I have a broken heat/ac vent grill in the middle of the dashboard, and I bought a used one (right grill only) from eBay for $15 + shipping. It arrived in great shape. Installation however...this looks to be a real problem, I'm hoping someone else has experience here. This is a '98 T100.

Scroll down for pictures...

I easily got the old one out & took out the left side as well - however each side was accompanied by a single small cracking sound, and a single socket broke out, in both left & right grill opening. (Each of the two vent grills pivots to point up & down, using the sockets. Each vent has molded pins that fit inside the socket, left & right side of the grill.)

I believe possibly this part which cracked out used to have some spring-like action, allowing removal/replacement from the front, just like I was trying to do - but broke instead of springing. I can't tell if each is a separate part & simply broke up, meaning potentially it can be replaced, or instead was molded into & firmly attached to the entire central vent duct works.

Online parts ordering doesn't show this little plastic part, instead you have to buy the whole interior "head" with vent grills already installed, and the whole dash cover has to come off to get that in & out.

So...I'm hoping to find someone with experience here, who's found a way around this issue! Anyone worked through this before? Can I buy or even 3-D print those little parts, and slip them in somehow?



Red arrow marks the "slot" where the part broke out, and the part still fits into the slot...but would fall out the back & down inside if I did that. I think it might've had a "lip" preventing it from falling through, which broke off?



Here the small piece which broke. Was it attached to the whole? Or is it a separate which now lost material that used to hold it in place, just by the pressure of the grill against it?



Part number 8 is what I see from online parts suppliers for the T100 truck. I would really love to avoid pulling the dash apart to install this...

Any & all help appreciated, thanks!

 

[QUOTE=tstockma;52441327]I have a broken heat/ac vent grill in the middle of the dashboard, and I bought a used one (right grill only) from eBay for $15 + shipping. It arrived in great shape. Installation however...this looks to be a real problem, I'm hoping someone else has experience here. This is a '98 T100.

Scroll down for pictures...

I easily got the old one out & took out the left side as well - however each side was accompanied by a single small cracking sound, and a single socket broke out, in both left & right grill opening. (Each of the two vent grills pivots to point up & down, using the sockets. Each vent has molded pins that fit inside the socket, left & right side of the grill.)

I believe possibly this part which cracked out used to have some spring-like action, allowing removal/replacement from the front, just like I was trying to do - but broke instead of springing. I can't tell if each is a separate part & simply broke up, meaning potentially it can be replaced, or instead was molded into & firmly attached to the entire central vent duct works.

Online parts ordering doesn't show this little plastic part, instead you have to buy the whole interior "head" with vent grills already installed, and the whole dash cover has to come off to get that in & out.

So...I'm hoping to find someone with experience here, who's found a way around this issue! Anyone worked through this before? Can I buy or even 3-D print those little parts, and slip them in somehow?



Red arrow marks the "slot" where the part broke out, and the part still fits into the slot...but would fall out the back & down inside if I did that. I think it might've had a "lip" preventing it from falling through, which broke off?



Here the small piece which broke. Was it attached to the whole? Or is it a separate which now lost material that used to hold it in place, just by the pressure of the grill against it?



Part number 8 is what I see from online parts suppliers for the T100 truck. I would really love to avoid pulling the dash apart to install this...

Any & all help appreciated, thanks![/QUOTE

i have the same issue and if you have found a solution PLEASE let me know

 

Sorry, no answers yet! Haven't buckled down & explored the dealership parts counters yet, nor the pick-and-pull junkyard.

Likewise, if you find the answer, please post!