Author Topic: Heater Controls (Read 11638 times)

n/a · « **on:** October 27, 2004, 15:49:42 »

The heater and ventalation controls on my 250SL have given up. Last time I attenpted an adjustment three levers fell off.

Years ago there was a company that advertised in various magazines a repair fix that did not require taking anything apart. Does anyone know if these are still available, and if so a source.

I don't have high hopes for finding the above mentioned parts because I haven't seen them advertized in a good long time.

Any thoughts on how I should go about installing new stock parts?

Thanks!

Garth

J. Huber · « **Reply #1 on:** October 27, 2004, 16:09:37 »

Hey Garth.

I am afraid there is no quick fix for this that I know of. Many of us have faced this challenge with our cars. I opted to pay my mechanic to refurbish my heater (and replace the levers.) However, several brave souls here have done it themselves -- my guess is they will chime in shortly. Good luck.

James
63 230SL

hauser · « **Reply #2 on:** October 27, 2004, 17:52:26 »

The "Total Restore" video gives you a little bit of how to on this subject.

1969 280sl 5 spd 1999 ML320 Gainesville,Fl.

jlennon3 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 27, 2004, 18:58:42 »

There was a good article in Nov/Dec 2001 Star magazine on restoration of the levers. It was specifically written for 108/109 chassis, but my guess is probably applicable to the 113 also. I used the article when I restored the levers, heater valves, etc on my 108. It was a tedious, time consuming job, but not really technically difficult (I can only imagine what the shop would charge to do it!). I do recall the OEM replacement levers seemed to be outrageously expensive...

Good Luck!
John
280SL Euro
280SE US

hands_aus · « **Reply #4 on:** October 27, 2004, 21:31:42 »

Hey Garth,

Have a read of this http://www.sl113.org/articles/interior/interior.asp look for HEATER LEVERS

If you do a further search for heater levers you are sure to come up with multiple results.

The type and look of the heater lever changed depending on the vin of your 250sl.
250SL VIN 0-2979 had the same heater levers as the 230sl.
The new format of levers started from vin 2980 onwards. It was adopted for the 280sl.

There was a company called DURALEVER ( do a search on GOOGLE) that sold heater lever repair kits.
Several parts suppliers of this site supply them.

If you are a patient person who has time and some ability (not necessarily mechanical) you can replace the heater levers yourself.
The glove box, clock, radio, dash speaker, fan switch and anything else in the way have to be removed. None of this is difficult, just tedious.
You need to allow at least 2 days.

Bob (Brisbane,Australia)
RHD,1967 early 250 SL, auto

n/a · « **Reply #5 on:** October 28, 2004, 11:16:36 »

Many thanks to all of you for your helpful suggestions. MBZ folks are the greatest!

Garth

Douglas · « **Reply #6 on:** October 28, 2004, 11:27:10 »

As luck would have it, I'm actually intending to do this very job this weekend. (Luck or misfortune?) I'll take lots of pix for the group.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

andy · « **Reply #7 on:** October 28, 2004, 12:08:26 »

looking through some old invoices i found from one AUTOLUX in CA. who supply the DURA LEVER,they were 100 dollars,this was 1988,try this link, WWW.AUTOLUXMBZ.COM.i reckon these are only the solution if the cables are not sezied.
andy.

ted280sl · « **Reply #8 on:** October 28, 2004, 14:27:59 »

I tried the dura levers. They are very easy to install and they work but, they are not as good as the replacement levers. The dura levers are not color coded either. Limber up your fingers, crawl under the dash and put in the replacement levers.
Best regards,
Ted
Replacement levers look great with the lights on at night!

Douglas · « **Reply #9 on:** October 28, 2004, 14:37:04 »

I agree with Ted. The OEM part is not that expensive either if you shop around. Prices are all over the place for the exact same part.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

n/a · « **Reply #10 on:** October 29, 2004, 12:31:31 »

Dougles--the more pictures the better--they will be a great help.

Garth

J. Huber · « **Reply #11 on:** October 29, 2004, 12:43:28 »

Ted, Are the actual finger tips of OEM levers colored? or is it the inner disk part?

James
63 230SL

Douglas · « **Reply #12 on:** October 29, 2004, 12:59:51 »

Just the inner disk part is colored.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

J. Huber · « **Reply #13 on:** October 29, 2004, 13:35:54 »

Thanks Douglas.

Just wanted to be sure. Mine came from Star Quality or Miller's back in 90's. They are colored inside but have black finger tips. The colored tips are hard to find aren't they?

James
63 230SL

ted280sl · « **Reply #14 on:** October 29, 2004, 13:38:00 »

It is my understanding that the earlier Pagoda's had heater control levers that were colored throughout. The later models have the type where the inner disk is colored and I believe that is the only type available as a replacement. I am sure that somone on this site will know when they switched the lever types.
Ted

J. Huber · « **Reply #15 on:** October 29, 2004, 15:40:42 »

Well, the broken levers I replaced on my 230SL were black. It is possible that they too had been changed out prior to 1980. Sadly, this is the "dark ages" of my car's history. Lots of things "could" have happened.

James
63 230SL

A Dalton · « **Reply #16 on:** October 29, 2004, 16:35:59 »

quote:
Originally posted by ted280sl

It is my understanding that the earlier Pagoda's had heater control levers that were colored throughout. The later models have the type where the inner disk is colored and I believe that is the only type available as a replacement. I am sure that somone on this site will know when they switched the lever types.
Ted

The clear acrylic colored [ red,blue, and smoke] were changed on US cars in mid year 250sl , US version only.
Euro did not change as the change was a US DOT Safety mandate.
These acrylic are very strong and hardly ever break..so , if you ever see a Euro 108 or 230/250 parts car, grab them. They are NLA

Jonny B · « **Reply #17 on:** October 30, 2004, 14:51:32 »

According to the Meredith book (though not always the most accurate) the change occurred at car 2980 of the 250SL, when all the new US regulations we put into effect.

Jonny B
1967 250SL Auto

hauser · « **Reply #18 on:** October 30, 2004, 15:16:39 »

Did the non US bound cars keep the colored levers throughout the W113 production?

1969 280sl 5 spd 1999 ML320 Gainesville,Fl.

bluedipper · « **Reply #19 on:** October 30, 2004, 20:10:21 »

I rebuilt the dash in my car just after I purchased it, about 3 years ago. Having spent most of my life trying to save a few bucks by working on my own cars, american and also british, it seemed not to be a difficult undertaking.

My plan was to just take things apart, throw away broken things and put in new things, and then put everything back together. So I thought. In the process of making the tach, clock and such work again I purchased and replaced the heater control levers on the web. Not the colored variety but the black rubber ones. The heater control levers were the worst nightmare imaginable.

I recall the experience as being something akin to building a ship in a bottle. There were tiny wires, tiny lights, no working space and I had to look down through the windshield, into the opening on top of the dash, try to memorize what I saw and then crawl back into the car and work by feel. My hands hurt for days afterwards and I had cuts and scratches everywhere.

In retrospect it would have been worth it to have the work done and get a manicure. Not that I've ever had one but I'd suffer the embarrasment not to perform that task again.

Chuck
68 250SL

Chuck

Jonny B · « **Reply #20 on:** October 31, 2004, 13:12:23 »

The Engelen book lists a whole roster of changes for the 250SL at number 2980. The list includes "Elastiche Heizungs - Luftungsknopfe" The second and third word have to do with heating and ventilating, and I am guessing the elastich means black rubber?? Engelen then goes on with an additional list for USA.

So from 250SL on they have the black rubber for all markets??

Jonny B
1967 250SL Auto

Jonny B · « **Reply #21 on:** October 31, 2004, 13:14:03 »

My mechanic told me to exercise the levers once the car has warmed up, to keep them in working order. Not that you need to do this every time, but every now and again. I have an early 250 with the full colored levers and I want to keep them in one piece.

Jonny B
1967 250SL Auto

Douglas · « **Reply #22 on:** October 31, 2004, 13:32:10 »

I believe that's correct, Johnny. All markets had the soft black heater levers at some point during the 250SL and afterwards.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

A Dalton · « **Reply #23 on:** October 31, 2004, 13:54:03 »

I will have to disagree with the Euro clear acrylic levers .
I own both early and late Euro .043 and they both have acrylic..
I have seen US late .043 w/ rubber.
I have not seen any Euro .044 , so I can not verify those .
Maybe someone here does

Douglas · « **Reply #24 on:** October 31, 2004, 14:01:50 »

I've seen a late US-spec 250SL (043) with black levers. I'll dig up some pix.

My last 280SL (044) was a Euro model and it had the black levers as well, so I am positive the Euro 280SL had black levers just like the US model.

Of course, I defer to Arthur on how a late-model Euro 250SL was equipped since he has one. Sorry to cause any confusion.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

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Author Topic: Heater Controls (Read 11638 times)

n/a

hauser

jlennon3

n/a

Douglas

andy

Douglas

n/a

Douglas

A Dalton

hauser

bluedipper

Douglas

A Dalton

Douglas