new or glue?
 

03 X type sport black on black.

Both of my defrost vent covers (don't know technical name) won 't stay locked down, right side is cracked by the lock knob. What have we done?
I tried super glue, nope. I want to epoxy them down but not sure why they were designed to be taken off and don't want to make them permanent if they are used to access something.
I haven't seen anything on Ebay or on the forum about were to get them or what other owners have done. It;s not a BIG deal but they rattle. The car has always been garaged but has sat in a parking lot 8 Hrs a day in Minn.for 5 years.I could see if was Arizona or New Mexico.I bought a screen but it's to late. The rest of the dash is fine (Armor all)Thanks in advance.:icon_rally:

Hi there, This is pretty common on our X types... get some silicon sealant between the vent plastic and the dash.. hold them in place whilst they cure with a cloth or tennis ball wedged between them and the windscreen and they will be fine for years to come. What happens is they warp with heat and age and eventually the clips wont hold them. This method works well - I would suggest using a clear silicone sealant :-) just in case.. but mine are held dowen this way and no-one would ever know to look at them :-)

Vent
 

Thanks Steve

I figured as much about the warping I'll try it IF it ever warms up. Curious why they made inserts instead of just molding them into the dash,maybe for assembly ease OR they like selling parts. I have looked on line to all the parts places and haven't seen a listing for them.:icon_snow:

I did look at the time, but couldn't find any - so I followed a thread on here - and to be honest, no one can see the transparent silicon and it is holding well so far through frosts and temperatures with air con no probs so far.. trickiest thiong is getting something soft wedged between the airvent and the screen to hold it in place as the silicon cures.. :-)

Since you have been working on this project, I have the same issue but now Baliandon needs to know how to retrieve a small flashlight that my daughter dropped into the defroster vent. Can't see it , but I feel that removing the center vents might offer access to retrieve the little metal flashlight. the light is a bit heavy and bigger than able to get at it with a magnet/grabber. Any comments?

Windscreen demister grille is what you seek.

SNG Barrett is one of our advertisers.

SNG Barratt - The Ultimate Jaguar Parts Specialist

+1 on looking at SNG Barratt's website. These grilles are common failure items because of sun exposure. Part numbers are C2S43948 and -49, but there's also a suffix on them for interior color. Same suffix is on the Blanking Plug that holds each grille down. Your interior color code is on the identification plate on driver's door jamb. The colors are Granite (LGP), Mocha (AMB), Oyster (AMT), Sable (AEK) and Warm Charcoal (LEG). If you get new grilles be sure to get new blanking plugs.
SNG Barratt - The Ultimate Jaguar Parts Specialist

never seen one not fail after 3 years-agreed best to glue

Wish SNG Barrat would answer my email.

Good news, SNG Barratt answered a separate email. Bad news, they don't have any of these in stock.

Well, I could show you the grilles on my 2002 and 2005 cars, neither of which are cracked (the 2002 car had the revised fixing plugs installed to prevent rattling; the 2005 car had the revised plug installed at the factory)...so that is 15 years and 12 years without cracking or any other damage, and the 2002 car is outside 24/7/365. Heat and sun damage is almost certainly the cause of deterioration, but it would have to be a LOT of heat regularly.

Glue might work but a good used vent grille in the right colour would be a better option, I think.