Speedo & vents

[K666GRF]

Following on from my last thread "speedos and paint"...

I found the source of the problem; so if anyone else has the same symptoms (ie odometer failed and speedo completely erratic, sometimes just spinning around the dial) could I suggest that you check the quality of the earth on the back of the speedo. Someone had robbed the locking nut on mine and tried to tighten the earth against the insulating grommet... it might have worked for a while, but longterm it loosened and provided an intermittent contact... Still, cheaper to rectify than a new speedo or pickup!
So, back with the dash and on to the next challenge. How do you align the plenum chambers with the back of the vents when you push the dash back into engagement? After much patience, bent wire and repeated dis-assembly I have got the passenger side in but not the driver's... Anyone been here before and solved this one?

[tvr4ever]

Having done this several times i can honestly say this is one of the most stupid constructions i have ever seen in a car. Looks like it's been constructed by a drunk Russian engineer. I haven't found the "right" way to do it, just takes a lot of fiddling, and patience..

After a while the whole assembly starts to loosen up again and the vent starts to stick out of the dash, i've tried tape to make the vents fit better, no succes.

If/when you find a way to do this properly please share, it's time to do my vents again and it would be nice to have them properly seated against the dash (specialy if you have Leven vents). Just in time for my upcoming Stelvio Run.

Cheers Fred

[Ballistic Banana]

I used a feeler guage to hold up the ali Boxed section while i threaded the Vents back in.
Also could use anything similiar.Actually go through the vent grill.

BB

[andy43]

Been there after the not-so-bright idea of cleaning the vents off the car. Doh. The vent/adjustable grille bit does come out of its rectangular housing with a bit of force - makes it easier to shove the housing halfway into the conduit behind the dash, and then shove the grille bit in after. TVR = nil points for this one.

[mack]

When I fitted the leven ones to my last griff,I found it easier to remove the glovebox and radio/mounting bracket to give room to squeeze your hand in.After that it's trial and error with the insulating tape to get them to stay in place!

[GasBlaster]

I was caught in the vent trap the other day - I idly pulled out the drivers' side vent then spent the best part of a day trying to get the damn thing back in again. Solution was to push the aly bit deep into close-fitting hole in the bulkhead behind the dash, then aim the plastic bit at it, quickly shove it forward and eventually the two bits mated up. I found I could get a finger in from behind (oh, er!) under the dash in the drivers footwell.

NB. How do you get at the back of the speedo to check the earth?

[Ballistic Banana]

GasBlaster said:

NB. How do you get at the back of the speedo to check the earth?

Dash out i am afraid , but not that scarey Honest.
Do as it says in the Bible.
Two Bolts, 2 screws and a wingnut.

BB

[shpub]

Take radio out. Use space to access and locate the vents in place. Refit radio.

Steve

[GasBlaster]

Not that scary? I was frightened to death! I used about half a can of WD40 on the leather-look stuff, the dash was mega tight, eventually managed to get it off. All my speedo wires seemed fine, which means I probably need a new one as the mileometer has stopped working (unless anyone has any ideas?).

Putting the dash back on was a sod. I though I'd make it easier by removing the ally vent pipe, puuting it back on afterwards, but will it fit back through the hole in the dash? Er, no!. It can now wait until the speedo gets done. One thing though - that wingnut behind he left hand vent - what is it meant to attach to?????

Cheers!