How to Remove PS Dash Vent w/ out breaking?

[SHOMA]

The headline is just as it reads. I have a black interior and found a 95 SLO with a green interior. Being that I did the dash overlay/shroud with a chameleon paint that is mainly green, I am putting in green vents, and I may put the green window switches in as well.. I broke 2 of the tabs on the green ps vent taking it out. Is there a good way to take out the vent without breaking the dash or the vent?
Thanks in advance!
Kevin

 

[SHOMA]

NO One knows??? Come on now, I dont want to break my old one! shrug

 

[RonPorter]

As you may be aware, there are four tabs that hold it in.....two on top, and two on the bottom. I'm speaking of the vane assembly as it's held in the bezel that surrounds it.

Use a very thin screwdriver, or an old butter knife, and slide it between the bezel and the vent. Gently pressing down, you can release the two tabs. Do one side, then do the other (top & bottom).

I did it on my former '95 that had cracked vent vanes. I bought a whole new ps assembly ($31 at the dealer), but didn't want to disassemble the dash to change the whole unit, so I just replaced the vane assembly and left the bezel in place.

<small>[ March 11, 2004, 09:30 PM: Message edited by: RonPorter ]</small>

 

[SHOMA]

Okay well I have a whole green vent from a 95 SLO, that I want to put in. I dont know exactly what the vane is, but I want to put the whole assembly in. I guess i just try the butter knife on the top and the bottom?
Thanks,
Kevin

 

[RonPorter]

95silvermtx:
Okay well I have a whole green vent from a 95 SLO, that I want to put in. I dont know exactly what the vane is, but I want to put the whole assembly in. I guess i just try the butter knife on the top and the bottom?
Thanks,
Kevin

The whole vent assembly is two pieces The vane assembly (as I call it) with the adjuster and fins is separate from the bezel "surround". On the right side, I believe that you have to pull the dash to get the whole vent assembly (vane & bezel) out correctly....but someone else may have the trick.

What I did was remove the vane assembly from the bezel, and had the old bezel stay in the dash while I inserted the new vane assembly with non-cracked/missing vent vanes.

If you need to pull the whole unit, I would check a Helms or one of the shop manuals to see if there is any way to do it without pulling the dash. Or, go to a Ford bodyshop and ask them if they have any tricks for doing that.