Hi,

 

I have a 2005 ford focus MK2. Temp control knob was not working i.e knob will turn to cold but not to hot, I meet resistance. I removed the radio and found cable was kinked and straightened it but cable still not sliding back and forth to select hot in sheet ( wire cable in a sheath)

I think I need a new cable to be fitted. I cannot work out where the cable goes to in order to gain access to the other end.

I removed the glove box but cannot trace this cable. I removed the lower passenger foot well panel but this does not help. The panel above this I think may need to be removed. Haynes manual was no help.

 

Q. Where is the far end of this temp control cable?

Q. How do I get access to it?

Q. Why did cable malfunction in first place?!! Can anyone speculate

 

Thanks.

I've had exactly the same problem on our 2010 Mk2.5. I started this thread about it in November 2022 but my choice of title meant it quickly veered off topic.

I think the response by @unofix was probably on the right track. I don't think even Ford would design a stranded cable to push the flap so there must be a return spring that's broken. Like you I couldn't see any way to access the flap. It might involve a major strip-down of the console to get to it. In the end I bodged mine. After straightening the cable for the umpteenth time I coated the exposed section with araldite, stripped a piece of wire to obtain a short length of insulation, slitted it lengthwise and fitted it around the cable, thereby holding this section rigid. It obviously had to be short enough not to restrict the range of movement so there is still an exposed length when the control is at 'Cold' but so far it seems to be working.

Thanks for reply.

I removed some of the ducting in the glove box ( one screw and pulls apart). This then gives you visual of the other end of the cable.

This cable attaches to a lever arm. Cable was attached. I moved heating knob but is limited movement.

With cable disconnected from lever arm, the cable moves freely back and forth.

Range of motion of lever is reduced, at best ~ 5 degrees. I warmed up car and adjusted lever manually but no change to heat. Vent control works fine, similar principle, manual wire to a mechanism.

From reviewing on line I can see this lever is likely attached to a " blend door" that controls hot air flow from the heater core.  I understand these blend doors get stuck ( there is a foam or rubber around edge that can melt due to heat and get stuck forcing knob/control merely damages/stretches wire)

Online videos show chaps cutting into the heating box ( if correct term) post removing radio and covering edge of door in silver tape. This is an alternative to pulling the dash which I do not want to do.

I am happy to do a hack job of cutting and taping etc. but where does one make the initial incision.

Online schematics showed that post removing radio you are into ducting, then behind this is a blend door for the vents, below this is the blend door for the heat I suspect and below that the heater core?!?

Thoughts?

So you didn't see a spring? I wonder if they're relying on the weight of the blend door to keep some tension on the cable. Not a great idea if so.

Can you post a link to the video?

 

Thanks, I have not seen a spring unless inside in the box but with heat/moisture in air I do not know how long it would last. I have not seen any springs on videos from the USA. I would say its friction/tight fit that keeps flap/door in position with adjustment and reinforcement from the heat control cable.

I put some gentle pressure onto the side lever and got it to move back and forth. You can hear a possible door/flap moving in the air/heat box. I reattached the wire to the lever and the knob control.

Knob now works lever and I have heat from the vents. Limit I can now move knob is to the white selection on the knob before resistance comes on which was opposite of previous.If I push on lever away from me while turning knob to blue/cold it moves. I have heat which is may thing for winter so car windows can be defogged. A car without heat not pleasant. For coldness I can just open windows as I normal do.....I do not want to force things.

The videos are from the USA for their fords and ford focus.I do not think relevant to my Irish or indeed UK ford focus mk2. It was mainly the concept of blend door and blend door sticking and how they addressed it. A quick youtube search will find one or two for you.

I think on my car I could hack/dremle the dash in glove box area and plastic shell inside that to get proper access and then dremle the air box where lever is but I am not sure what would be on other side of air box wall. Then jb weld the lot back together. Crossing fingers as I go. If I get my hands on a borescope I might pop a hole in and have a look.