Afternoon

 

Recently I've had broken vent slats in both the large centre vent and the small driver's side vent.

 

Fixed the centre vent by managing to remove and replace the broken slats (the angle-adjustment drive pins had broken off) with some from a s/h unit I bought.

 

Driver's problem is different and I need to remove and replace the whole vent assembly (another used one from the same source) - but can anyone advise me, or point me in the right direction, on how to do that?

 

Thanks in advance.

Going to need something slim and firm to pry the sides out :

 

http://workshop-manuals.com/skoda/octavia-mk2/heating_ventilation_air_conditioning_system/heating_air_conditioning/heating/removing_and_installing_parts_of_the_heater_unit_part_1/removing_and_installing_flow_vent/removing_and_installing_the_right/left_side_vent/

Volf

 

Thanks - I thought it might be something like that but didn't know where to look.

 

Think I can find various thin tools (table knife??) and have a go tomorrow.

 

By the way, I repaired the central vent issue without removing it because the vent slats on that can be removed and replaced - with care!  There is are two pegs on each slat at the outer end, but only 1 peg at the centre partition end - the slats are quite long and slightly flexible and so, if you carefully use a pair of long-nosed pliars with thin jaws, you can bend them sideways enough to disengage the single peg and pull the slat out. Replacement is much the same but  easier and quicker.

Edited 10 January, 20188 yr by jeallen01

Let me know how you get on with this, I have been wondering about removing mine to wrap them in carbon vinyl.

14 minutes ago, HarleQuinn said:

Let me know how you get on with this, I have been wondering about removing mine to wrap them in carbon vinyl.

Will aim to do (might take some photos)

 

BTW: the web pages before and after the one linked by Volf indicate how to remove the dashboard centre vent and the one at the rear of the armrest (not that I found that difficult with just a couple of small screwdrivers when I replaced it last year)

1 minute ago, jeallen01 said:

Will aim to do (might take some photos)

 

BTW: the web pages before and after the one linked by Volf indicate how to remove the dashboard centre vent and the one at the rear of the armrest (not that I found that difficult with just a couple of small screwdrivers when I replaced it last year)

 

I did the centre console, DSG trim and ashtray a couple of months ago, nothing since because of the weather and the car has some mechanical issues currently but I am interested in removal of the trim so I can do more. I will,look forward to your update!

I have replaced my right hand side vent for the same reason... I can tell you it's a PITA to remove. 

 

If the new vent doesn't have the metal clips attached to it then make sure you don't bend the original ones too much or you don't break them. Also need to make sure you don't drop them behind the dash as they can fall way down behind the door threshold panel.....

 

I spent over an hour doing this with a proper set of plastic prying tools and old cards.

 

You can remove the dash side panels to allow for some pushing and prying from behind. 

You also need to look out for scratching your dash - use some kind of cloth to put between the prying tool and the dash. 

 

It's doable but it's a pain.... just do it in a day when you feel like you have the patience, otherwise you risk doing damage or having to take many trim parts off to recover metal pins like I did.... I found mine under the carpet after I dropped it.

 

The way I managed was by using several tools to pry it off at the same time. Stick one in - pry, stick another, pry, use a third one to further pry and pull towards you. All of this while making sure those metal clips don't get bent. (they tend to bend and crumble if you pull the vent towards either side too much)

 

Wish I took some pictures when I did it...

 

Hope this helps - good luck!

Edited 11 January, 20188 yr by Inex

Job done - about 15 mins plus some thought and preparation time figuring out how to do it, and with what "tools".

 

The secret weapons = 4x slightly flexible table knives (!) - one for each clip -, plus a trim removal tool.  See photos, but obviously you can't see between those shots when I gently "wiggled" the old vent from side to side and up and down to get it to gradually come out of the dashboard aperture!

 

The critical stages are

- Push the top 2 knives in first as the lower 2 will get in the way of doing that if you put them in first.

-  between the 2nd and 3rd shot as you gently force the vent towards you and downwards,

-  between the 3rd & 4th shots as you generally pull upwards on on the lower edge to get the lower 2 clips to release - probably need the knives again to finally persuade them to do that.

 

Don't be surprised if you hear a few "pings" and snapping noises as the metal clips break off the existing vent - be "brave" and carry on (a **** or bust situation!)!

 

Putting the replacement back in is quite easy/quick - push the top firmly inwards and slightly upwards and then progressively push down on both side from the top to the bottom until it finally clicks in the correct position

Edited 11 January, 20188 yr by jeallen01

Looks like some scene from Saw - good job!

Never saw the "Saw" but thanks !

You have put me off trying to remove mine to add some wrap, bigger task than I wanted for a simple thing lol

I did the job because I needed to, but would not have done it for purely "cosmetic" reasons!

15 hours ago, jeallen01 said:

I did the job because I needed to, but would not have done it for purely "cosmetic" reasons!

 

Yeah, I thought it would be a simple pull and click sort of job, I will find an alternative way! Nice work though with sorting your issue!

Bump.