No defrost

I took my car in the other day because I dont have any defrost. I have warm air blowing out of the vents but no defrost going to the windsheild. Mechanic told me that it was a cable that has been kinked because of a door. So the door needs to be trimmed and cable replaced. Cost.........over $500............so does anyone have any other suggestions? I cant pay $500 before Xmas but this is Canada and Im affraid that my windsheild will be constantly fogging and icey. I have a little auto heater and if I have my heat on and window down a little it helps............so has anyone else had this problem? Please let me know. Thanks

k, to "help" prevent the windshield from fogging until after christmas, turn on the AC and run it with the heat on, it does the same thing as the defrost. the "door" the mechanic is talking about is the directional flapper for the blower.Before he takes your money, move the selector to the different positions with the fan on lowest setting and the engine running, and listen for a little "hiss" as you change to the different settings. If you get to the "floor/defrost" setting and it hisses, and you feel air from the center vent, go to the "defrost" setting, if the air movement doesn't change, and you dont hear a hiss, then you have a bad vaccume line somewhere in the mechanism. If it does hiss but doesnt change, then the cable is truely kinked, and it needs fixed.

If you can get floor/defrost, and are worried about fogging, just hit the AC and it will clear up for now though. TEST IT TO MAKE SURE THOUGH.

If you are adventurous you can try and remove unit and try and bend cable back. I did this on a Ford ranger and did not wnat to pay $$$$$ mony for simple issue. 1st time worked for a week then did same, then re bend and looked at area better and noticed i had to leave a sway in cable and haas worked for 3 years +.

k, to "help" prevent the windshield from fogging until after christmas, turn on the AC and run it with the heat on, it does the same thing as the defrost. the "door" the mechanic is talking about is the directional flapper for the blower.Before he takes your money, move the selector to the different positions with the fan on lowest setting and the engine running, and listen for a little "hiss" as you change to the different settings. If you get to the "floor/defrost" setting and it hisses, and you feel air from the center vent, go to the "defrost" setting, if the air movement doesn't change, and you dont hear a hiss, then you have a bad vaccume line somewhere in the mechanism. If it does hiss but doesnt change, then the cable is truely kinked, and it needs fixed.

If you can get floor/defrost, and are worried about fogging, just hit the AC and it will clear up for now though. TEST IT TO MAKE SURE THOUGH.
Unfortunately all the fan settings are the same right now. No matter where I turn it it always blows out of all the vents. I only have control of the speed.......so hopefully I can get through winter without defrost.