A540 - how do i take it apart?

When you oil, be sure to slowly turn the handwheel and drop a couple drops every place that metal rubs against metal. Do this also with the selector levers and dials. You can also try directing heat from a handheld hairdryer into the internal mechanism to loosen up any old oil that may be causing the machine to seize.

I'm not familiar with that model, but I'd open the lamp cover to look for more screws. Also, check underneath to see if there are screws going through the base into the upper case sections.
It's also possible the case is held together with snap tabs and hooks as well as screws, or the pieces may have to slide one way or another before they come apart. If you can see into the mechanism, you may also be able to look at the case seam and determine whether it has anything like this.

Here is the info. I hope the pictures show up. please rate assistance. thx.

Air distribution within the vehicle is determined by the function selector switch position. Two airflow mode doors are used to direct airflow within the heater core and evaporator core housing. The function selector switch/cable assembly is used to position these airflow mode doors. Refer to Section 412-00 for description and operation of each of the system functions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Function Selector Cable Assembly
The function selector cable assembly moves the airflow mode doors to the desired position using a 2-sided pull-pull type cable assembly. The function selector controls the cable movement. The end of the cable assembly attaches to the airflow mode door/temperature blend door actuating assembly which transfers the cable movement to the 2 airflow mode doors.
An electrical switch is incorporated into the function selector to notify the A/C switch assembly if DEFROST or FLOOR/DEFROST is selected. When DEFROST or FLOOR/DEFROST is selected, the A/C switch assembly will disable the RECIRC request button and send an A/C request to the powertrain control module (PCM) regardless of the A/C request button indicator ON/OFF status.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION 412-01: Climate Control 2005 Focus Workshop Manual REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION Procedure revision date: 02/25/2004
Function Selector Switch Printable View (173 KB) Removal and Installation

1. Remove the 4 bolts and position aside the lower steering column cover.

1. Remove the function selector knob.

1. Remove the center instrument panel finish panel.
   • Disconnect the cigar lighter electrical connector.

1. Detach the function selector switch.
   1. Disconnect the electrical connector.
   1. Remove the screw and detach the function selector switch.

1. Detach the function selector cable and remove the function selector switch/cable assembly.

1. To install, reverse the removal procedure.

I had this problem. The jog dial just stopped functioning. I repaired it by doing this:

1. Remove the batteries and leave the battery cover off.

2. Remove the case screws from the radio using a jewelers sized Phillips screw driver. There is one screw inside the battery compartment.

3. Gently separate the two halves of the radio just a few inches. Remove the wrist strap; it will just be laying over top of a screw post.

4. Inspect the wring of the jog dial. You will note several wires soldered to the dial, including one small bundle of wires leading from the jog dial to a white plastic connector on the faceplate of the radio.

5. Study the bundle of wires from the jog dial to the faceplate. Is it twisted? Has it been crimped inside the case? Smooth and straighten the wires with your fingers gently. Remove severe bends.

6. Detach the small white plastic connector from the faceplate and untwist and smooth the wires. The connector should slip off easily. Now clean the metal pins that the connector mates to with a Q-Tip. Seat, remove and re-seat the connector 3 times to scrape off any built up corrosion. Ensure the wire bundle is smooth and untwisted and reattach the connector.

7. With the radio still apart, reinstall good batteries. DO NOT USE AC POWER! and check that you have returned the proper function of the jog dial.

8. Reinstall the wrist strap over the top corner post and carefully mate the two halves of the radio together. Continue to test and check the jog dial as you seat the halves together. Reinstall one or two case screws at a time, checking that the dial still functions until the radio is fully reassembled and the case is tight.

First of all remove all your components ie. RAM, hard drive, battery, CD/DVD drive etc. Sometimes there are screws located in the area where these components are located that secures the top and bottom halves of the case.
I suggest that as you remove the screws from the bottom of the case you take a note where the came from as some of the screws are different lengths.
There may be s strip panel between the top of the keyboard and the LCD screen, remove this first, it will be clipped in place and held with screws from the bottom of the laptop.
Next the keyboard should removed and keyboard cable.
Look closely for screws hidden behind plastic stick on covers, you need to use a sharp thin blade to lift off these covers to reveal the screws behind the covers.
The top and bottom halves of the case is usually held in place with plactic clips, start at an opening and carefully pull apart until a clip releases and the work along that edge to release more clips. Continue along each edge until you separate the case.
The LCD screen is usually secured with screws on the back edge of the laptop and possible with screws near the edge of the motherboard. Take care to disconnect the video connector.
The motherboard needs to be removed from the bottom half of the case so you can access the power connector.
Take careful note where you remove each screw as you need to put them back in reverse order.

Best of luck, have fun.

the only way you can get a repair manual is to be a service shop,but what your saying is the dial turns with no resistance.did anyone turn the dial while someone was welding?if so the dial has to be replace,what happens is the contacts inside the unit weld together becuase once the dial is turning it breaks contact then makes contact welding the dial in place.You would not be able to turn the dial.so if the dial turns very easy I would check to see if the dial handle is loose on its shaft.the unit can be taken apart but it just takes a little time.it is a very basic unit with not to many internal parts.good luck,you can fix the problem.

The case snaps together. Try pulling it apart. It is designed to NOT easily come apart, so you will have to gently work at it without breaking anything.

Hi there,
this may not be your exact model, but should give you a good general idea on how to get inside. The key is prying up the top strip, that seems like it is going to break. Use something plastic or wood if possible. A screwdriver will leave marks.

http://www.insidemylaptop.com/taking-apart-acer-aspire-5100-laptop/

There is no need to remove the bottom case.
There are screws on the back edge that fixes the LCD hinges to the base of the laptop.
Remove the plastic panel on the laptop between the LCD and the Fn keys/LED lights/push buttons. You most likely need to fold the LCD flat to remove this panel. This panel is cliped in place, take care to unclip it, start at one end and work along to release it.
There may be further screws that fix the hinge to the base. Also there are cables that connect the LCD to th motherboard, be careful to remove the cables before you remove the LCD.

Leave the mode selector wheel alone. It is not necessary to remove it. Take a look at the following A530 disassembly guide. It should be of help:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=251630