'69 Newport Custom heater controls
 

Greetings Crew Members.

So the buttons on my heater controls are mushy. Turned on the air and the button went further than it ever did, and now my defroster won't shut off.

I may be able to fix it if I can get it out of the dashboard. Any tips regarding the removal?

I'm wondering if that magic plastic box those buttons are connected to was 1969 specific or if Mopar used that same "box" through the 1970s.

Thanks for the guidance, Boompy

The "tip" is the tip of the phillips screwdriver! I'm still in surgery.

I'd still like to know if the same control box was used for many years or if it was 1969 specific.

Share the knowledge, Boompy

The box was used in many applications with different buttons.. What you can do is remove it and put an application of JB weld along the seams and see if that fixes it...

Thank you TVLynn.

Mopar or NO car, Boompy

Oh Boy.... Sounds like fun Captain.... :) Hope you get it fixed !!!

Nothing like snot and baling wire fixes....hahahaha

Hi RacerHog!
Yeah, it sucks. I'm still in surgery. I worked on it last night until my pupils were touching. It's a complicated dashboard, like a 3d jigsaw puzzle. And the heater controls are buried deep in the dash.
I'm wearing an invisible lab coat and velvet gloves around all those 47 year old electrical plugs and sockets. Easy does it.
The next piece of the dash is a big one. It includes the speedometer, idiot lights, shifter selection, amp and fuel, the works. Won't know what needs to be disconnected for enough room to work on the heater control mounting screws, and be able to remove the control wires and vacuum? lines.
Hey, the factory put the damn things in there, they must be able to come out.

Isn't it fun to own old cars!
I mean, it's fun to own old cars, isn't it? Hub-boy.

Dry docked, Captain Chrysler

I know, right. Hey if I could fix it with snot and wire and NOT have to take the damn thing out of the dashboard, I'd do it!

I really dig my old big block yacht, but surgery up to your shoulders in the dash is fun and frightening at the same time. The whole thing makes me nervous! I'll get it...

Tied to the pier, Captain Chrysler

Last time I had to work on a 1967 Dodge Monaco 500... I took the drivers seat out so I could lie down and work under the dash... Yaaaaa.. Old cars are a blast to work on.... lol

I GOT IT OUT !

After taking way too many things apart, I dropped the HUGE radio from behind the dashboard, down onto the gas peddle.
Finally there was enough room to remove the heater control fasteners and disconnect the plugs. I was able to remove the magic box and immediately saw how it failed.

Basically the back of the box blew off. The design is of such that every time you push a button you're putting pressure on the lid of the magic box.
I completely disassembled the inner workings (the design of the buttons/mechanical slides is so cool!), cleaned and lubed the moving parts, then used some J.B.Weld (thanks TVLynn!) and lightly clamped the whole thing together.

I feel good about the repair and even better that I got the damn thing out. Looking forward to everything reassembled, turning the key and NOT have the defroster running.

Thanks for the encouragement fellas. I'll soon have this yacht back in the water.

Regards, Boompy

Thats great.... Keep up posted on how it goes.... :)

Fixed, reinstalled and working!

No fear, Captain Chrysler

Good to hear that.:)