Hi, I am new to the forum and this issue is nagging me since I got the car a year ago. The center air vents will not stay where you set it and will always dip in the UP position. It is loose and would like to tighten it but I can't figure out how to remove the vents without destroying the dashboard. Even if I am able to remove it is there a way to tighten the vent damper so it will stay in place? Thanks for any assistance.

 

Dont know bout tightening them up but getting the vents off is very easy. Get a flathead screwdriver preferably a thin one. Stick it in the gap at the corner of the vent. Its easier to start at corner and pop it out with a lil force. then work your way around so you dont break any clips. Then it should pop right out and you unplug the lights from the back and you got your vent out. Oh yea and normally they say to wrap your flathead with a cloth so you dont scratch your dash but if your careful it shouldnt happen. fyi

 

Thanks for the info, Paul. I'll try it this weekend and hopefully fix the droopy air vents.

 

yea just be careful cuz i broke one of my adjustment ***** due to the same problem you have. I guess over time it just weakens and fails. Anyone selling their center vent for cheap?

 

I have been suffering with this problem since I bought my A4, and I'm sure that as time goes by, loose air vent slats are going to affect more and more Audi drivers, in my case, it got to the point of them shooting air onto the ceiling and not being able to direct them towards myself or the passenger. Thankfully, I have found a quick and easy solution for this simple yet annoying problem, and more so now that the hot weather is here and a blast of fresh, cool air to the face, is something worth spending 15 minutes of our time on. Ill explain as best I can my thoughts on the reason for the looseness and also my solution.
If you pull the centre air vents out you will be able to take of the front facia, prying the tabs up (with care, they do snap), you will see that there is a separation between the two vents, a small gap around 6mm in width. I believe that over the years, this gap widens slightly causing the slats to loosen. My solution, while not being worthy of the Bentley manual, does work and quite well. take a piece of tissue paper and fold it repeatedly until it is just a bit bigger than the gap, wedge it in there with a screwdriver or whatever tool you have at hand that will fit. The pressure of the tissue tightens up the slats on both sides and should last for years without loosening again. Of course, those of us with more advanced materials, like say a popsicle stick, could cut it to size and wedge enough pieces side by side in order to obtain the necessary pressure. A small piece of wood shaped and cut to size would also do the trick. Its just a matter of getting something in there to pressure the vent and you're back in business!! When you put the facia back on, the paper will be completely hidden from view.
Be careful not to put too much pressure though as I did at first, It will cause the slats not to move as intended.