Heater slider problem on S3

[Mutley00]

The cable has become detached from the Hot/Cold slider. After you pull off the rubber buttons, is it possible to prise the plastic surround out of the dashboard or is it a dash removal job? Thanks for any advice. Cheers, Andrew

[Sandgrounder]

When I removed my dash panel, the only way I could get the heater control panel disconnected was to forcefully pull it out with a pair of grips, thus bending the U shaped retaining brackets that hold it in.

This enabled me to disconnect the cables.

When I installed it, I connected the cables then retained heater panel in place with two small screws (one on the left, one on the right). These prevent the heater panel in place and prevent it from popping out of dash panel. A dab of black paint on the screw heads and they are barely visible.
Makes removal in future a 2 minute job.