Central air vents removal without taking the entire central dash

[limmy]

Hi everybody,

I searched some info in the forum and also in the Bentley's manual but couln't find what i need to know.

Is it possible to remove only the central air vents (above the radio) without removing the entire central dash (i don't have the VW radio removal tools)?

Actually, i turn too further to the left the button that you use to close/open the cental vents and i want to take one of them out to fix it.

Thanks alot for your help.

[Toad]

Sorry. The center vents are glued in place from the inside of the dash.

[SMG]

You don't want them out.

If you want to swap in TT vents, think about it a bit more. You're opening a can of worms that you really should leave closed.

SMG

[NCtim]

If you find out let me know. My wife's left center vent has been broken for about 4 years now and it sure would be nice to fix it.

[SMG]

What does the vent not do?

I bet the slider has come off track and needs to be snapped back in again.

SMG

[Oyveychris]

These are a huge PITA to remove/replace, plus VW Mexico opted to plastic solder (read melt ) the posts to the inside of the console....

[from Margaritaville...]

Your dash on your car , being a 2000 1.6, may be different than my '99 2.0. This week I had the dealer disengage my audio head with the special tool so that I could do some audio related work. While in there I accidentally detached the bar that connects the wheel to the vent damper. Mine just snapped back into place. Yours may be as simple (though I did skin up the back of my hand a little while fishing around in there). You'll definitely need to have the service advisor or technician release that head for you (my dealer wouldn't let me buy the tool). The head slides back in and the side-clips snap into position when you're done. Hope you don't need to replace that vent mechanism...

[Oyveychris]

You can also use the metal bars from hanging file folders to get your radio out...Worked for me.

[from Margaritaville...]

Originally Posted by Oyveychris

You can also use the metal bars from hanging file folders to get your radio out...Worked for me.

You know what? That is BRILLIANT!!! That appears to be about right. I'll give that a try tomorrow just for fun...MAN!

[limmy]

Thank you, guys, for all your fast replies, i really appreciate.
I went to buy the vw removal tools.
I'm going to remove my center dash and fix my center (right top) air vent button.

[mclii]

So what you're saying here (old thread I know) is that you can't remove the center vents at all? Can you access the back of the vents by removing the head unit? I would assume that you can't, since the vent seems sealed in a tube.

I just got a vent mount for an iPod, and ruined one of my center air vents in the process of removing the mount. One of the horizontal louvers (slats) broke, and both of the "guides" for the vertical and horizontal controls snapped off of their tracks on the back of the louvers. Do I have to replace the whole center console to fix this since the vents themselves are glued in?

Is there any easy way to snap the "guides" back into place on the back of the vent louvers without causing more damage?