Topic: Tempreture control cable with AC has broken plastic end

[Murf]

The temp. control cable has the plastic end broken and the cable is loose and not operating the heat door. The broken end is where it connects to the control assembly to the left of the steering column.  Has anyone found a fix for this malady?  There is a reproduction available but would rather salvage an original part then fool with a repo that is somewhat difficult to change when and if it breaks.  Thanks for any help or experience you had with one of these.   

[ruppstang]

I know of no way to fix them. You have to buy the repop or a original.

[J_Speegle]

I've tried to wrap,  epoxy, hot glue and a combination of these and they have never held up to any use over time (rather sort time at that)

But that is only my experience with the subject

[Murf]

Has anyone ever attempted a repair with a conduit clamp such as used on lawn mower throttle cables?  Or the Ford clamp that is used on the other end of the cable? I really think that if we ran out of plastic we could not exist.  It seems to have predictable life span and when it reaches the end it simply breaks!  I notice that the reproduction cable also has a plastic locating clamp on the control end just as the original and it seems even more tiny than the original.    Scott Drake makes this reproduction of this cable, Part # C7ZZ 18518 B, and NPD carries it under Part # 18518-1C in case anyone else is faced with this problem.

[Oz390]

Tried the glue, JB weld, epoxy, etc. route, useless.

This is the solution I came up with, 15 years on one and 7 on another repair and still holding.  Thought about having a piece stamped out with "grooves" to align, but never got around to it.  This was the "prototype, just a scrap of mild steel as it worked so well, never got around to making it "pretty".  No pics of the second, but basically the same thing...  I now add them to unbroken ones too..

[jwc66k]

I had a similar problem with the control cable on my lawn mower. There was a break in the plastic sheath of the cable which made operations difficult, and I didn't have the time to go to a lawnmower repair or hardware store to get a new cable. However, you might try a lawnmower repair or hardware store for a replacement. The one I replaced was at least 6 feet long and a generic replacement might have enough length to replace all three of your cables. Oh, and my immediate solution for the lawnmower was to use the excess from a 26 foot long military surplus choke cable with a steel spring type sheath that I adapted to use for a manual choke on my VW Baja (it ain't stock).
Jim