2005 DB9 aircon vents

[pschlute]

Anyone know how to remove the two aircon vents that are at the top of the dashboard panels (furthest from driver/passenger), immediate in front of the windscreen?

Car is 2005 DB9. I am on a rattle hunt, and think these may be suspects.

[Matrix6048]

Try to look here: http://en.aston-martin-club.com/manual_download.ph...

[thetees]

This is not covered specifically in the workshop manual (or not in the one that I have).
The only (almost) relevant page is this...

[brakedwell]

Those cheap plastic demister vents should unclip, unless someone has glued them down already. Vent rattles in early cars were often stopped by infusing windscreen adhesive.

[pschlute]

Thanks for the replies, I will try a bit of gentle levering with a screwdriver blade.

[Jockman]

pschlute said:

Thanks for the replies, I will try a bit of gentle levering with a screwdriver blade.

There is a recommended tool for such purposes...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/231122110437?limghl...

You're welcome

[pschlute]

I might have to give that a try !...as gentle levering with a screwdriver has got me nowhere.

[pschlute]

pschlute said:

...as gentle levering with a screwdriver has got me nowhere.

.....however, aggressive levering with a bigger screwdriver had the desired effect.

These vents were indeed the source of my most irritating rattle.

[clunker]

If it is at all like the mount for the two center vents (in ski slop), then the side trim panel should pry /pop off and then the vent is torx screwed into the back of that, and it slides (with a foam edging) into the vent duct behind that...

[pschlute]

Clunker, I am referring to the long windscreen demister vents that run along the base of the windscreen, not the small vents with the wheel control. They popped out quite easily in the end, and a drive with them out confirmed they were the source of irritating rattles. I am going to glue them back in place.

[pschlute]

brakedwell said:

Those cheap plastic demister vents should unclip, unless someone has glued them down already. Vent rattles in early cars were often stopped by infusing windscreen adhesive.

Any reason you mention windscreen adhesive ? Will I have problems using a "super glue" adhesive suitable for plastics? I know PP or PE plastics can be difficult to bond, are the vents likely to be made from those materials?

I don't want to find I have just melted the damn things !

[brakedwell]

pschlute said:

Any reason you mention windscreen adhesive ? Will I have problems using a "super glue" adhesive suitable for plastics? I know PP or PE plastics can be difficult to bond, are the vents likely to be made from those materials?

I don't want to find I have just melted the damn things !

According to my dealer the de-mister vents in my 2005 DB9 had been stuck down with windscreen adhesive in the distant past. They said that this was how vent rattles were cured in the early days. Unfortunately this contact type adhesive is visible and looses it's grip when heated by the sun, allowing the vent ends to lift. I managed to bed them down tightly with very expensive black superglue. AM screw the vents down in later cars.

Edited by brakedwell on Saturday 19th July 09:46

[pschlute]

Ok thanks for clarifying. I will look for some suitable black glue. Very pleased I have discovered the cause of the major rattle.

[clunker]

pschlute said:

Clunker, I am referring to the long windscreen demister vents that run along the base of the windscreen, not the small vents with the wheel control. They popped out quite easily in the end, and a drive with them out confirmed they were the source of irritating rattles. I am going to glue them back in place.

Aaah - yes those need reseating on my '05 DB9 too - as you found they just pop out. Let us know what adhesive you ended up using.

[pschlute]

This is the glue I ended up using to stick down the plastic vents: https://www.rotecindustries.com/BOND-Black-Cyanoac...

So far seems to have done the trick. Together with my other efforts with sticky felt pads under most of the dashboard panels and plumbing pipe insulation around the wiring looms my dashboard rattles seem to have gone for good.

If you attempt to stick down the plastic air vents, use a couple of hammers with wooden handles to wedge the vents into place while the glue is drying. Use the wooden handle end wedged against the windscreen, and the hammer weight will keep the vent flush while the glue dries. Take care if you use a rubber handled implement, as the curing process gives off a vapour which will cause a reaction between the rubber and the vent leading to a white stain. It is easily removed however with Autoglym "Vinyl and rubber care".