Fresh air cable clip-its a bastard job!

So here are some tips to ease your misery...
Basic facts: the SA has Audi 80 heater controls as we all know, but to make them work VWSA had to fix the fresh air cable to the heater box with a metal bracket.
The bummer is that they used the same spring clip as used on the other cables that are still fixed directly to the plastic heater box, but the clip doesnt quite grip the cable outer as well as it could.
So... you go outside on a frosty morning and twist the knob to get the heater blowing and the cable pops off. Arse.
Now you enter a world of pain.
The clip is located between the heater and the servo, half hidden by the drivers fresh air vent pipe.
Its a long way away and can only be reached with your right hand by laying across the cab floor and putting your arm up behind the crash beam beside the clutch pedal...the spring digs into the back of your hand a treat.
You only window on this miserable scene is by removing the little cubby hole on the left of the steering column.
I destroyed the back of my hand yesterday unsuccessfully trying to get this clip back on, gave up and had another go this morning with a fresh approach. It worked!
The trick is to get comfy first, protect your hand (note the cardboard and sardine tin lid that I slipped inside my glove) and be very patient... A string lasso fed down from the top end and hooked over the two prongs on the clip means that you can lift them over the notch in the metal bracket, so you right fore finger only has to push the clip on. It takes too much finger strength for mere mortals otherwise.
I also put a bit of white VHB tape on the bracket to help stop the cable outer slipping (just visible in the pics), only needs to be 8 or 9mm wide or it will foul the slot and notch for the clip...
Pics tell the rest, good luck if you have to tackle this shitty job.
http://s1103.photobucket.com/user/IanHolman/library/SA%20heater%20cable%20clip%20fix

Edited by silverbullet - 04 Sep 16 at 13:06

Thanks Brian. Good to have it all working again. Popped some new bulbs in the control panel too, forgot that they come on with the ignition!

It's likely to be the bulbs (3 little grain of wheat jobbies) which need replacing. Pull off the 3 knobs, undo four screws behind them and you should then be able to pull the panel off to replace the bulbs.