On Mon, May 12, 2008 at 10:37 AM, Wilton Strickland <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Thanks, Alex. That helps. 'Just trying to prepare for dash and evap > removal. What about radio removal? I know about lower console, and I have > a writeup from mercedesshop about dash, speakers, etc. 'Have little detail > about upper console, radio, climate control, upper switches, etc. > Any tips on dash?
Wilton, if you have the original radio, it requires a special tool of some kind. I have no experience with that---every 124 I've owned has had a newer stereo, which seems to always be a friction fit. (Just put your hand or a small helper's hand into the space left when you take out the climate control head unit, undo the plugs, and push it out from the back.) The switches above the climate control---headrest release, etc.---pop out towards the interior of the car, I think. Re dash removal, I'd warn you, to preserve the cosmetics of your car, be VERY careful with the side vents, since the clips are very tight and the plastic is brittle. If they break on removal, the vent housings must be replaced or repaired carefully to stay tight and square (i.e. you can't put them back into their openings broken and trust the rest of the dash to hold them together). Otherwise the tiny plastic rack mechanism that keeps the louvers parallel as you adjust them will not work as designed, and the louvers will get out of sync and look crummy (and not work as well to direct the air!). Before pulling the center vent, make sure you have a long 4.5 mm hex wrench (Harbor Freight sells one as part of a metric T-handle set for $10 or so) to release the lever that controls the main fresh air flap. The center vent is a friction fit on the left and held by one screw on the right which is hidden and accessible only after you remove the glove compartment. The frame is metal but the body of the vent is plastic and just as easy to break as the side vents. Watch out for the bulb and don't short the wires leading to it with the battery hooked up, unless you want to blow the secret "red fuse" hidden behind the instrument panel. (Although if you are taking the whole dash apart, a good job to do at the same time would be to not only change all the bulbs in the instrument panel but also the red fuse, and repaint the gauge needles.) Can't think of anything else right now. I haven't actually had to R & R the dash in any of my 124s yet (knock on wood), but have done some of the preliminary work as the above suggests. I'd strongly suggest that you get in touch with Dave Meimann, who hangs out on Rusty's web forum and at the 500ecstasy.com site. He's done this job more than once and probably has some helpful tips. (Tell him I sent you---he is a big '87 300D fan and found mine for me.) Alex Chamberlain passel of 124s _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
