Lower Door Panel HVAC Vent "wipe" Rectangular Rubber Seal

[DeloreanJoshQ]

I noticed that one of my vents in the lower door panel is missing the black rubber rectangular "wipe" seal that prevents hot or cold air from coming through the door vent when you turn the dial to close it off. I've already done the foam sealing mod to keep air from going into the door, so they flow great if they are open, but I would like to have the option to completely close them off.

At DCS2012, DMC had some vents for sale on their table and when I looked at them they did not have this rubber seal which is interesting.
The seal is sandwiched between two plastic rectangle flat pieces that snap together (I glued my driverside) and then the assembly pops into place in the vent housing where it will rotate to control airflow.

Check yours....

Does anyone have an extra lying around?

[DMCMW Dave]

They usually fell off by about 1984.

[DeloreanJoshQ]

They usually fell off by about 1984.

But if they fell off, then that means the "blade" had to have come apart as well inside the vent housing since they are sandwiched together.

do you have any laying around or know where I can get one Dave? Why don't the NOS pieces have the wipe seals?

[DMCMW Dave]

But if they fell off, then that means the "blade" had to have come apart as well inside the vent housing since they are sandwiched together.

do you have any laying around or know where I can get one Dave? Why don't the NOS pieces have the wipe seals?

Probably. They are in the glove box on most cars, I even remember finding it loose in my car soon after I bought it and wondering what it was for a couple of years.

I'll look in my junk boxes. It is actually made up of two parts, the rubber piece and a plastic part to retain the rubber part. It was held in place by melting the little tabs on the main flap. This process apparently didn't work very well as the failure rate is about 98%.

The door vents you saw are not NOS parts, they are reproduction and the folks who reproduced it didn't bother with the rubber flap. It's quite honestly a completely useless part. I would defy you to tell the difference with the rubber flap installed or missing.

[DeloreanJoshQ]

Probably. They are in the glove box on most cars, I even remember finding it loose in my car soon after I bought it and wondering what it was for a couple of years.

I'll look in my junk boxes. It is actually made up of two parts, the rubber piece and a plastic part to retain the rubber part. It was held in place by melting the little tabs on the main flap. This process apparently didn't work very well as the failure rate is about 98%.

The door vents you saw are not NOS parts, they are reproduction and the folks who reproduced it didn't bother with the rubber flap. It's quite honestly a completely useless part. I would defy you to tell the difference with the rubber flap installed or missing.

All I need is the rubber flap part. I just sandwich them together and put a couple drops of glue at the little tabs you described...Since I did the sealing mod, I honestly can tell a big difference when I close the driver side (which has the flap) and feel no air, and when I close the passenger side and feel air coming out between the gaps on each side of the blade.

I guess I am just a perfectionist/bored/running out of things to do/etc.....If you have one, I'd appreciate it and I'll buy it off you when we meet in a few weeks...

Thanks for the info and help again Dave!

Josh Q

[Bikercmbc]

Im pretty sure I have just the rubber part you are looking for at my house. I'll check tomorrow evening and let you know

[mluder]

While working on my doors I found one of the pubber flaps and the plastic retainer inside the bootom of the vent. The other was completely absent.

I also ordered a new replacement assembly which as previously stated does not come with the rubber flap.

I attempted to reassemble the sandwich with 3M Trim Adhesive from a spray can but the glue simply would not hold so I ave up and stored it until a later date.

Cheers.
Steve

[DeloreanJoshQ]

I used super glue at the tabs/holes in the rubber to plastic, and it still seems to hold.

Steve or Dave, if you find one, let me know. Thanks for looking for me!!