safulop

The rear AC panel on my S4 has four plastic vent banks, each has about eight slats. If you've seen an S4 with rear air, you know what I'm talking about.

My question is, these vent banks look like they would be designed to be redirected by pointing the slats, like all the front vent banks can do. But these ones don't, all of the slats are frozen in place pointing to one side, but each vent bank can rotate front-back on its hinge.

Is this normal?

Nicole

No.

It's quite possible that these vents broke at some point, and someone glued them back in to place. Or someone wanted it always cooler on one side.

The vents usually break when you fold down the rear seats and load a large piece of cargo. That's because the vents are higher than all surrounding areas.

I have a trim piece - in my case it's wood, but it's also available in other colors and materials - that is thick enough to raise cargo above the top of the vents, protecting them from breakage.

Speedtoys

88 S4 here...

All of my rear vent banks move back and forth, and all of the slats work together to point right and left as well.


Full two axis movement.

safulop

Yeah, it did appear to me that they had been frozen in place by some kind of glue. I actually broke one slat slightly by trying to point them, and it looked like some plastic kind of tore away from a glued area.

The weird thing is, there is no evident damage to this unit, so I can't see any reason why someone would do this other than to, as you've said, force the slats to all point to the driver's side.

OK, so then,

can a person buy these little vent banks or the whole set of four?

Also Nicole, where could I get one of those trim pieces for raising the floor? I want to cart my dogs around sometimes in the back, and it would be much better to be able to fold the seats down and end up with a flat surface for them to lie on.

Nicole

The dogs could still damage the slats with their paws, unless you cover the whole vent area. But yes, in order to do that with a flat board or something, you need to ensure that board does not damage the slats.

You can order the trim piece through me (www.hookedoncars.com) or through Jager Engineering in Canada (www.garage9.com).

Either way, you need to specify the material you want - recommended options are synthetic woods, authentic carbon weave, or piano black.

What color(s) is your interior?

anpo

Well at least your not missing half of them.. Anyone who knows if theres some aftermarket/OEM stuff which can be ordered?

Nicole

No, there is only the factory piece - which was about $80 the last time I checked many years ago. You may ask 928 International, if they have some used louvers from one of their recent arrivals.

You also need a release **** for the right rear seat back...

okbarnett

I would take the whole panel off and take the plastic vents off and wash them out with fantastic and try to see if they are just frozen with old dirt and condensation crust. Maybe its not glue.

pcar928fan

They are probably glued in because they kept breaking them off... they are REALLY easy to break and most cars are more like Anders...missing about half of them!

Mrmerlin

I have 2 of the 4 rear grills , you can have them for 10.00 plus shipping

anpo

PM sent

safulop

Well great but, for the moment I want to play with it a little more and probably buy the Porsche part with all four grills. If it is $80 or so as stated above, that is OK with me.

Thanks for the note,

Sean

Nicole

You can see the part here:

http://www.mailordercentral.com/928i...570%20033%2000

It's listed for $89.00

Griffinroydonald

Remove the panel and send it to me. I repair them all the time and have parts on hand. the pieces are removable and I have repaired a lot of them. Price will depend on how many I replace but will be cheap.

anpo

Thanks but with shipping from Sweden and back + I never know when to find time with a little baby girl in the house, I rather go with $89 for a new one.

I reckon I need about 20 slats. How about $10 for them sent in an envelope?