Hvac Nightmare

[Ghostfalcon]

PLease before I light this on fire...
i have the common heater cable break that im attempting to replace w a ballstud
Im following the pelican article to replace the blow motor switch
pulled the radio, pulled the glov,e box cant get the cables off the switches \
I am very very frustrated and decided to quit before i do my usual reaction of breaking it w force out of spite.

Any tips?
anyone in the bay area wanna make some money or buy a z3?

PLease help.

[rasmuw]

Are you following the instructions for IHKA replacement? I don't think you need to remove the driver's side knee bolster. One comment/suggestion in the article says the same thing, and does suggest moving the center console back for better access. I did all this work with the console out, but I believe it is possible to fix the broken nub with a ballstud through the opening. Start with figure 4.

The glove box removal could give you the space to remove the heater controls if you find that necessary. With the glove box removed, you can adjust the Bowden cable. Check post #11 in this thread: https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/z...-issue.318432/

[IndianaRoadster]

I removed my radio and was able to go through the opening to disconect the cables from the switches. Once switch panel was out it was easy to install a ball stud. I went ahead and drilled the other two and using epoxy and cutting the drill bit to size l embedded bit in plastic ball to reinforce it.
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[rf900rkw]

For what it's worth, I fix the levers without removing the control head or cables. The cam levers just pop off, I do it all through the radio hole.

[magnetchief]

For what it's worth, I fix the levers without removing the control head or cables. The cam levers just pop off, I do it all through the radio hole.

That’s the way to go.

I think the OP is overthinking it.

Take a breath and just pop off the control levers.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[xdata]

Taking the centre console out is really not this hard, just 7 screws...

[Ghostfalcon]

Guys thanks for the replies. I made some really strong coffee yesterday. After looking today it doesn’t even look like the cable is busted. I did find two connectors unplugged and I’m guessing at least one is the micro switch.

can you ID these? 185713DE-62B0-4D89-AED0-D7F9A49727F7.jpgYes996461FF-4E2B-4527-820E-262165150922.jpg

[Ghostfalcon]

Pretty sure the black one is the micro switch but I can’t find a place for it to plug in on the back of the have panel. I’m trying not to break anything...

[amancuso]

Black one looks like the connector for the alarm sensor at the radio, and the other one is your OBDII port.

[rf900rkw]

Al is correct on the plugs. First off, the microswitch doesn't control the heat. It's an A/C only thing. If you have no blend door action, it's because the ball pin snapped off of the white lever. We repair by installing an RC plane bellcrank ball. See the pictures above. You are repairing the white lever. You do not need to remove the console. You do not need to remove the bolsters, or the glovebox, or the brake lights, or the goddam spark plugs. Yes yes, I know, Pelican has you pulling the blower motor to change a horn button. Don't. Remove the radio. Pop the red lever free. This will also free up the white lever. Unhook the white lever from the cable, noting which way around it goes. Drill, tap, install ball pin. Reinstall levers, making sure you pick up the track on each pin. Install radio.

[Ghostfalcon]

Al is correct on the plugs. First off, the microswitch doesn't control the heat. It's an A/C only thing. If you have no blend door action, it's because the ball pin snapped off of the white lever. We repair by installing an RC plane bellcrank ball. See the pictures above. You are repairing the white lever. You do not need to remove the console. You do not need to remove the bolsters, or the glovebox, or the brake lights, or the goddam spark plugs. Yes yes, I know, Pelican has you pulling the blower motor to change a horn button. Don't. Remove the radio. Pop the red lever free. This will also free up the white lever. Unhook the white lever from the cable, noting which way around it goes. Drill, tap, install ball pin. Reinstall levers, making sure you pick up the track on each pin. Install radio.

upon inspection, it appears the white lever in intact. I know what the obd2 port is, it’s a bad pic but the unplugged connector is the one I’m interested in. Can you id that? I’m hoping I just need to adjust the cable near the blend door but I’m waiting for an hvac bulb to come in before I reassemble. Thanks for the heads up on the micro switch. I just want to I’d the connectors before reassembling. Maybe it’s from the stock stereo?

[amancuso]

The maroon connector? Those are either heated seats, or the other one that is that location connects to the automatic transmission switch, if your car is automatic. Does your car have heated seats? If not, all Z3s have the wiring harness for heated seats even if it doesn't have them.

[Ghostfalcon]

Well, I put it all back together, manually set the temp control to hot..should get me through the winter, will look for a white lever to repair w the ballstud then swap out this spring. God I love this car so much