Long story short, the vent is damaged and the only way to fix it is to replace the module. Is there an easy way to remove this ac vent module without tearing off the entire center console? Thanks!

 

I see a tab on the one side that extends wider than the visible portion. Not sure if you can simply pull it forward.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/334500435450

 

yes, a lot of people say the entire center console needs to be removed in order to unplug the ac vent, I am just wondering if it is possible to just crack loose the trim that hold the tabs that extend wider than the visible portion then pull the entire vent module straight out...

 

There's some pictures of the center vent taken apart here. Might give you an idea, but yes I had to remove the center console and radio and climate control and part of the cluster hood.

 

what will happen if i just remove part of the plastic gauge cluster hood and start pulling the ac vent module out? why does the climate control needs to be removed? is the center ac vent module locked at the climate control module? Thanks!

 

I would say there's a reason everything online says to take it apart a certain way. You can always just try to do it a different way and see if it works.

That said, while I haven't gotten into the vent portion, the parts of the dash I have taken apart are full of little clips and screws that are designed to go together in a specific order.

 

If you are replacing the whole thing and don't mind damaging it, you can probably grab it by the vent flaps, I just remember it's on there snug. On the left side (the instrument cluster side), the cluster hood clips onto it so you need to pop that lower corner off. I cant recall exactly but there may be screws underneath above the climate control. That's why everything needs to come off.

 

Thanks for the reply. Yeah the one in the picture is broken, it's already damaged so I don't mind it gets damaged further. The bottom line is by pulling the broken vent module out, I don't want to damage the cluster hood clips and the climate control module clips. So I guess I will have to pay a shop 2 hrs of labor to do it the right way then. Wish lexus sells individual vent tabs so that we don't have to pay so much labor to pull the module out...

 

just dm you