19 replies to this topic

[Scoop77]

The car is a '94 m reg 1275 Sprite.
Initially I thought it was the blower itself and someone suggested it was the flap inside but that's fine and blowing really well. Followed the channel of the pipe to the screen to discover that the plastic fitting, under the vent to the screen, is blowing against a piece of steel and when you look down the vent from outside the vent appears covered by that piece of body work. The confusing thing it appears to have been that way from new as the fitting is screwed in from the top?
Suggestions or help ful pics please.
The Haynes manual I have, which covers up to '96, is only good for lighting fires with in my opinion.

[Skortchio]

If you're talking about the bit of metal I think you are, it's kind of a flap that should be bent upwards to let the air out.

If that's the bit then it could be the vent holes aren't aligned (a bit of a pig to do if you remove the top dash for any reason) or worse the metal flap has been bashed down, possibly in an attempt to get the top rail back on.

Which fitting is screwed from the top?

From the sound of it you might need to remove the top rail and refit the vents properly / bash the bit of metal upright again.

[freshairmini]

The windscreen demisters are notoriously bad one minis, I read on here that some one removed the heat vent underneath and better positioned in under the hole, plus they bent the metal to better deflect the heat up the windscreen. Admittedly it was much easier for them as they had the windscreen out and the dash apart.

[Skortchio]

Oh, just thought. You could avoid most of the issue and get some RainX Anti-fog. I use it myself and it works as well on the inside as the normal stuff does on the outside.

[Scoop77]

The piece of metal seems to run almost the entire width of the car with a return on it, and its the plastic fitting under the dash which is screwed from the top. You just about see the srews from the top of the dash. I can't imagine how the car has been like it for nearly twenty years and no one has had it looked at! What a job to get at as well

[Skortchio]

This is what is under your top rail:


The metal bits are to direct the air flow into the vents that mount in the top rail of the dash, the screws on either side of the metal flaps are holding the heater pipes in place.

Is that what you have, or do you have another strip too? Just to be sure we're on the same page :)

[Scoop77]

Mine doesn't look like that. Let me go and have another feel. Lol

[Scoop77]

It gets stranger. There is another piece of steel under that, again with a return and a gap between the two. The air therefore, from the car, can get out of the vent by travelling in like an s shaped flow. The fitting under the dash is fixed nearer to the screen, the air from which goes nowhere near this gap.
It's difficult to explain but I hope you're getting it.

[Skortchio]

Don't suppose you could take a photo?

[Scoop77]

I could but then wouldn't know how to put it on here. Let my kids do all that for me. Bad I know.
Skortchio, I think your pic has helped me work it out. I think someone has had the dash off and not put it back properly. I think the upward pointing metal flap on yours is in front of the vent trim and the dash cover needs easing forwards and about 2cm's.
do we know if that plastic trim is attached to the rest of the dash cover before I start prising it with screwdrivers?
Appreciate your help guys.

[sonikk4]

Scoop77 open a photobucket account as its free. Load your pictures on there. Once you have done that hover over the picture you want to use and a drop down box will appear. Click on the IMG CODE. This will automatically copy the picture then you can paste it in this thread.

[Skortchio]

Fair play, fella.

The black vents slide into the dash rail from the screen side and consequently are a pain in the a** to get back in the right place again, which may be the very cause of this condition

The dash rail is held in place by 3 x 7/16" (i think) nuts, 1 at each end above the air vent and 1 in the middle with a little brace plate that it clamps down.

[Scoop77]

Skotchio, Sonik much appreciated. Am out to get cold in the garage now ;)

[Scoop77]

Job done. And what a job! Couldn't get it back in, in one so had put the vents in place, cut down the long central bolt and then nurse it in. I did have to flex the metal to open the vent a little more but it works a treat.

One further question. I take it the large diameter pipe coming in from drivers side is the cold air coming in from the engine bay?If so, has anyone deleted this so you are just recirculating the air from inside the car. Wouldn't this warm the car up quicker and reduce the moisture in the winter months?

Thanks again. Even the nut size was correct ;)

[Skortchio]

Haha, fluke

I've removed the fresh air intake on my car, had to to allow the hand controls to be fitted, so blanked the hole with a pices of steel rivetted in place and seam sealed over.
With the rest of the thorough sealing throughout the car it's still warm in the morning (usually) from being run the night before.

Also meant I could remove the obtrusive plastic thing behind the grill and improve engine air flow.

Edited by Skortchio, 06 December 2012 - 06:45 PM.