Expert: autohelp - 8/16/2009

Question
Dear expert-recently I was removing the heater core from my 1885 cadillac fleetwood brougham with automatic climate control. In the heater core compartment there is a door which closes or opens depending on the temperature selected. This door has a rod attached to it which is some how activated when temperature changes are made. The rod goes through the firewall and connects to a driving mechanism. I believe I disconected this rod from its inside connection. My question is-what is the easyest way to get at the inside end of this rod and reconnect it to its drive mechanism/motor without tearing the entire inside of the car apart. At present, I only get cold air at a 60 degree setting

Answer
Remove the glove box liner using a stubby phillips screw driver and you will see this damper door threaded metal arm snapped into a plastic clip.

Unsnap this rod from the plastic clip and put the control panel on full HEAT (90 degrees) and watch the plastic arm move towards you for a MINIMUM of 2 minutes.

After 2 minutes, Pull this threaded metal rod TOWARDS you as far as it will go and snap it into the plastic connector.

Replace the glove box liner and your done.