How to remove the centre console climate controls.

[PJayUK]

Hi All

For some very odd reason the "AUTO" buttons on the left and right climate airflow controls are upside down on my car. I think a previous owner did this and has installed them incorrectly.

Just to clarify I am referring to the small buttons that control the independent air distribution for the passenger and driver. They can be depressed for the Auto setting or set manually. Both work fine but I just to want to remove as the lettering that says "AUTO" is upside down!

I cant see a simple way to get to them and would appreciate any advice you could give me. I have read a few threads that talk about removal of two torx screws in the ashtray but I am unsure how to get to the two controls once I have done this.

Can anyone help?

 

[Dave Richardson]

http://www.kotikone.fi/eerola/auto/diy/203dash/indext.html

Take a look at this link & you should find how to do th ejob,

(with grateful thanks to Smatt who sent it to me)

dave

 

[Smatt]

http://www.kotikone.fi/eerola/auto/diy/203dash/indext.html

Take a look at this link & you should find how to do th ejob,

(with grateful thanks to Smatt who sent it to me)

dave

That link, unfortunately, is for a C-class. The OP has an S-class. I suspect the procedure & switches may well be different on the more senior car...
Sure someone will be along with S-class advice...

 

[PJayUK]

Yeh its totally different on my S320L.... But thanks anyway.

I tried to find a picture of the layout on mine the best I could locate on the web was here

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/9323/w220press.htm

If you scroll down a bit to large picture of the interior this is what mine looks like. The parts that I need to remove and switch round are labelled as number 6 on the picture. Why they are in upside down is a mystery, I guess its a botch up by the previous owner!

 

[mr. shr]

If you open your ashtray you should see two torx screw in each corner.
Undo those (and i think remove the ash tray) then you will find the whole of the centre wood console can be pulled away. The console is only screwed in by the two screws in the ashtray. The top secton of the wood console is only held in place by push in spring clips. (So you just [gently] pull on this section and it should come away).

IIRC, the climate control unit is attached to the (now free) wood console so the two pieces should come away together as one piece. I believe you can unscrew the climate unit, now that you have the wood section out.

These instructions are based on memory, SO PLEASE WAIT UNTIL OTHERS HERE CONFIRM (sorry, not shouting just advising to be cautious).

Bottom line is, it's very easy to get the climate control unit out and these instructions are probably not a million miles out, but would be better to wait until someone who does this kind of thing regularly explains things a little clearer.

Not sure how easy it is to remove the individual buttons though.

 

[PJayUK]

Fantastic thank you very much!

I'll give this a go later...

 

[PJayUK]

This is just plain weird...

The buttons are all part of one unit, i cant see how the bloody things come out. And more to the point why they should be upside down!

 

[mr. shr]

This is just plain weird...

The buttons are all part of one unit, i cant see how the bloody things come out. And more to the point why they should be upside down!

You're talking about one of these, right?
I too can't understand why they would be upside down.

If you push the knobs (so they click out) is it possible to remove the ends? (or try to twist them so that they're the right way up?)

 

[PJayUK]

Absolutely thats exactly it.... You see the little knobs that push out for the left and righ controls, well the word AUTO is upside down on both of mine!

I know its a minor thing but it annoys me, I am a bit of a perfectionist where my cars are concerned!

Anyway I have tried twisting etc with no luck. I wondered if the ends simply popped off to hide a screw or something as they dont rotate with the outer collar. I havent been brave enough yet to do this for fear of scratching them and making it worse. And looking at this one for sale on ebay, the guys has posted another picture that suggests that its all one unit which means I would need to take the whole thing to bits to get to the knobs....

I guess I need to find someone that has already taken one apart to find out how they come off!

 

[richard]

I too can't understand why they would be upside down.

Australian car ? They have right hand drive too.

More seriously, i'd hesitate before pulling the knobs off, the ones on the COMAND do not pull off, you have to dismantle the unit, and as you can see ob ebayused units are £250

Of course, the fact that they are upside down probably means its quite easy to turn them upside down or its unlikely to have happened in the 1st case

Richard

 

[PJayUK]

Deffo not an Aussie car, I have the full history.

I hear what you say about damaging it, I think unless someone can tell me from experience how they come off I'll just leave it for now.....

I am sure I'll get over it!

 

[mr. shr]

I know its a minor thing but it annoys me, I am a bit of a perfectionist where my cars are concerned!

Of course you are. That's why you chose an S-Class

I had a quick look at mine today and think (with the buttons clicked out) you can get a thumb nail between the outer collar and the "auto" cover, but yes it might damage it.

Have you managed to remove the unit from the car yet?

 

[PJayUK]

Nope, not had the time really to do it properly. I am hoping that the caps just pop off but not sure. The car is booked into my local independant on Tuesday I may ask them before I start disconnecting things!

Just a thought, if I do decide to remove the climate unit will it cause any problems with the electronics. ie. will the car start registering faults etc?

Should i disconnect the battery first?

 

[mr. shr]

I don't think there's any need to disconnect the battery.

With regards to registering a fault, as long as you don't turn the ignition on whilst the climate control unit is disconnected, I doubt it will store a fault. (Don't think there's an instrument cluster display for climate control faults anyway).

Other's here should be able to confirm.

You're indy doing a service? They may be able to advise on how to proceed.

So are the "auto" bits perfectly upside down, or are they just a bit skew wiff??
If only a bit skew wiff, then maybe they can be gently twisted back?

If they are totally upside down, then seems very odd.
Does the unit look very worn? eg, are the symbols on the other buttons showing signs of excessive wear?

Does seem very strange.

 

[PJayUK]

They are perfectly upside down.....! Weird eh!

 

[PJayUK]

I'll take a picture later and post it so you can see (Just to confirm that I am not a random loony with an SCLASS!)