Easiest way to get behind vents in dash?

Zeromus-X · Post by **Zeromus-X** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 11:23 pm

Hey... I just got a Vibe about four days ago... 2003, 30k miles. Enjoying the heck out of it!But I've got a question. I want to get behind the little round vent covers. I know there was a post here explaning how to get into the dash to get rid of that squeaky speedometer noise or something (which I don't have) -- but that looked freaking hard! I took apart the dash on my MX-6 without any problems, and without a walkthrough... but this one made it look like it's an all-day ordeal.Is there any way to just remove the vent covers without major car surgery?

ebslopp · Post by **ebslopp** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 12:28 am

The center console vent is super easy to get to. Just pull the silver cover gently and it will come right off. The rest might be more difficult. What are you trying to achive by getting behind the vents?

Zeromus-X · Post by **Zeromus-X** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 1:21 am

I've got two red neon sticks under the dash by where your feet are... at night I turn them on, and they match the gauges perfectly (since it's a 2003, so the gauges are completely red). I'm planning on putting a wide-angle LED inside each of the four air vents, so that when turned on, the vents glow with a red hue as well. I'll need something to diffuse the light a bit but I think I can figure something out.All of that is moot, though, if I can't get the damn things in there!I'm gonna try it with just one, and see how it looks, before I do anything major. So if that's an easy one to get off, I'll start there. I think I can get to the two passenger vents through the glove box, but haven't tried yet.Then I just need to figure out how to set 'em all up so that they only come on when the headlights are on, and I'll be set.

Mr. Poopypants · Post by **Mr. Poopypants** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 1:22 am

Quote, originally posted by Zeromus-X Â»Hey... I just got a Vibe about four days ago... 2003, 30k miles. Enjoying the heck out of it!Glad to hear you like the Vibe. And welcome to the forum!!!!

Jahntassa · Post by **Jahntassa** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 1:31 am

The two vents by the driver are pretty easy. The silver trim panels (with some work) will generally pull off. The one on the outer side of the dash (all the way to the left) is the more stubborn of the two. But it will, eventually, just pull off.The one on top of the radio is easier. Pull on the bottom of the trim, and then angle it out about 45 degress, then carefully pull out the top. The two buttons and the airbag light just unplug, the A/C controls can come out if you use a screwdriver to carefully pry at the top and bottom (in the back..you'll see the tabs)As for wiring them in, It might be easier to have them come on with the parking lights, because you can get power for that behind the radio. I forget exactly which wire it is, but one of them is an "illumination" wire, which provides 12v whenever the parking lights are on.. If you really want headlights, though, you can probably get it from the top of the steering column, there's a multi-pin connector on the left side when you take the plastic covers off that contains the headlight control wire..Welcome to GenVibe!

Zeromus-X · Post by **Zeromus-X** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 1:44 am

I don't care if it's parking or headlights. I wouldn't mind them coming on with the headlights when it auto-senses and turns them on; I didn't even think about the parking lights honestly. My 2003 doesn't seem to be as picky as a lot of people mention on here; I've never had the lights turn on during an underpass or anything!I'll take a look at the dash trim right now. I've got to get it detailed tomorrow at the dealership, and if I can't figure it out, I'll ask them about it.

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 2:08 am

The two passenger vents can onlybe accessed by removing the upper dash. When you get that off, one is attached to the dash itself, the other stays behind on the lower dash.It's not as hard to remove the dash as that walkthrough would make you think...It can be done in about an hour...

ebslopp · Post by **ebslopp** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 2:24 am

Quote, originally posted by Zeromus-X Â»I've got two red neon sticks under the dash by where your feet are... at night I turn them on, and they match the gauges perfectly (since it's a 2003, so the gauges are completely red). I'm planning on putting a wide-angle LED inside each of the four air vents, so that when turned on, the vents glow with a red hue as well. I'll need something to diffuse the light a bit but I think I can figure something out.All of that is moot, though, if I can't get the damn things in there!I'm gonna try it with just one, and see how it looks, before I do anything major. So if that's an easy one to get off, I'll start there. I think I can get to the two passenger vents through the glove box, but haven't tried yet.Then I just need to figure out how to set 'em all up so that they only come on when the headlights are on, and I'll be set. That sounds really cool! I think I would use three or four LEDs per vent, that way you don't have to worry so much about a diffuser. You can get them for cheap from http://www.digikey.com. That's where I get mine from. You can get 10 - red wide-angle LEDs for $5.40! http://dkc3.digikey.com/PDF/T042/1368.pdf Make sure to take lots of pics!

Zeromus-X · Post by **Zeromus-X** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 10:04 am

I'll definitely take a lot of pics if I can get the time to actually try it. I'm gonna have to route the wiring through the hoses or something which might end up being a bigger chore than I'm thinking.I'm gonna try taking it apart tomorrow after work. So either it'll look cool in pictures or I'm gonna cry when I can't get it back together!!

ebslopp · Post by **ebslopp** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 12:05 pm

Let me know how it goes. If you need help with the electronics, let me know. I'll be gone for the weekend, but back on Tuesday.

Zeromus-X · Post by **Zeromus-X** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 12:25 pm

Well I can tell you that much right now. I don't know anything about 'em really. My multimeter is dead, too. I haven't opened anything up so I don't know what wires are where. Ideally, like I said, I'd like to have them powered directly into the car instead of having to run a cigarette lighter power adapter out of one of the vents! When the lights come on, I'd like the LEDs to come on. I need to figure out how to wire the neons to do that, too... right now they just come on when I plug 'em in.Any specific color wire I should be tapping into?

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 1:20 pm

Quote, originally posted by Zeromus-X Â»Any specific color wire I should be tapping into?Depends on which harness you plan on tapping power from...if it's the radio, then you need Green and White/Green, LCD backlighting and LCD backlighting ground, respectively.

Jahntassa · Post by **Jahntassa** » Fri Jul 02, 2004 1:56 pm

I would go with Mike's wiring setup. LEDs and Neons shouldn't take enough power to blow a fuse or anything, but if you wanna be on the REALLY safe side, adding a relay isn't a bad idea.Mike's wiring will turn on with the parking lights though, as well as the headlights, not JUST the headlights, so be aware of that.

Zeromus-X · Post by **Zeromus-X** » Sat Jul 03, 2004 11:56 am

Well, like I said -- as long as they come on when some form of lights are on, I'm okay with it. I'm not picky about that. When it gets dark, the lights should come on. The parking lights would probably work better as I could turn them on during the day without having to turn the headlights on.I've never done *any* electrical work in a car, and haven't even played around with LEDs yet really that weren't fully assembled (intelligent lighting fixtures, etc) -- so I don't know (removed) I'm doing yet... but I guess we'll find out soon enough!Gonna order some LEDs on Tuesday, because I can't find anyone who charges a sane amount of money for them around here. I might hit Radio Shack just to buy one and see what it looks like, since it's a long weekend here.

Zeromus-X · Post by **Zeromus-X** » Mon Jul 05, 2004 1:30 am

Now if it would STOP RAINING FOR A DAY maybe I could get something done. Every friggin' day. And now there's finally a day without rain, and:Current Conditions for Suffolk, VA (23434) Fair Feels Like107Â°F

Easiest way to get behind vents in dash?

Easiest way to get behind vents in dash?

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