So my heater switch has a loose connection, it mainly doesn't work, but if stick my hand behind the dash and wiggle the wires about, it suddenly starts working, so I need to get behind it to see whats going on.

Now I can remove the whole centre part, stereo, glove box, ashtray and the whole centre area having all the switches and vents. But the part which houses the switches is held with screws and is larger than the actual whole, so you can unscrew it, but you cant take it out, and with the cables holding it in place, you cant really move it about.

Any suggestions, I'm sure people took it apart before me.

Regards,
maniacbravo

https://www.fiatforum.com/members-motors/253072-van-difference-20.html

Have fun.

I'm talking about this



I can get to this point in 10-15 mins time, Now I just need access behind those switches, from the ashtray is a no go, best luck I had so far was through the glove box hole, but its still very fiddly and I can't see anything, I don't really want to remove half of the car interior for one switch, there must be an easier way

Havent opened mine more than changing bulbs, but form pictures I cant tell if there is connector behind the switches. Take airvents out and feel? Cut the bits that are left behind the black facia (seems like airbag wires go there too)?

Ask m20b25? I can't help more.

Neverth said:

Havent opened mine more than changing bulbs, but form pictures I cant tell if there is connector behind the switches. Take airvents out and feel? Cut the bits that are left behind the black facia (seems like airbag wires go there too)?

Ask m20b25? I can't help more.

Click to expand...

certainly looks like an m20b25 photo

where's the lovely Alfa's though

I know its a Fiat forum and stuff, but when designing, fiat didn't really think that things can go wrong and will need to be changed, spent two whole days struggling with the switch until I had to go the brute force way.

This is where I got stuck



some brute force, and one screw fell off, and the other side just popped off completely off the plastic shroud thingy.



popped the switch open and the copper parts where all black, probably thats why it wasnt making a good connection, so took them out one by one and sanded them down to bare copper.





Now to install the switch, either in its original place or somewhere else, hidden and accessible, still need to extend the wiring though so I have some more room to work.

Well that pic looks familiar

The heater controls are fiddly to get out on account of the lack of room and the manual cables leave it fairly rigid to move about.

If you're sure you can get the switch to work again, then go for it, saves a lot of time

Personally, I'd have the dash out and install a new set of controls. It's not as scary as it sounds, it's just a few hours work. You'd need to remove the front seats and centre console first, then the parts attached to the dash (clocks, centre fascia, glovebox) and lastly the dash

Keep us updated

The switch has no electrical parts, so a good copper sand down hopefully is enough for all the switch positions to make good contact. After breaking the switch from its position, I found the 12V pin side of the plug to be slightly melted and hence couldnt get it out of its place. Anyway took it out, removed all the wires and pins and re-wired new wires and pins, heatshrunk and stuck to the last time to the switch. The switch was re mounted to the original position with a somewhat ghetto way, a couple holes through the dash and screws from behind it, and nuts from the front, you cant see anything really once everything is in place so I dont really mind it.

Sorted most of the wiring with cable ties and what not to make it easier for me if I ever have to go back there again (hopefully not ). Anyway the heater now works 90% of the time, sometimes I turn the switch and nothing happens, not even the A/C works, then drive a couple of metres more and everything starts working as usual. I'm guessing there is some loose wire/fuse/relay somewhere, its just a matter of time before I can find the culprit