Vents sometimes don't change direction

[bstone]

97 Legacy Outback AT. The vents sometimes don't change direction when pressing the buttons but usually do respond. I'd say it happens 10% of the time that I press a button and the vents do not respond. I already removed the climate control panel to replaced bulbs and so the connections have been unplugged/replugged yet the problem continues.

 

Thoughts?

Edited August 1, 2016 by bstone

[Rooster2]

Perhaps the push buttons are sticky from soft drink spills onto the buttons. I have a 98 and 99 Outback with the same climate control as yours. I spray Windex at the buttons, push all the buttons repeatedly, while drying off the buttons off. See if that helps.

 

At a later point, climate control panel in both cars developed some buttons that wouldn't work any longer. So, I finally bought replacement units off either e-bay or Amazon. I may have gotten one from a wrecking yard.

[bstone]

Perhaps the push buttons are sticky from soft drink spills onto the buttons. I have a 98 and 99 Outback with the same climate control as yours. I spray Windex at the buttons, push all the buttons repeatedly, while drying off the buttons off. See if that helps.

 

At a later point, climate control panel in both cars developed some buttons that wouldn't work any longer. So, I finally bought replacement units off either e-bay or Amazon. I may have gotten one from a wrecking yard.

I didn't think of it as a button issue as much as the vent position not responding at all. When this problem occurs none of the buttons will work. I'll try some windex.