HVAC Horizontal Vent Louvers Loose or Inoperative (Reinstall Louver Tabs Into Thumbwheel/Deflector Housing)

Some customers may comment that when rotating the thumbwheel on the deflector vent, the horizontal vent louvers will not open or close properly.

This condition may be caused by the horizontal vent louver tabs becoming disengaged from the retaining holes in the thumbwheel actuator or the deflector housing. This causes the louvers to become inoperative or loose. The louvers are designed to move together in a uniform manner.

Shine a light into the deflector vent housing to determine if the inoperative louver still has two round tabs on one side and one round tab on the other side of the louver. If you are having difficulty seeing the tabs, it may be necessary to remove the inoperative louver. If the tabs are broken or the louver is missing, this bulletin does not apply. If all the round tabs are present, then proceed to reinstall the horizontal louver using the procedure below:

Important: Depending on which louver you are working on, it may be necessary to have the louvers fully open but be careful not to drop the louver into the air duct. You may need a pair of needle-nose pliers to hold onto the louver when trying to position the two tabs into the thumbwheel and the housing pivot hole.

1. Start with the side thumbwheel in the down position and the horizontal louvers in the near closed position.
2. Install the two tabs of the louver into the thumbwheel actuator hole and the deflector housing pivot hole.
3. Bow the louver you are trying to reinstall outward towards you.
4. With the louver bowed, install the single tab into the opposite deflector housing pivot hole.
5. The louver may show a slight bow after installing. It may be necessary to straighten the louver by slightly bending the louver in the opposite position of the bow.
6. Verify the proper operation of the vent deflector louvers by using the thumbwheel control.

For vehicles repaired under warranty, use: