peculiar clicking noise from dashboard

[Saalin]

Hi there, I have a 2001 C180 Elegance which recently has started producing a strange clicking noise from behind the central dashboard area. It is usually on start up or shut down but occasionally when changing the heating settings. The noise only last a few seconds and sounds rather like vents opening and closing - any ideas?

 

[BlackC55]

One of the air vent gear wheels has broken.

 

[Saalin]

oh, thanks very much - what do I do now, is it something that my local garage can fix or do I have to take it to a Mercedes specialist?

 

[Daeths]

You can obvioulsy replace it, or I believe if you leave a bit longer the remainder of the cogs will break off and the noise will go. Not mission critical to the car's operation.

Personally I'd leave it to 'fix' itself