Help: replacing the climate control panel.

[joeker]

Has anyone replaced their climate control panel? How hard is it. The LCD on mine has lost it's orange color to a yellowish greenish. I guess I'm being picky because it dosen't match my instrument cluster. Any one have one for sale? Thanks

[RandallNeighbour]

You can probably find them at LADismantlers, PartsHeaven, Sunset Porsche (a dealership that sells parts for 15% over hard cost), and of course, Ebay. Around $400 used, more new, but check Sunset if you go the new route as I've found their prices to be far less than your local parts counter, even with shipping and handling.

I can't imagine it would be more than an hour or two's worth of time or complicated to replace it. It's not unlike a stereo head unit. Unplugs at the back, etc.

IMO, If it ain't broke, I wouldn't replace it just for faded display numbers. Convertibles always have faded interiors if used with the top down.

One more thing—If you do replace it, you can probably get some decent cash out of it by putting the old functioning unit on Ebay.

[joeker]

Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour

You can probably find them at LADismantlers, PartsHeaven, Sunset Porsche (a dealership that sells parts for 15% over hard cost), and of course, Ebay. Around $400 used, more new, but check Sunset if you go the new route as I've found their prices to be far less than your local parts counter, even with shipping and handling.

I can't imagine it would be more than an hour or two's worth of time or complicated to replace it. It's not unlike a stereo head unit. Unplugs at the back, etc.

IMO, If it ain't broke, I wouldn't replace it just for faded display numbers. Convertibles always have faded interiors if used with the top down.

One more thing—If you do replace it, you can probably get some decent cash out of it by putting the old functioning unit on Ebay.

Thanks for the words of wisdom. I'll call LA Dismantlers and see what they can do for me.

[Brucelee]

LA Dismantlers will likely want your old unit back as trade-in. At least that is what they have told me in the past. Cost is around $250 plus your old unit.

Good luck.

[Marcelo]

replacing the panel takes no more than 15 min, just remove the cover around the
panel and two torx screws, pull the unit and unplug. Reverse the process for new
one
BUT I replaced mine and now my instrument cluster don't work, so check before
doing anything.

Does anyone know how to fix this?

[Rodger]

I had a horrible buying experience with LA Porsche Dismantlers.....buyer beware.

[Tool Pants]

Originally Posted by Marcelo

replacing the panel takes no more than 15 min, just remove the cover around the
panel and two torx screws, pull the unit and unplug. Reverse the process for new
one
BUT I replaced mine and now my instrument cluster don't work, so check before
doing anything.

Does anyone know how to fix this?

You need to have the correct year unit I think. Then I think it needs to be coded.

There is a guy on ebay selling Audi displays. The boxster a/c display is a modified Audi unit. Audi has the same problem as the Boxster. I have contacted him to see if he has a cheap fix for the Boxster.

[butterfingers]

I too have just purchased a replacement LCD panel, and am hoping that someone has done done successfully before.

The existing climate control unit works fine but a few months ago, the tight window LCD panel had a leak and it is hard to read the information displayed on the LCD panel. I was not looking forward to replacing the whole unit as the replacement was in the $400s. I happened to see an ad on ebay from a company that makes these replacement LCDs that were for the Audi but they said could fit the Porsche panel too.

Has anyone ever done this replacement successfully before?

Thanks! I would appreciate any advise!

[BobMarley1]

this is what my screen looks like...

[Brucelee]

I understand the government is developing a climate control planet to combat Global Warming!

[butterfingers]

Hey BobMarley1,

My LCD screen looks exactly identical to yours and so I went ahead to purchase this item:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Audi-Porsche-Electronic-Climate-Control-LCD-Kit_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33545QQitemZ2800952 38082QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

I have not received it yet, but I think someone else on this forum has tried to fix it using the kit that I bought.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that it works, but REALLY hope any forum member could give any advise.

Thanks!

[FrayAdjacent]

If you replace the whole unit (which you'll probably have to), it's UBER EASY and QUICK to pull out and reinstall.

Pop the bezel off around it with a small flat tipped screwstick, and unscrew the two screws holding it in. Pull it out and disconnect the cables. Install is the reverse. Shouldn't take more than 5 minutes.

[FrayAdjacent]

For that price, I might end up getting one of those just because my buttons are sticky! That's a great deal!

I bet it just connects to the board in the unit by the one little cable that goes to it. Should be an uber easy job to replace it.

Originally Posted by butterfingers

Hey BobMarley1,

My LCD screen looks exactly identical to yours and so I went ahead to purchase this item:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Audi-Porsche-Electronic-Climate-Control-LCD-Kit_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33545QQitemZ2800952 38082QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

I have not received it yet, but I think someone else on this forum has tried to fix it using the kit that I bought.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that it works, but REALLY hope any forum member could give any advise.

Thanks!

[CJ_Boxster]

Originally Posted by FrayAdjacent

For that price, I might end up getting one of those just because my buttons are sticky! That's a great deal!

Your entire center console is sticky LOL, somehow you had dried up Coke resedue behind the AC bezel LOL BTW i got the cupholders working perfectly, they slide in and out and expand and collapse perfectly everytime.

[butterfingers]

Thanks for your comments FrayAdjacent!

I am really hoping that its as simple as you say it is for the LCD replacement. What got me doubtful was an earlier post in the message tread that stated that someone had tried to replace the LCD with a similar kit that I bought, and though the replacement seemed easy enough, after the 'surgery', their instrument cluster did not work....

I mean, for the price, if it works, it would be a fantastic self repair that could save hundreds of $s to avoid replacing the whole climate control unit just because of the LCD damage.

Fingers still crossed till I get the kit in my hands and try to do the replacement!

[FrayAdjacent]

Well, if you get just the little LCD/button panel part of it, it's still easy to get at. You take out the whole assembly as I pointed out, then there are four screws holding the face plate to the white plastic housing. Unscrew those, and the face plate is loose. There's a small ribbon cable connecting the faceplate to a PCB in the housing. Disconnect that, plug in the new face plate, screw it on, and reinstall the whole unit. Probably still a VERY quick job.

And CJ, yeah, the PO apparently trusted that cupholder a little too much... Everything had coke residue in it in that lower console.

Originally Posted by butterfingers

Thanks for your comments FrayAdjacent!

I am really hoping that its as simple as you say it is for the LCD replacement. What got me doubtful was an earlier post in the message tread that stated that someone had tried to replace the LCD with a similar kit that I bought, and though the replacement seemed easy enough, after the 'surgery', their instrument cluster did not work....

I mean, for the price, if it works, it would be a fantastic self repair that could save hundreds of $s to avoid replacing the whole climate control unit just because of the LCD damage.

Fingers still crossed till I get the kit in my hands and try to do the replacement!

[Paul]

Use caution when prying off the bezel or you will damage the leather/vinyl surrounding it. Mine was replaced under warranty and now I have permanent "dimples' on the area that the @#$%^ used as a pivot point for his screwdriver.

[Tool Pants]

Any update if the ebay Audi LCD display work on a Boxstir.

[clickman]

I bought my car used, with the useless cupholders above the stereo head unit. That meant the display was in the lowest position. It was already showing the signs of abuse when I got it, with one of the numbers already missing segments.

Then I did my cupholderectomy (thanks Tool Pants!), and moved the display to where it belonged.

Unfortunately, something happened during the move - maybe the cleaning I tried with a QTip - and now the right side of my display looks like BobMarley1's, and the flaw is getting bigger.

The replacement cost from the local Stealer for us poor sap Canucks is around $600, so I'm really curious to see how the Ebay alternative worked out.

Let us know! thx Norm

'01 Boxster, 5 spd, Seal Grey

[butterfingers]

Hi Norm,

I just received the LCD repair kit and will attempt to do some 'surgery' real soon. The onlt reason why I am hesitant is due to:

1) I am still not certain how to remove the unit from the dash safely.
2) There may be an issue with the size of the replacement LCD being compatible with the Boxster unit. The seller has informed me that a 2002 Boxster owner had purchased the replacement and found out that the dimensions are alittle different.

However, the seller has knowledge that it does fit some of the earlier car models. Since I own a 2001, I am hoping that it will fit my unit.

BUT, I if anyone can let me know if there was any change in the dimensions of the climate control unit from the 2001 to 2002 and later years, please let me know before I start the 'surgery'...Thanks!

This is because I am uncertain if I start the surgery and open the unit up, and find that the size is not compatible, than I would have 'destroyed' my otherwise still functioning unit (just the marring of the LCD leak). I would rather have the blob on my LCD and still control the inut with a partial screen for now than take it apart, fail to repair, and end up with the need to immediately replace the whole unit.

Josh