I saw the website describing the 40 plus steps to do-it-yourself and as stated, the dealer wants nearly $800... any other solutions for getting the heat back before winter? I can't believe this wasn't a recall! I thought about going to one of the shops that soup up the street racers since they often replace stock dash light kits... maybe then, while they have it open I can get some jazzy custom colored dash lighting and fix the door [while they happen to have it apart]. At least if I spend $800 I may get something else for it... Plus, I'm thinking they may be better at putting the dash back together {maybe not}. I certainly don't want a bunch of rattles... Anyway, appreciate any advice

97 Mark VIII {Toreador Red}

I saw the website describing the 40 plus steps to do-it-yourself and as stated, the dealer wants nearly $800... any other solutions for getting the heat back before winter? I can't believe this wasn't a recall! I thought about going to one of the shops that soup up the street racers since they often replace stock dash light kits... maybe then, while they have it open I can get some jazzy custom colored dash lighting and fix the door [while they happen to have it apart]. At least if I spend $800 I may get something else for it... Plus, I'm thinking they may be better at putting the dash back together {maybe not}. I certainly don't want a bunch of rattles... Anyway, appreciate any advice

97 Mark VIII {Toreador Red}

I have seen people hook up a string, but that is not very becoming of a $40,000 car. I did the rare first gen blend door motor replacement, it was almost the same as the gen 2 with a few different steps. It took about 4 hours and I was going slow. Take a day and go ahead and do it. Once you see how easy it is you will kick yourself in the ass for ever allowing the thought of paying $800 for the dealer to do it to have ever entered your mind.