UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

Hi all,

This is my first post but I am looking for some help and I’d be extremely grateful.

I have a 2010, 3dr polo. I need to replace the manual climate with a new climate control unit.

I have managed to get the stereo out and removed everything to get the climate control unit out however there is a panel above it which is stopping me from accessing the mechanical cabling which is connected to the knob which turns it. Hence, it is stuck in and I cannot get it out.

Has anyone had an experience of this and what is the best course of action? I have no car experience really but I was fortunate enough to have a mechanic provide me with the torx screw to remove some of the screws.

If I was to take it to a garage too, what would I be looking to pay to have it done? And would most garages be able to do it as I’d hope this is not something specialist.

Kind regards.

a picture says more than a thousand words?

Sorry, I never actually took one and now the stereo is back in . I can try and take it out again to get the pictures for you.

iichel wrote: Mon Dec 04, 2023 7:40 pm a picture says more than a thousand words?

Looks like this, I’ve taken the stereo out and managed to remove all the aesthetic stuff but the unit with the three knobs is what I can’t get out

not really what i was looking for, more the panel you're looking into... but let's try anyway.
remove the front panel and take out two screws from the bottom. then you should be able to move the climate panel a bit so you can remove the plugs and bowden cables.

iichel wrote: Mon Dec 04, 2023 9:00 pm not really what i was looking for, more the panel you're looking into... but let's try anyway.
remove the front panel and take out two screws from the bottom. then you should be able to move the climate panel a bit so you can remove the plugs and bowden cables.

Hi, thank you for your response. I got the two screw out the bottom and the climate control is moving but I cannot seem to get it out far enough to remove the Bowden cables. It’s like one side is stuck and there is not give. I have this picture from when I got to that point (see attached)

See here

iichel wrote: Mon Dec 04, 2023 9:00 pm not really what i was looking for, more the panel you're looking into... but let's try anyway.
remove the front panel and take out two screws from the bottom. then you should be able to move the climate panel a bit so you can remove the plugs and bowden cables.

I’ve just managed to get it for you!

perhaps take out the inner frame that holds the radio? i remember the bottom of the radio 'hole' being open but clearly yours isnt.

iichel wrote: Mon Dec 04, 2023 9:28 pm perhaps take out the inner frame that holds the radio? i remember the bottom of the radio 'hole' being open but clearly yours isnt.

To do that I’m guessing I wouldn’t need to take the vents at the top out, just the four screws at the back and the two at the front?

Thank you so much for your help. I’ll give it a go on Thursday.

come to think about it, you don't need to remove the vents but you do need to remove the trim around the gear knob and the top part of the center console.

iichel wrote: Mon Dec 04, 2023 10:14 pm come to think about it, you don't need to remove the vents but you do need to remove the trim around the gear knob and the top part of the center console.

I see, that might be too much for my to do myself. I’m guessing a garage would be able to do this quite easily? I took it to one and they said it’s something I could do myself…

I think you can do it yourself, it's not that hard:
- remove gear knob frame (pull out)
- remove two screws below the frame
- remove two screws that are on the climatronic
- push down the two 'lips' near the first two screws
- pull back the top half of the center console

it's this part, takes about 5 minutes extra:

iichel wrote: Tue Dec 05, 2023 7:51 am I think you can do it yourself, it's not that hard:
- remove gear knob frame (pull out)
- remove two screws below the frame
- remove two screws that are on the climatronic
- push down the two 'lips' near the first two screws
- pull back the top half of the center console

it's this part, takes about 5 minutes extra:

Thank you for that insightful response. I will give it a go myself then!

Thank you.

good luck! you got this