1996 Legacy Outback.

 

The air ducts door controls are not enabling the system to switch to the top vents. All other functions work. When the vent button is pushed the motor must try but fails to move the door(s) to the correct position and a clicking sound is heard behind the instrument cluster. I presume the system is electo-mechanical and not vacuum operated.

 

Anyone have any experience here?

 

Steve

It's possible something got stuck or one of the gears got stripped out. If you look up at the center part of the dash from under the driver's side, you can probably see some plastic channels/guides/levers used to control the vent position. Have someone press the buttons while you look to see if you can pin point which lever controls what. Then you may be able to try pushing the lever along when it fails to move.

 

If it is something internal to the vent mechanism, the dash would most likely have to be removed so it can be repaired. Here's the 97 factory manual for the Legacy. It should be close enough and have diagrams which may help.

 

http://www.main.experiencetherave.com/subaru_manual_scans/1997_Legacy_FSM/