Replacing AC Vents: UPDATED with DIY!

Sunny · Joined: 09 Apr 2007 Posts: 292 Location: Baton Rouge, LA

UPDATED! SEE DIY IN POST 5

My outside ac vents are great. You can turn them all the way down and they close off. The center vents dont. This is a problem because my gf is always freezing and I am always hot.

I picked up some mazda 6 vents and they ALMOST fit great, but the vents are built to go in strait and the xb center dash is slightly rounded to the sides and to the back.

Im thinking I may have to break out the dremel and massage it a bit.

Anybody else swap out ac vents? If so how'd you do it?

Alchemist80 · Joined: 15 Jul 2006 Posts: 318 Location: Arkansas

I think toyota echo vents and celica as well. I cant remember off the top of my head, I saw it months and months ago.

sdsnybny · Joined: 20 Oct 2006 Posts: 741 Location: Auburn WA

A certain year Mitsubishi Eclipse vent works as a direct swap and closes all the way

firesquare · Joined: 17 Mar 2004 Posts: 3969 Location: Wilmington NC

^^^ yeah i saw that thread. i think its the last generation because those are those only ones that are round and have a closing flap.

jwaj2002 · Joined: 10 Sep 2006 Posts: 3528 Location: ico arkansas

yep, 2002 stratus sxt 2 door has the same vents as the eclipse, theres also the matrix

Sunny · Joined: 09 Apr 2007 Posts: 292 Location: Baton Rouge, LA

GOT IT!

This is a slacker DIY. Wear Safety Goggles, get some gloves, don't shoot your eye out, you break it you bought it.

I bought this on ebay:

Its the 03-04 AC/Heater vents from a Mazda 6.

There are tabs and stuff you can use to ensure that everything comes apart normally.

If you want to use that method, i found this: http://forum.mazda6club.com/lofiversion/index.php/t102732.html

Or, if you are like me, you can get a pair of heavy duty dykes or garden shears, cut the outer stuff to make it crack, peel it open and throw it away.

Grab a dremel with a grinding or very coarse sandpaper head and make the edge flush and smooth all the way around.

slide into vent slot. it sits flush in the whole.

It turns but it sticks a little, i am sure a little finessing with the dremel could remedy it.

I will post pics in the morning. Too dark to get a good one.

Sunny · Joined: 09 Apr 2007 Posts: 292 Location: Baton Rouge, LA

I still need to do a finishing sand and spray it flat black, but this is what it looks like:

burstaneurysm · Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Posts: 6223 Location: Forest Park, IL

That looks really good.
I would have to do all four though... have some consistency with em.

Sunny · Joined: 09 Apr 2007 Posts: 292 Location: Baton Rouge, LA

i am waiting on my other set of mazda vents to arrive......

FlakoFigZ · Posted: 10/31/08 7:46PM Post subject:

Did u finish the project yet?

DOUGH_BOY_60 · Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 254 Location: STRONG ISLAND, NY

now that is sexy

Sunny · Joined: 09 Apr 2007 Posts: 292 Location: Baton Rouge, LA

I have the vents for the outside, but i haven't put them in yet.

I have a week off from work next week and have few projects planned so it will probably be finished then.

greybox · Joined: 17 Jun 2007 Posts: 677 Location: lake oswego

I always wondered if anybody had done this.