Message Center Vent LS Gen 1 V8

DaleGrib

DaleGrib

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Does anyone have any suggestions on how to fix the message center buttons on the vent? I know these vents break quite a bit cause the plastic does not seem to hold up over time. But I hate to pay $160 for one that will likely do the same thing down the road.
Is this the best way or is there other cleaner ways?
 
I bought a used one off ebay a few months ago for like $60 dollars and it was in like new condition. I did an e-mail saved search, when new items are listed I get a e-mail from ebay. I got lucky that morning offered him $50 plus shipping and had the part within a week.
 
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jmeecer said:
I bought a used on off ebay a few months ago for like $60 dollars and it was in like new condition. I did an e-mail saved search, when new items are listed I get a e-mail from ebay. I got lucky that morning offered him $50 plus shipping and had the part within a week.
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Yeah I have seen those but I have seen a lot look in rough shape as well and who knows really what shape them screw holes are in. I mean literally every LS I have every seen at the boneyard has issues with the vent message center.
 
DaleGrib said:
Yeah I have seen those but I have seen a lot look in rough shape as well and who knows really what shape them screw holes are in. I mean literally every LS I have every seen at the boneyard has issues with the vent message center.
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I have a 1st Gen message center vent control panel and the buttons work perfect I bought off of EBay it’s mint condition ...pm me and I could get it mailed out to you
 
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DaleGrib said:
PM Sent bro thanks!
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DaleGrib said:
Thanks bro but what I need is the vent itself. My button assembly is in good shape, it's the vent that the screw holes broke on.
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No problem ... I know what you mean I think ppl try to pry those vents out because they don’t know how to properly take the components out..good luck with your search!
 
AmsterDutch said:
No problem ... I know what you mean I think ppl try to pry those vents out because they don’t know how to properly take the components out..good luck with your search!
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I think some people have just had them break from normal use. It just seems the plastic does not hold up well over time. I will have to go the rivet approach for now and when I can find a good replacement vent I will grab one. I might even grab one from a gen 2 I think the only difference is the color and I don't really care about that and I think the buttons work from a gen 2 on a gen 1. I mean I am putting a radio in the car at some point and going double din so that old factory trim color will go away in a sense.
 
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Just take care not to get any on the moving switch parts.
 
joegr said:
Just take care not to get any on the moving switch parts.
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Yeah I have seen a few that people got glue in the buttons and they were trash after that. I will likely use a applicator to apply the glue so I can control where it goes and less chance of getting glue in the buttons.
 
I cut a #10(-32?) nut coupler in half at an angle and used JB weld to attach the halves to the back of the vent face after grinding the bosses away. I screwed them into the switches, made a thin layer of epoxy over where it needed to be, placed it on the vent face, then let it dry. Once it set, I removed the buttons and slathered the couplers up with more epoxy. It's held up great for me several years later. I'll look for pics later

I also have been trying to develop a 3D printed bracket to be simply glued in place with no guess work... but that's slow going. I'm on revision 4 now. There's not a lot of space between the button chassis and vent face and it's a curvy shape with some funny protrusions
 
I went ahead and bought a used vent with controls cause I noticed my vent was actually cracked. Got one for $44 shipped on ebay
 
FDR said:
I cut a #10(-32?) nut coupler in half at an angle and used JB weld to attach the halves to the back of the vent face after grinding the bosses away. I screwed them into the switches, made a thin layer of epoxy over where it needed to be, placed it on the vent face, then let it dry. Once it set, I removed the buttons and slathered the couplers up with more epoxy. It's held up great for me several years later. I'll look for pics later

I also have been trying to develop a 3D printed bracket to be simply glued in place with no guess work... but that's slow going. I'm on revision 4 now. There's not a lot of space between the button chassis and vent face and it's a curvy shape with some funny protrusions
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When you get this done I would be interested in getting one as I know overtime this vent has a good chance of failing as well. Hopefully I get lucky but I know my past luck on every LS I have had owned has had issues with this one thing.
 
I got the one I had ordered on eBay and had to send it back because it was broken. So I had to bite the bullet and I ordered a new vent. I got it for $115 shipped which is not horrible considering they usually go for $155 or so at the other sites.
 
I suggest that you go ahead and reinforce it around the screw bosses.
 
DaleGrib said:
Whats the best way with a light coat of epoxy?
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