Heater Knob Seized on COLD!!!!

[LRGS2]

Its bloody cold this morning and its now time to sort my heater out which has stuck in the cold position. Not a problem during the summer, but now I miss it. My car is an early S2 so has the manually actuated heater matrix. I removed the passanger access hatch yesterday and sprayed loads of WD40 all over the flap pivot pin which has seized solid but with no joy! Does the clam have to come off to replace it or has anyone managed to get around the problem another way? Does anyone have an early heater matrix they want to sell, but a lot cheaper than the £500 quoted by Lotus!

[JTBUSH]

If you need to replace it, then it is a clam off job.

You need some shock tactics to shift the arm. I used an old long flat screw driver, and just lightly tapped it with a hammer to get it to shift. Once it started moving, it was liberally coated in wd40, and then I got my arm in there and gave it a good wiggle about a few times until it was moving freely. I also find that if I keep it smack on the centre on the control knob, and dont turn it to cold, it doesnt get stuck. If I turn it to cold, or anywhere back past half way, it gets stuck, and Ive got to wiggle the knob manically, or take the access panel off and free it off again.

Dont batter it with the hammer, light light taps is the order of the day. Should see you right.