T4 Fan/Temp module in the dashboard

[selsby]

Hi folks,
I have recently acquired a 96 Transporter and I noticed that the fan and heater controls don't work. After doing some investigation I noticed that all the plastic bits on the back of the module have all perished.
Would anyone know where I might get a replacement module? new/used?
mine is similar to the photo below.
I have called SGS and they don't have any.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thank you
Brad

[Sunny43.5]

Fairly common problem with the T4 the cables are steel wire and are inside some steel coil tubing not exactly a good design , and when they become stuck and dry and they do then all the strain by the driver on the knobs breaks the plastic parts which cannot take the strain . Try Ebay for some one wrecking one and then maybe overseas suppliers or you may need to mortgage your house for a VW new one locally sourced . $600 plus was the last price I recall for a genuine part . Oh and don't forget to lube the cables as it will just break the new one , also they are bugger to remove as the cables are attached around lots of locating parts not much room to fit them back in place .

[jets]

Is there a U Pull It or Pick a Part wrecker in your area? I have read that the Polo & mk3 Golf have the same controls. I don't know what years though so you will need to take a look. The actual facia will be T4 only.
As Sunny has said, lube the cable. You may need to replace if it's rusty. It seems to be fairly normal for some owners if something is stiff, just use more force until something breaks. On my van the valve was installed at the wrong angle in the hoses so that the cable dragged on the rubber hose. It was obviously like that for a long time[maybe from new] because it was cutting through the hose. I was looking under the bonnet, soon after buying the van & spotted it. It may have lasted but for piece of mind I replaced the hose. I am into reliability.

[selsby]

Hi Sunny and jets,
Thanks for the quick reply and the advice. I look into your suggestions and hopefully I can have some air warm air in the van again!

Thanks again,
Brad

[Sunny43.5]

If all else fails you may be able to manually move the heater valve in the engine bay I know my sons one had the same problem and that was how we got his warm , just had to remember when the weather warmed up to close the valve again by hand .

[Seano]

You can 'replace' the central hot/cold dial with a old school choke cable. I've run one to the lower fascia (the one below the one shown in your photo, directly in front of the shift lever). It goes to the heater tap in the bay. Pull on the knob and I get hot air. Push it back in and I don't. The vent control switch still works on mine.

The dial crapped out long ago in mine because, as Jet said, the cable routing is stupid for what is essentially a solid core steel cable being driven by a delicate ball end lever made of recycled Matchbox car bodies