How to replace the heater control (control slides) assembly

Vacuum problem or latch may be broken n door.

you need to remove center dash assembly to unscrew the heater control assembly once you pull out the heater control assembly you should have access to the rear where the tiny bulb is and you will need the number marked on it or in your owners manual in specs lights some auto parts dont have the same size since there are many models and sizes you might have to buy from dealer and they have to order so look around to find one

Yes it is common.

the FSM covers HVAC. buy /barrow one.
or at alldata.com, log in ,see it.
you will have to gain access to the cables. and levers and to the
damper levers....
how to remove all those parts and not break very old plastic takes some skill , some parts just pull off others have hidden screws.

here is a quote on control panel.

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Pull the control knobs from the levers.
3. Release the latches at the rear of the bezel. Remove the control assembly lens and disconnect the bulb.
4. Disconnect the control cables at the blower and heater assembly.
5. Remove the control assembly fasteners.
6. Pull the control assembly out and disconnect the electrical connections.
7. Disconnect the control cables from the levers.
8. Remove the blower, air conditioning and heater switch

buy one
and install it.
it has clamps remove them or unsnap them and .....
access? its in the dash.
the FSM covers all HVAC work , you can get that and read it
or hope that ALLDATA.com covers R&R for the cables.
but will cover access. (huge job on some cars)
working on the dash with out and FSM invites more broken parts.
plastics.
hidden screws and such , and how to get to them are covered in the book.
here is the control panel, pasted


Removal & Installation

1. Remove the upper console panel.
2. Remove the instrument cluster finish panel
3. Release the 2 fitting claws and pull out the heater control assembly.
4. Using a screwdriver, open the claw of the cable clamp and disconnect the defroster damper control cable. NOTE Be careful not to bend the cable wire. If the cable wire bends, the heater control assembly operationally becomes worse.
5. Using a screwdriver, open the claw of the cable clamp and disconnect the air mix damper control cable.
6. Disconnect the connector, remove the heater control assembly. Removal and installation of the control panel

To install:

1. Install the inner cable end of the air mix damper control cable to the heater control lever.
2. Install the outer cable of the air mix damper control cable to the cable clamp. NOTE Be careful not to bend the cable wire. If the cable wire bends, the heater control assembly operationally becomes worse.
3. Operating the heater control knob and check that it properly stops at both ends of MAX. COOL and MAX. HOT and no recoil is identified.
4. Check that the outer cable should not be disengaged (moved) from the heater control assembly when the cable is pulled.
5. Install the inner cable end of the defroster damper control cable to the heater control lever.
6. Install the outer cable of the defroster damper control cable to the cable clamp.
7. Operating the heater control knob and check that it properly stops at both ends of FACE and DEF and no recoil is identified.
8. Check that the outer cable should not be disengaged (moved) from the heater control assembly when the cable is pulled.
9. Connect the connector, install the heater control assembly.
10. Install the instrument cluster finish panel
11. Install the upper console panel.

1. Remove the Instrument Panel (IP) bezel.
2. Remove the radio.
3. Remove the heater control assembly by firmly depressing and holding the retaining tabs. Slide the assembly forward.

1. Disconnect the temperature and the mode cables from the back of the control assembly.
2. Disconnect the electrical connection from the control assembly.
3. Remove the control assembly.

INSTALLATION PROCEDURE

1. Connect the electrical connection to the control assembly.
2. Connect the temperature and the mode cables to the back of the control assembly.

1. Install the control assembly to the IP carrier until you hear an audible snap.
2. Install the radio.
3. Install the IP bezel.

why are you replacing it?

SECTION 412-04: Control Components 2000 Escort Workshop Manual REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION Procedure revision date: 08/04/1999
Control Assembly
Special Tool(s) Remover, Audio Unit
415-001 (T87P-19061-A)
Removal

1. Disconnect the battery ground cable (14301).

1. Rotate the temperature control switch to the COOL position.

1. Disconnect the A/C temperature cable (19988) from the heater core housing.
   1. Unlock the heater temperature cable by pulling down the tab.
   1. Disconnect the heater temperature cable while holding the tab down.

1. Use the Radio Removing Tool to pull the integrated control panel out of the instrument panel (04320).

1. Disconnect the vacuum harness from the function selector switch.

1. Disconnect the radio antenna lead in cable (18812) and the electrical connectors and remove the control assembly.

Installation

1. Follow the removal procedure in reverse order.

Well you can pull the cosmetic piece off which surrounds the climate and radio. Some screws will be evident which you can back out and the climate control then pulls out a few inches into your hands. You will see the lever has a little bud sticking up on it which connects to a sheathed wire cable which slides in and out of the sheath as you move the slider. You may find there is an obstruction, you may find the anchor which holds the sheath to the assembly is broken. You can buy a used Saturn climate control assembly at a junkyard or on ebay. Lastly you may see nothing which tells you that the problem is at the other end. That wire moves a door which lets varying amounts of cold air into the heater box and if it is stuck open you are going to have to pay someone to get into the heater box and fix it. Do a search on youtube.com for folks doing heater core replacements on Saturns to see the amount of labor involved. I had a similar problem on a 94SW and just lived with it. If you do this for goodness sake replace the core while you are at it so you do not have to do that later and duplicate
the labor.

To replace the control module, you'll need to remove the front dash facia panel to access the virtical console modules. Four (4) phillips head screws must be removed to pop out the this panel.

The facia has several 'clips' which pop loose when you pry it out.

As you can see, there are four (4) screws in the environment control module. Reassembly is in reverse order.

You cannot turn off the CEL without a scan tool.