Volvo Owners Club Forum - View Single Post - XC70 centre air vent louvres

1981George · Dec 8th, 2019, 07:47

I managed to buy a replacement vent from ebay and swapped it over using the kebab skewer approach.

I took a few photos which might be of help to someone else.
There are eight tabs that hold the vent in place, they can be lifted to the open position with a small flat head screw driver and then held open with the skewers.

https://ibb.co/k462zwQ - unit out with skewers in place

https://ibb.co/TMHFg80 - first skewer - cut too short

https://ibb.co/BLncgJz - mid way through with six skewers in place. At first I struggled to access the top four tabs by using the screwdriver coming through the louvres as the tab was flush and I couldn't get purchase.
I gently pulled the vent out a few mm, then I could get the small flat head screwdriver between the dashboard and the vent and push the tabs downwards and get the skewer in.

Once all the tabs were free I slid the unit forward, there was a small amount of resistance but after a wiggle it came away fairly easily. I forgot to take a photo but on the hazard light button there was a small green electrical connector that un-clipped easily.

https://ibb.co/ngxTWmN - the hazard light itself slides through from the front of the unit and once through clips into position.

I've got all the bit from the old air vent and it looks to clip together fairly easily. I might try to dismantle it and rebuild the old one so I've got a spare if this happens again.

Dec 8th, 2019, 07:47	#7
1981George Member Last Online: May 15th, 2024 10:46 Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Abingdon	I managed to buy a replacement vent from ebay and swapped it over using the kebab skewer approach. I took a few photos which might be of help to someone else. There are eight tabs that hold the vent in place, they can be lifted to the open position with a small flat head screw driver and then held open with the skewers. https://ibb.co/k462zwQ - unit out with skewers in place https://ibb.co/TMHFg80 - first skewer - cut too short https://ibb.co/BLncgJz - mid way through with six skewers in place. At first I struggled to access the top four tabs by using the screwdriver coming through the louvres as the tab was flush and I couldn't get purchase. I gently pulled the vent out a few mm, then I could get the small flat head screwdriver between the dashboard and the vent and push the tabs downwards and get the skewer in. Once all the tabs were free I slid the unit forward, there was a small amount of resistance but after a wiggle it came away fairly easily. I forgot to take a photo but on the hazard light button there was a small green electrical connector that un-clipped easily. https://ibb.co/ngxTWmN - the hazard light itself slides through from the front of the unit and once through clips into position. I've got all the bit from the old air vent and it looks to clip together fairly easily. I might try to dismantle it and rebuild the old one so I've got a spare if this happens again.