Hi there,

I'm currently trying to convert my interior from gray to black, and probably I'll be doing some dying in some parts. BUT, I wanted to get as many black OEM parts as possible, so I called a junkyard, where they sold to me some buttons, vents and stuff...

Now... when I received the items, I found this center dash vents bezel... and I found extremely odd that it does not have the up/down regulator in the right side...

Has anyone seen this kind of center dash bezel? What's the up/down regulator in the right for?

The dash bezel I'm talking about...


Please compare with this other one...

not sure but i think couple other cars like some dodge and chrysler cars has same dash as our talons and eclipse bezel might of been of that. my 96 eclipse had the same bezel but in black the left up and down leveler actually controlled both vent as one rather than indavisual

I looked it up in the owners manual a while ago. They have some special name for it, but essentially it allows those two center vents to always be open, no matter what setting the vent selector is on. The top selection with the blue background means its always open, and the bottom with the white is only opened when the top vents are selected on the dial switch. Its probably because they are aimed at the backseat. If you want the bottom vents on, and have kids in the back, the only way to get air to the back of the car is through the center between the front seats. Does that make sense? I can elaborate more, or reword it if it doesn't.

I have no idea if you can eliminate this switch, and use the top pictured bezel in a car that is like the bottom pictured bezel.

Hope this helps

OP isn't talking about the oval shaped hole on the far right. We know that controls the rear wiper, or operates the top on Spyder's.

Kanusky is correct, it keeps the center vents slightly open regardless of the vent selector position. It's just a luxury item that you'll probably never use anyways.

Thanks very much for the replies...

kanusky, thanks for the info... I understand everything now....

I have owned DSMs for 7+ years now and I never wondered what was that leveler for, basically because I have never used it as WES_393 said...

Now... I'll found out if I can use that bezel on my car, or if I would need to get an OEM one.... I'll probably do so next week....

Huh, learn something new everyday...

Ah, the always mysterious cool-air bypass!

It basically routes cool air through the center vents. It's Über awesome in the winter when you're running the vent/defrost to keep the windshield clear. When you do, the hot air tends to rise and makes your face hot (Face glow is the technical term). When open (up), the CAB will route outside-temperature air through the center vents, meaning you can keep the heater on to keep the car warm while blowing cool air on your face to prevent face glow.

So, like what Wes said above, but it will always take air directly from outside, rather than heating it up.

They got rid of it in 99s. They probably pulled the bezel off of a 99. If you want to eliminate it, you can, just make sure to pull the cable it's attached to all the way out to close the vent. Otherwise, it can make your AC warm and your heater cold.

Well,

Looks like isantop is correct!

After his reply, I started looking for images in eBay for 99 Eclipse vents, and pictures of 99 Eclipses in cardomain as well, and yes, all 99 black interior Eclipses I have seen pictured so far, havethe bezel without that air bypass regulator lever...

I also confirmed in Mitsubishi ASA (formerly known as CAPS), that the part numbers for the 96-98 are different from the 99 one!

So, yes, maybe I was lucky enough and I received a piece from a 99 Eclipse for my 96! Lucky me!

Thanks for the reply isantop!