FIAT Ducato.

Should I look at this at the same time as the console is off?

602

Click to expand...

It'd make sense to. Sounds like it's a problem with a mis-aligned bias plate and springs.