Stiff heater controls
Discussion
Good evening. I am new to the wedge scene having just bought a 350 SE. The heater controls seem to be very stiff and and if you try to turn them the whole box moves. Also I have seen some aluminium control knobs but cant seem to find anywhere who sells them.
Is it an easy job removing the control panel???
Is it an easy job removing the control panel???
The heater is only there as a gimmick....So set the controls where they look good on the dash and forget about the rest.
Behind the dash the heater matrix is an ice cream box from Iceland (high end stuff as it was Soft Scoop) and if you look in the glovebox you will find your blue peter badge for the heater control design.
You may have guessed by now tongue in cheek,it wont be that good......
Behind the dash the heater matrix is an ice cream box from Iceland (high end stuff as it was Soft Scoop) and if you look in the glovebox you will find your blue peter badge for the heater control design.
You may have guessed by now tongue in cheek,it wont be that good......
Hi and welcome to the madhouse...Sounds like you've got a stiffy...
The heaters do work but suffer lack of use as most people only use the car in sunny dry weather...Things like the light pods...Heater and the dash illumination don't get used much and cause problems when do...My heater does work and i guess i have used it twice in the 3 years of owning the 350i...The 280i wasn't connected and the heat from the engine used to travel up the transmission tunnel and warm the car up.....Someone has made a set of dials...In fact two people have but only one was fitted....
The heaters do work but suffer lack of use as most people only use the car in sunny dry weather...Things like the light pods...Heater and the dash illumination don't get used much and cause problems when do...My heater does work and i guess i have used it twice in the 3 years of owning the 350i...The 280i wasn't connected and the heat from the engine used to travel up the transmission tunnel and warm the car up.....Someone has made a set of dials...In fact two people have but only one was fitted....
Edited by mrzigazaga on Thursday 3rd March 20:12
Hi And welcome to the gang. The center box is easy to remove, just undo the 2 self tappers under the number plate type screw covers and with a bit of jiggery pokery it should lift off. the heater hi-lo goes to the little valve by the bulkhead under the bonnet. so a bit of the old faithfull (WD40) on there might help. Also is there any water going round the heater box? just drained and refilled mine with fresh stuff and took time to fill every thing, now the heater works better than ever. have to ask, what number 350SE do you have? I Have No24.
I had this problem with mine and decided to change the cheap plastic controls for some aluminium one. I got two from a Chimera and altered them to fit but it wasnt an easy or quick job but the results in my opinion are worth it. when i took the old ones out they had a ball bearing under the mounting plate to stop/lock the mechanism on full turn and it was these that caused the stiff action so when i made the new ones up i left that part out and they work very easy. So you could try that as a compromise. 
adam quantrill said:
jimburr said:
The center box is easy to remove...
If it's an SE it might be the newer-style dash - no centre box? like this lovely example;....
Tony. TCB.
mrzigazaga said:
I was referring to the interior pictured not what should or shouldn't be in a 350SE?....
And here is "Nelly's" insides....
Yes, but the discussion was about stiff heater controls and what type of dash was fitted to the 350SE. Not 'Spot the Nelly'. It seems you were off topic. And here is "Nelly's" insides....
Tony. TCB.
Edited by ElvisWedgely on Friday 4th March 14:42
Yes, that is the typical 350SE dash. I know because I've owned two in the past. I've never seen anything other fitted to a 350SE. The heater dials do tend to seize up in time because hardly anyone ever uses them. On my 400SE I never touch them. They are always set to the on position and on the hot setting during summer and winter. My reasoning for this is because in the winter we need the heater anyway and in the summer these V8 engines run hot so it acts as an aditional radiator and makes engine cooling more efficient.
Tony. TCB.
Tony. TCB.
The car with the green leather is a SEAC because it has the umbrella type handbrake by the steering column. I had an issue with my 350 heater controls which turned out to be in the engine bay. The cable controls a plastic valve near the bonnet release catch but the mechanism was fouled by the injector loom. I just had to move it slightly and it then worked fine.
Nelly all day long, FHC 400SE anyone? Anyhow, with every, if you don't use it very often its a good idea to play with it now and again, never know when you will need for real!!!!!(I mean lights, heater, mirrors,that little pedal on the right) even if the beauty is SORN for the winter start it now and again,keep everything moving.
Gassing Station | Wedges | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff