Heat/vent control slider getting stiff

Lately the 5-position heat/vent control slider in my '93 Accord has been
getting more and more difficult to slide, especially from left to right.
And sometimes I have to really force it to move it left from the rightmost
position, but once past that it moves somewhat OK to the left.

I Google'd for ideas and found something about liquid graphite to fix this
problem (assuming that it is a lube issue). How would I apply the stuff?
Do I just spray it along the inside of the slider track, or is there
something else involved?

Am I on the right track here? Thanks in advance.

 

-----------------------------

It's like the brake cables on a bicycle . . Use LockEase and get some
to soak into the top end of the cable and it will run down toward the
device it controls. There may be a 'junction box' at the bottom of your
heater where the cables meet and interface with some plastic cams. It
may be the lube on those cams that's dried out. The '95 Odyssey had
that. You'll need to take some of the lower panels off your dash if you
really want to get into it. Try a drop of LockEase on the cable that
turns on the 'water tap' under the hood . . It's on the heater hose.

'Curly'

 

-----------------------------

It's like the brake cables on a bicycle . . Use LockEase and get some
to soak into the top end of the cable and it will run down toward the
device it controls. There may be a 'junction box' at the bottom of your
heater where the cables meet and interface with some plastic cams. It
may be the lube on those cams that's dried out. The '95 Odyssey had
that. You'll need to take some of the lower panels off your dash if you
really want to get into it. Try a drop of LockEase on the cable that
turns on the 'water tap' under the hood . . It's on the heater hose.

'Curly'

 

Which lower panels are you referring to specifically? The middle panels
where the climate control and radio are housed? Or can I get by with just
removing the glove box? My Chilton manual (yeah, yeah, I know) says to
remove the entire panel. Surely that is overkill, isn't it?

If only this had happened last summer when I already had the middle panels
removed to replace the stereo.

 

Which lower panels are you referring to specifically? The middle panels
where the climate control and radio are housed? Or can I get by with just
removing the glove box? My Chilton manual (yeah, yeah, I know) says to
remove the entire panel. Surely that is overkill, isn't it?

If only this had happened last summer when I already had the middle panels
removed to replace the stereo.

 

-------------------------------

You already know the drill for stereo removal. Do it again so you can
get a clear view of the heater control assembly.
P.S. Check all your dash lights before you go in there. . . Now would be
the time to replace any burnt bulbs

'Curly'

 

-------------------------------

You already know the drill for stereo removal. Do it again so you can
get a clear view of the heater control assembly.
P.S. Check all your dash lights before you go in there. . . Now would be
the time to replace any burnt bulbs

'Curly'

 

Thanks, Curly. And it's funny that you mention burnt bulbs; there happens
to be a burnt bulb in behind that panel. It was just never a high
priority for me. Hopefully I can get around to doing this on the weekend.

 

Thanks, Curly. And it's funny that you mention burnt bulbs; there happens
to be a burnt bulb in behind that panel. It was just never a high
priority for me. Hopefully I can get around to doing this on the weekend.

 

In my daughter's '93 Accord LX, it is the passenger side of the console, way
down at the very bottom. IIRC it was a vent tube or similar I removed to
expose the mixer box. It was very easy, one or two screws and moving the
carpet out of the way.

Mike

 

In my daughter's '93 Accord LX, it is the passenger side of the console, way
down at the very bottom. IIRC it was a vent tube or similar I removed to
expose the mixer box. It was very easy, one or two screws and moving the
carpet out of the way.

Mike

 

Thanks to Curly and Michael P. for the info. I was just about to go work
on it, but I have run into a minor problem. I can't find Lock-Ease
anywhere around here.

I did find something called Jig-a-loo Graphite Extreme.
http://www.jigaloo.com/english/extreme.htm

There was also Jig-a-loo Teflon Plus which supposedly is better for these
types of cables, but doesn't have the extreme temperature capability of
the graphite stuff.
http://www.jigaloo.com/english/teflon_plus.htm

I also found a Motomaster brand graphite spray lube at Canadian Tire.

Would these be acceptable substitutes for Lock-Ease?

 

Thanks to Curly and Michael P. for the info. I was just about to go work
on it, but I have run into a minor problem. I can't find Lock-Ease
anywhere around here.

I did find something called Jig-a-loo Graphite Extreme.
http://www.jigaloo.com/english/extreme.htm

There was also Jig-a-loo Teflon Plus which supposedly is better for these
types of cables, but doesn't have the extreme temperature capability of
the graphite stuff.
http://www.jigaloo.com/english/teflon_plus.htm

I also found a Motomaster brand graphite spray lube at Canadian Tire.

Would these be acceptable substitutes for Lock-Ease?

 

Sounds like any of those will do. Lock-Ease is basically graphite in
kerosene, with the kerosene carrying the graphite into the crevices before
evaporating. Teflon is also suitable (assuming it gets into the crevices
well enough), since it doesn't attract dirt either. You're right about the
temperature aspect; in hot applications teflon would break down.

Mike

 

Sounds like any of those will do. Lock-Ease is basically graphite in
kerosene, with the kerosene carrying the graphite into the crevices before
evaporating. Teflon is also suitable (assuming it gets into the crevices
well enough), since it doesn't attract dirt either. You're right about the
temperature aspect; in hot applications teflon would break down.

Mike

 

Had the same problem with my 97 accord - broke the darn adjustment dial
- somebody told me where to find the valve mechanism under the dash -
sprayed it with a WD-40 product TAL 5 which is no longer on the market.
Has teflon and other lubricants in it - that was about 2 years ago and
the temp adjust mechanism has been smooth ever since.

Stuff also works wonders on an ancient HP laserjet printer - sucker has
had a mountain of paper run through it - when the bearings start to
squeal - hit them with a shot of this stuff - good for another year. I
called WD-40 in SD CA - nope we no longer make that product - guess it
worked too good.

 

Had the same problem with my 97 accord - broke the darn adjustment dial
- somebody told me where to find the valve mechanism under the dash -
sprayed it with a WD-40 product TAL 5 which is no longer on the market.
Has teflon and other lubricants in it - that was about 2 years ago and
the temp adjust mechanism has been smooth ever since.

Stuff also works wonders on an ancient HP laserjet printer - sucker has
had a mountain of paper run through it - when the bearings start to
squeal - hit them with a shot of this stuff - good for another year. I
called WD-40 in SD CA - nope we no longer make that product - guess it
worked too good.

 

Update:

I attempted to do the same routine that Michael did. Although accessing
the area went without a hitch, it was not where I should have been
looking. Michael's problem was with the temperature control, and the
cable for that is accessed from the passenger side. Since my problem is
with the function lever (vent, heater, defrost, etc.), I decided to
investigate on the driver's side. And sure enough, under the dash behind
the console, I found a series of cables connected together and moved by
these metal pieces (I forget what they're called, but they're sort of like
pulleys). I saw them move when I slid the function lever. Unfortunately,
I could only access a few of the "joints" to lube, and that did not fix
the problem.

So what's next? Do I have to somehow get to the other joints that I did
not lube, or will I have to remove the middle of the dash to get behind
the control panel to look at the lever end of the cable?

And just my luck, I opened the hood to access the cable that attaches to
the heater valve (as per Curly's suggestion), but now I can't get the hood
to close tight. No lube of any type or amount has been able to get it
shut tight (the release cable still works fine).

I'm not a real DIY type like some here are, and with work and weather
factors (no garage where I live), I may have to get my mechanic to look at
these problems.

 

Update:

I attempted to do the same routine that Michael did. Although accessing
the area went without a hitch, it was not where I should have been
looking. Michael's problem was with the temperature control, and the
cable for that is accessed from the passenger side. Since my problem is
with the function lever (vent, heater, defrost, etc.), I decided to
investigate on the driver's side. And sure enough, under the dash behind
the console, I found a series of cables connected together and moved by
these metal pieces (I forget what they're called, but they're sort of like
pulleys). I saw them move when I slid the function lever. Unfortunately,
I could only access a few of the "joints" to lube, and that did not fix
the problem.

So what's next? Do I have to somehow get to the other joints that I did
not lube, or will I have to remove the middle of the dash to get behind
the control panel to look at the lever end of the cable?

And just my luck, I opened the hood to access the cable that attaches to
the heater valve (as per Curly's suggestion), but now I can't get the hood
to close tight. No lube of any type or amount has been able to get it
shut tight (the release cable still works fine).

I'm not a real DIY type like some here are, and with work and weather
factors (no garage where I live), I may have to get my mechanic to look at
these problems.

 

Belated thanks to those who offered info in regards to my climate control
slider problem.

It turned out that the problem was with the lever mechanism itself (inside
the control panel unit). The mechanic replaced the unit with a used one,
and all is well.