| craigerd2 |
On two separate occasions in the past 2 weeks the tab that controls the vents (left/right up/down) in the front dash just broke off when people were adjusting them gently. Any advice on how to address this problem.
TIA
CD |
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| ECON1 |
| Happened to me on our 2003 also (driver's side only). Unfortunately, the only solution I saw was to have the dealer replace it - don't have the paperwork here, but think it was around $60. |
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| citizen_jane |
| I had the same thing happen in my 04 a few weeks ago. It was under warranty so if was fixed at no cost. I thought they would argue that I broke it being too rough but nope... no questions. I guess they've seen it before. |
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| craigerd2 |
Thanks for the replies. I can't justify spending $120 now to fix 2 vents, maybe I'll superglue a control stick in there for now. :(
CD |
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| SuperTech |
quote:
Originally posted by citizen_jane
I guess they've seen it before.
We have. Just so long as it looks like it wasn't physically damaged, it should be covered. |
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| HARDROCK |
| Mine broke too in my '02 last year - passenger side. Fixed under warranty with no questions asked. |
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| Sinecure |
| Mine on my '01 passenger side broke about a year ago. I guess its a weak spot in the car. My car has over 130K on it, I doubt there's any way my dealer is going to warrantee it. Is it an easy fix? Anyone want to post a how-to with pics and tell me what parts to order from Tim? |
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| abcheng |
| The tab on the passenger vent control broke on my car and is out of warranty too. I wonder if it's possible to just buy the piece that came off. |
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| xavier405 |
Bummer - my air vent tab broke a month ago. I went in for an oil change and also asked them to fix it. I was quoted $50 for the part and $50 for a half hour of labor.
The car is an 03, which I purchased as CPO with the extended factory warranty. I would have totally expected this little plastic part to be covered under the extended, but the service guy brought me a printout from his computer that showed the part listed as "not covered".
It was a long day that day, and in my exhaustion I just told him to go fix it.
NOW A MONTH LATER ANOTHER AIR VENT BROKE. Same problem. I am going to try to super glue the pieces together, heck if I mess it up then I am just back to replacing it.
I did a parts search on the net and found almost nothing having to do with MDX air vents. I did find the center dash-and-vent panel on ebay for $110, it includes both center vents and also the wood-grain trim on the perimeter of the center dash.
Do you guys have any idea where I can find or buy this part? Its not on any of the main honda-acura parts sites.
Then, do you guys know how to remove this part of the dash?
Thanks
- Xavier |
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| andreseng |
Call Tim!
Tim Poliniak, Erik Gillette, and JR Czarniak of the
Ray Laks Honda and Acura dealerships work very hard to ensure your complete satisfaction and timely order shipment. Questions concerning products and orders can be directed to Hondacuraworld@aol.com
or by calling us toll-free at 1-888-RAY-LAKS (Monday thru Friday, 7am-5pm EST). |
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| xavier405 |
So far I can only find that the center air vent comes as an entire sub-assembly: the wood-grain centerpanel plus two center air vents.
Can you buy just the little vent knob? Can you buy just the vent knob and louvers? |
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| hondacuraworld |
| Unfortunately no.....it's only available as a complete assembly. |
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| automag928 |
| My wife had the passenger one in the center console vent break about a month ago, then the driver side in the center just broke last week. I found it kind of odd that both sides of the center broke within a month of each other. :confused: So - from what I am reading, you have to order the entire assembly? Does that include both vents? |
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| OP MDX |
| Add mine to the list. The passenger side then the left middle vent assemby broke within days of each other. |
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| MauiMDX |
| Both of ours broke on our 2004 MDX this past year. Dealer replaced them under warranty. |
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| TulsaMDX |
About a month before we sold our 03, the tab on the center vents broke. We were out of warranty with 55000 miles. I called Acura Customer Service and they took all my information and told me someone would call me back.
Next day, they called and said they spoke to the dealer and told them to fix it and Acura would pay for it. Dealer wanted almost $250 for the repair.
This is one reason we purchased an 07 MDX, because I had a good experience with customer service. However, the center vents on the 07 have the same #@***# tab. |
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| MDX101 |
Mine broke on the driver side last week and i just super glue it back. like the passenger side that broke two month ago, works like a charm.
A little tricky cause if you glue it wrong you won't be able to move the tab up/down or left/right. So it may take some time
Hope it works out. |
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| gt854t5 |
| Mine broke too; replaced and it broke AGAIN, so it's obviously a WEAK part and cheap design, that you have to buy the entire vent piece to replace. In MOST other cars, that piece (that moves vents L/R/U/D) is like a tumb-wheel built in to the dash or an actual part of vent. In our X, it's like a clip on, that breaks ALOT. IMHO, in wanting to be different, some manufactures put "cheap" designs or parts knowing full well 50% of them will fail and when you do the math, it's $$$$ for said company:3: You would expect something more sturdy, in a $40K SUV. Oh well, my fingers or pen do the sweviling for me- LOL.... |
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| robss2k |
| Does anyone know how to remove the vent from the driver side. I broke the clip and realized that I have to replace the whole vent. I have the vent but now I need help in replacing the whole vent. Thanks in advance. |
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| Contsi |
quote:
Originally posted by robss2k
Does anyone know how to remove the vent from the driver side. I broke the clip and realized that I have to replace the whole vent. I have the vent but now I need help in replacing the whole vent. Thanks in advance.
Is there an answer to this?
Thanks |
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| CalAndHisMDX |
I had to also purchase a whole vent because the tab in one of mine is missing. While I was at the parts counter a tech came by and gave me some advice.
He said they use something called a "spoon" but he said you can also use something like a plastic knife. It has clips just under the surface. You have to carefully slide it into the slot next to the vent to disengage one of the clips. Once you have one disengaged you can put pressure on the other side and pull the whole vent out. I think it will made sense when you see the pic of the vent (in my gallery: http://www.acuramdx.org/photopost/s....php?photo=2736). |
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| robss2k |
| Thanks for the advise. I was able to pry the old one out by using a 3" putty knife. Once I got one side out, I held it with my fingers and used the putty knife on the other side. I can't believe how easy it was. Thanks again. |
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| CalAndHisMDX |
quote:
Originally posted by robss2k
Thanks for the advise. I was able to pry the old one out by using a 3" putty knife. Once I got one side out, I held it with my fingers and used the putty knife on the other side. I can't believe how easy it was. Thanks again.
Excellent! :2:
Glad it worked! Doing mine this weekend so it is good to hear it was as easy as it sounded! |
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| a_norcal_ksig |
UMMMM
Seriously you guys all went out and bought new vents?
The clip on the back of the tab is the weak point. Its a two part compression system the back of the top half has two little tabs that hook around the tabs on the back of the bottom half. The front parts of both are a slot and groove. The back tabs will often loose one or both hooks. This makes it pop off and youre up the creek. However even without either of the back tabs they will hold together with some super glue. Just apply to the front tab and groove part, and the hooks on the back if you still have any. Hook the top half to the bottom in front and slide it back and down on the bottom half. You will need to put pressure on the bottom and top parts in the back. You can do it with two butter knives once its cliped and dried youre good to go. Did 3 of my front clips and they've been fine for over a year now.
* dont get glue on the the surfaces that make direct contact with the vent lat or you will have a stuck vent, if you may have gotten some glue on that surface once you have them clipped turn the vent on and just move it back and courth untill it is completely dried. |
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| a_norcal_ksig |
Well my girlfriend broke one of the vent tabs off the other day so I figured Id take some pics and put them up showing how to put them back in. Theres no need to pull the whole thing out just apply glue as shown and snap it all in place. Do a test run without glue just to get the hang of getting them cliped together before using the glue.
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| CalAndHisMDX |
Awesome!
On behalf other vent impaired MDX owners...thanks for taking the time to put together this pictorial. Nice work!
:2: |
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| pinbin |
| Ok, so I'm not going crazy. Just got an used 2004 MDX and the first thing my son plays with is that crazy vent tab and breaks it. Funny thing is that every used MDX I saw on the lot had broken vent tabs, this was the only one that had them all intact. Anyway, going to make the dealer fix it since it is still under warranty, but thank you for the pic's I'm sure another will break and your directions are extremely helpful. |
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