Replacing heater illumination bulb on W124

[alloam]

Okay, I think I must be being really stupid but I can't get the heater rotary knobs off the E280 (W124) so I can get behind the heater controls to replace one of the heater illumination bulbs (driver's side temp dial bulb) that blew about a year ago and I'm getting around to fixing now. (Because I have a pile of other work that needs doing and I am Mr Procrastinator (changed the front disks and brake pads two weeks ago in a fit of procrastination about other work that needed doing...))

I've huffed and I've puffed but the darned thing won't budge. Any ideas? Does it have to be pointing a certain way? I noticed in earlier discussion of W210 the knobs had to be pointing outwards (towards respective doors). I've tried that to no avail.

Any ideas? If it is brute force, how do you get enough leverage? I obviously don;t want to use some metal clamp that is going to scratch the living daylights of these knobs.

Ironically, the light switch rotary knob is constantly popping off making it very difficult to switch on the fog lights, but that is for another day.

Suggestions gladly received.

 

[Sp!ke]

Cant help mate... mine just pull off with relative ease whichever way they are pointing.

I'm thinking superglue or some other darstedly substance has been used in the past.

Mebbe best to puchase a new knob and then set about removing the old one with a dremel or something so as to not damage the surround if its that stubborn.

 

[andy_k]

they can be an absolute **** to get off the first time

firstly if it doesn't come off easily don't keep pulling on the front section of the switch otherwise you'll end up with a switch that is meant to be "one piece" becoming two rather less useful bits

you need to construct a tool the you can get the right amount of leverage, so try this,

with a piece of wire manipulate it around the back of the switch (from the top) until it is resting on the shaft and both ends of the wire are sticking out the front

now repeat that from the bottom end and you should have all 4 ends of the wire protruding

wrap/tie them around a screwdriver or something similar and then pull - gives you a lot more to get hold of and the force is applied to the rear of the switch.

Don't be surprised if it suddenly flies off and you end up either stabbing yourself with the screwdriver or punching yourself in the face as soon as the pressure is released .

Andy

 

[jaymanek]

yes it can be v difficult. I usually get a piece of cloth around the knob, then use some pliers to grip hard and pull...

Jay

 

[alloam]

Yippeee!

Tried the wire behind the knob trick, but all I could find were long cable ties, still didn't give me enough to wrap around screwdriver so resorted to pliers and one of daughters winter hats - success.

Took everything apart before I realised there was no way in from the back! Then removed the light conductor bits and found the bulbs. I had planned to turn on the lights once the dash was apart to see where the bulbs were by relying on the good side. But in my manhandling it had blown too.

So I think I'll put four new bulbs in back here, and that should be it for awhile. Need to get some now.

Anyway, thanks for the help guys. A simple but satisfying job.

 

[CRJ343]

Pulling off the heater rotary knobs

I use a pair of grips wrapped in a rag/duster and PULL