Heater knobs - bring the suck - amonnia smell from rodents!

**IronMaiden** · 11-26-2009, 10:00 AM

I took my newly acquired CJ7 out for it's Maiden voyage yesterday to the gas station (leaky tank - that's a whole other issue now) and tried to use the heater for the first time.

Almost every one of the knobs that I tried pulling out to get the defroster working came off in my hand.

How the hell are these things attached and how the hell do I get them to stay on other than epoxy?

I don't see anything that holds them on there.

Also, I had some chipmunks or mice living in it from sitting so long and it smelled bad of ammonia from their urine. I scrubbed out the tub with hot water and detergant and it helped a ton, but I'm thinking there is something inside the heater vents too because the little bit of heat that did come out wreaked of amonnia as well.

What is the process for removing and or cleaning out the heating ducts? Do I need to tear the whole dash out to get at them?

**djmart** · 11-26-2009, 10:04 AM

You may need to by the aftermarket knobs that are aluminum or steel. I bought them to try and re-use the cables to my 76 CJ7 (cables are a rare find).

**texasdave** · 11-26-2009, 10:06 AM

They are suaged on and after time they let go. Two options get some billet aluminum knobs with a set screw or new cables with the the knobs.

**John Strenk** · 11-26-2009, 10:13 AM

You can get to just about everything one you pull off the heater box and that can be done without removing the dash. Air plenum will be a little tricky but doable with the box off.

**IronMaiden** · 11-26-2009, 12:09 PM

Thanks for the input guys. I'm guessing the vermin used the heater box as their house and it wouldn't hurt to take it all off and give it a good cleaning too before it gets really cold here.

I'd like to keep my knobs stock looking, but it looks like I'll have to splurge for some billet.

WayneMeuir · 11-26-2009, 01:57 PM

Take a good look at your heater squirrel cage. The freaking rats chewed my all to heck and i ahd to get another one, and they ain't easy to find. I wound up buying a used one off ebay. Never could find a new one that would work anywhere.

Wayne

**IronMaiden** · 11-26-2009, 02:16 PM

If I need a new one, I'll probably just swap a Chevy one in there.

**Mike Romain** · 11-26-2009, 02:36 PM

If you are going to open the heater up, I highly recommend you change the blower to a big GM one. it puts out more on low that the Jeep one did on high. One for a 73 Blazer 350 with AC fits the heater box and squirrel cage with a little trimming of the firewall. Here is one article on it: Jeep Heater Blower Motor Upgrade

Epoxy will work on the knobs.

**IronMaiden** · 11-26-2009, 02:51 PM

Yeah, I already thought about the upgrade.

You can never have enough heat here in Pa. during the cold winter months.

Thanks for the link. I already subscribed to that thread a while ago.

I knew it would be on my to do list.

otterred · 11-26-2009, 05:55 PM

about those knobs - its a jeep and I like to keep it low buck. wrap the rod with a little bit of e-tape, wrap, check, repeat if lose. works like a charm- same story as a shifter knob.

WayneMeuir · 11-26-2009, 09:44 PM

The chevy squirrel cages that I could find were waaay too big. I could not find one that fit correctly. I did swap out the the Seimans PM102 blower motor, which is the upgrade everyone is talking about. Less than $20 at Auto Zone. The one I used was called out for a 73 Blazer 4WD WITHOUT Air. But all you need to know is the part number above. The PM105 is the same motor, but the squirrel cage shaft is about 1/4" too long.

Wayne