Easy way of removing the Air Vent in NA

RaYmO · Postby **RaYmO** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 1:59 pm

Hi Guys,

I had installed my CD head unit last night... Took me ages to figure out how to remove everything (note that there are screws behind the air vents in the central panel... took me ages to figure that out).

One issue, I forgot to plug in the headlight/emergency blinker switch when I was putting everything back together.

When driving home I had realised that I couldnt retract the frog eyes because the switches werent connected...

I just tried pulling everything out (thinking it will take less time due to experience) but that was no go... The left air vent will not come out no matter how hard I try to twist it... I think the metal springs on the sides are preventing the air vent to twist off.

Has anyone got any ideas on how to remove it?

maxwolfie · Postby **maxwolfie** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 2:12 pm

5) REMOVE EYE-BALL VENTS

The eye-ball vents must be removed to expose two screws that fasten the dash center piece to the main part of the dash. These two center vents just snap out by pulling them from the dash with a strong wire or cord (window blind cord works well) that's been looped through the vent openings.

Remove the left hand vent first. Start by forming a \"V\" shape in the cord about 3 inches from one end and have about two feet of cord on the other side of the \"V\". Window blind cord will not usually dent or scar the back- side of the vent but may not hold its \"V\" shape. If this is a problem with the cord you're using, use some tape to hold the \"V\" shape in the cord while sticking it through the vent openings.

Stick the point of the \"V\" into one of the vent's louver openings and then pull back so that the cord loops around the back side of the eye-ball from one vent opening to another. Pull the short end of the cord out of the vent so that both ends of the cord extend out with equal length.

Get both ends of the cord in your hands and give it a good strong steady pull until the eye-ball vent pops out. Start with the left vent to see how it works -- the right eye-ball vent in some of the 94's and 95's is installed overly tight and sometimes will not pop out using this method alone.

If an eye-ball vent will not pop out after a very strong pull, then in addition to pulling with the cord it'll be necessary to give it a little help by prying it from the dash with a flat blade screwdriver. To prevent marring the dash and the vent, cover the screwdriver's blade, the dash, and the rim of the vent with tape. Small sheets of thin plastic shoved into the junction before inserting the screwdriver's blade also works.

Use the flat blade screwdriver to pry at the eye-ball's outer perimeter rim (far right side for the right vent and far left side for the left vent) while also pulling firmly on the cord.

RaYmO · Postby **RaYmO** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 2:18 pm

Thanks Max! You're a lifesaver!

adamjp · Postby **adamjp** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 9:24 pm

I just grab hold of the centre of mine with a leatherman plier.

Pops straight out.

STV · Postby **STV** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 9:58 pm

i have found that the easiest way for me to do it is using a matal cble tie. i have found that if i make a 'J' shape with it and feed it through and back again in adifferent hole in the eyeball vent, then use a pair of pliers and just give ait a good yank, it will pop out easily.

Steve

RaYmO · Postby **RaYmO** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 12:58 pm

Thanks for your input guys...

I used the pliers last night and it came out very easily... (Cant believe I tried using my bare fingers :oops:

)

Anyways... No more frog eyes during my morning drive to work!

damoisred · Postby **damoisred** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 12:20 pm

ive found that a coat hanger is the best, put a bend in the end. thred it through and yank it back out.

sharyl · Postby **sharyl** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 6:35 pm

I don't know what drugs you guys are on but you don't take the ball part out on mine... there's twist latches on the surround.... just twist them... saves breaking your vents

sabretooth · Postby **sabretooth** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 11:52 am

Mine come out with the help of a screwdriver (twist it in behind the lip of the vent) and a bit of electrical wire to yoink on the vent with.

Twist latches?

4sfed5 · Postby **4sfed5** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 3:01 pm

I use a 5mm Allen key... just insert the \"L\" end into vent, turn it so it faces towards the center and pull........... EASY!

Lucky_Luke · Postby **Lucky_Luke** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 11:23 pm

Theres countless ways to do this ..
Im same as damoisred...
I remove my centre console so regularly i made a special tool from a bit of coat hanger with some heat shrink around it, in a U shape to slot into the vent and back forward again. just place ur hand across the front as you give it a swift little pull and they pop out so easy, no damage.

Luke.