Vent Selector Stuck/Binding

My vent selector has always been hard to turn. It tend to bind up when I try to go from defrost to dash vent or vice versa. Especially when cold. But usually I could finesse it into whatever position I wanted. Recently it's not wanting to move back from the defrost and the defrost/foot vent. I had to order new knobs because the restance was so much that the knob broke.


Anybody know what's causing this binding? I know there's like cables and doors involved, but I don't know the first thing about them or how they work or how to fix em. Thanks!

Best gen rules your face!

 

This is the side of the dash your right knee would rest against while driving:

https://www.tundras.com/threads/middle-vents-don’t-blow-any-air.70422/#post-1825767

There's other things to check in the dash, but I suspect that's potentially the issue.

See the reply just above it for videos.

 

And more info: https://www.tundras.com/threads/vent-control-binding-solved.58386/

@BubbaW also posted a pic on here I believe of the gears behind the three knobs, which I believe are similar to what you see farther down in the link I'm giving one line up from these words.

 

Took my kick panel apart yesterday and sprayed assembly and cable with silicone lube….i must say PHM has some some pretty petite hands to get in there with gloves and Vaseline…..lol….

 

I’m having the exact same issue with my 1996 tacoma. The action is identical but pretty similar. It works for a few minutes and then gets jammed up and if I force it the wire just comes off It usually gets stuck on either the main vents or defrost. Did lubricant fix it for y’all?

 

Fix is linked in reply #3 of this thread.