Climate controls

[ccmdoc]

Sorry for posting both here and at LEW's website, but that one appears down.

How do I get the panel that covers the internals behind the climate control knobs on an '01 Esprit?

I need to replace the A/C switch, the motor that directs airflow depending on switch position, as well as find where one of the vacuum tubes behind the center console runs.

I pulled out the upper air vents and the radio, but really need to get behind the center controls to do the job properly. Anyone have advice about what steps to take to get where I need to go?

Thanks,
Paul
2001 Esprit V8

[toyroom]

NIGHTMARE !!!! Call the factory and ask for the part number for Section PJ of the Workshop Manual. this will not be very much help to you, I am afraid, but it will show you wHere everything is located and you could then call technical support at the factory and have them explain how to do what you want to do. This part of the manual can be ordered thru your dealer once you have the part number and will make any subsequent advice you get a lot clearer. The section PJ is about £15 ($25) and WARNING: this section is not usually present on the CD ROMs that are on e-bay. There are four sections missing from these CDs: Climate; ABS and brakes; engine management and airbag. For the price you pay, howver this is the best money you will spend on your car !

[britten_mark]

Paul

If you can't reach what you need to through the radio aperture or from either side of the footwells you have to take off the metal switch support plate behind the illuminated panel as well.

If you say you have the vents out, I assume you mean you have taken the binnacle top off rather than slid the louvres out. If so I think the illuminated panel is only held on by the radio and the 4 heater knobs which you pull off. The panel is very flexible, but I still reckon you could break it if not super careful.

Then the support panel has to come off, detach all the switches (mutiplugs at the top, threaded at the bottom), and take out the top and bottom screws. Now I don't have my car at the moment to jog my memory over this, but I think the bottom 2 are under the gearshift surround which comes off by taking the 2 srews out that live next to the fuel flap release button and sliding the surround back. I will have my car back from the garage tomorrow if no-one else replies.

I'm a slow typist so if you need any more info I could talk you through it, transatlantic calls are fairly cheap these days.

[ccmdoc]

Thank you Mark and John. I'll have to get that section of the manual (not included in my service notes as you said). As you described, Mark, I did take all of that apart save the gear surround - after taking out the two screws under the rubber mat and those at the back (near the fuel flap button) it never occurred to me to slide the thing backwards ! I'll give that a try.

Greatly appreciated - heading out to the garage again.
Paul

[ccmdoc]

Thanks for the advice. I did manage to get the radio out as well as remove the black face panel. Still can't get the gear shift surround off despite taking out the two screws at the front under the rubber mat and those in the rear by the fuel flap button and trying to slide the whole thing backwards.

I can just barely touch the rubber T that one of the vacuum tubes should go into, but not enough room to actually put it back together. So I will ahve to get that metal support out to do it correctly.

Again, thanks,
Paul