No more air to the feet on 97' 850 wagon with ECC

[milesursogood]

I'm going to try a hybrid fix w/ a spacer and bushing I've seen from one of the posts of the subject area. I might also try a fix that one MVS contributor, "marginal", had written up https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... 53#p109253.

[milesursogood]

Here's my actual repair work for my 850's defroster/floor damper issue. I've noticed that the bottom stem of the driveshaft that remains attached to the damper is still quite strong and am able to turn the damper fully by twisting this end w/ my fingers. I read a repair solution from another post which involved a metal bushing to support a shaft that has split. In my case, half of the shaft had completely broken off. So instead I glued the piece that had broken off to one side of the steel square driveshaft from the motor. The idea is to use this as a spacer, compress it along w/ the steel square driveshaft and the remaining end from the defroster/floor damper w/ a 3/8" I.D. (0.50" O.D.) x 5/8" long nylon bushing. I've provided three relevant images. One show the parts completely reinstalled back in place. You'll see the white-colored bushing in place over where the steel square driveshaft is. The other image shows the broken plastic piece glued onto the steel driveshaft, and the last image simply shows the bushing over the steel driveshaft to illustrate the bushing once in place. This is $0.38 from a local hardware store. I had to provide a lead-in and file off material a little from the plastic piece that I super-glued onto the steel driveshaft in order to fit them all into the 3/8" I.D. nylon bushing. It is tight quarters inside the glove box. Make sure you have a good portable lighting while working in it. Take care not to drop any part and tools inside. Use a 2nd contact point to hold your parts such as fingers from your other hand, or a FH screwdriver, or even a small spoon to aid and prevent you from loosing your parts inside this compartment. The rear (3rd & non-visible) screw mount on my elec damper motor was already broken. I only needed to remount on the two remaining screw mounting locations as you see in one of the images. That seem to be sufficient in securing the motor in place. Now, air comes out of the floor vents when I turn the elec climate control knob to the 6 o'clock position. I plan to replace the defroster/floor damper w/ a new one when I have to remove the dash panel and replace the heater core or something. For now, it works and it'll do.

[ojdorson]

This will be this week's project. Maybe even tonight's! My feet are freezing in Chicago's 10 degree weather!

[fiore67]

Just fixed mine today. Was able to super glue it then used a smal zip tie.....works great. Thanks for all the ideas.