The heater/defrost/blend **** on my 94 Dodge Ram keeps breaking. typically where the **** plastic stem fits onto the metal stem coming out of the control. This is my third ****. I am careful when I turn the **** but seems that the plastic stem is weak and breaks easily. The control is not binding and turns without a great effort. Anyone else have this problem and any suggestions on possible different type of **** replacement. Mine is a NON AC truck. Thanks

 

i've got a small pliers in the ashtray of my truck. Use it on both *****, as they are both broken.

 

I thought about using pliers but thought there has got to be a better way....

 

Just replaced mine also.New one from dealer,and it's the 2nd one,always the shaft to the base...........

 

Must be a faulty design, what was the dealer price? Maybe cheaper by the dozen! Thanks

 

You could Go to a junkyard and get the whole controller system thing. The whole system comes out with a couple wire harnesses in the back.

 

maybe you could just fill the back of the **** with glue

 

Or quit trying to be superman

 

I've glued and re-glued both of the *****, and once again the other one broke. I'm going to glue it once again, and try some kind of metal sleeve over the **** neck, maybe it keeps it falling apart.

I think that one reason for them to break is the heat from the panel illumination. Ever tried how hot the panel is when the dimmer is all the way on bright side? Heat weakens the plastic, and when you turn the **** the brittle plastic can't take the stress. I thought about replacing the standard lights with leds -> less heat, but it still undone.

 

I put a small zip tie around the plastic part of the **** that broke and then cut the long part of the zip tie off and I have used that **** for over two years not a problem. may or may not work for you. But might be worth a try.