Hey guys,

I have a lancer 2003 OZ Rally and I've managed to tear down the hvac control unit to replace a broken knob shaft. I've ordered the knob shaft online, but I haven't been able to replace it.

I've managed to tear down the unit, but for the life of my I can't figure out how to replace the knob. Any help would be appreciated. I've included attachments of the torn down unit if it helps.

It pulls right out, us a pair of needle nose pliers and pull firmly.

How much force are we talking about, 'cause I'm pulling like crazy, and it won't come out. I'm afraid I might end up breaking something else.

Actually, it worked out. I had to push from the back in addition to pulling from the front. Thanks for your help.

Bumping this because I have to replace the shaft soon. Do you have to remove anything from the car or can you just take a pliers and pull straight out while still bolted in?

I actually had no luck using pliers to try to pull the broken knob out, so I ended up removing the unit from the car and using a screw driver to apply force from the back of the knob to push it out and that was much easier

You will have to remove it from the car because the gear that the shaft connects to will fall out of place once the shaft removed.

I was able to pull mine out will pliers.

I used your pic and put it on photobucket so I could show a larger version and don't have to remove and disassemble mine again.

You can see the two gears with the shaft inserted into it. That is the one that will fall once the shaft is removed. They interlock with a second gear that is connected to the wires. The wires snake around to where the main gear and pinion are that adjust the blower door.

If you do not get the revised main gears for the blower, the shaft will brake again in time.