Help: replacing the climate control panel.

[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

[clickman]

Butterfingers - As others have said, getting the control unit out of the dash is dead simple. Just use a small screwdriver to pop off the trim piece, then you have to remove 2 screws. The controller then just pulls out. Then you unplug the 2 connectors on back (hold down a little piece on the top of each plug to get it to release while you pull).

To open the controller: On mine there are 3 screws holding the front LCD portion to the read main body. The circuit board on the back of the LCD is connected to a circuit board inside the controller body by a small computer-style cable.

The eBay vendor says in his ad: Porsche Boxster with similar LCD display. "Requires minor modification to existing LCD mounting bracket for proper installation. LCD is electrically and visually identical to Porsche OEM with a slightly wider LCD glass. Please contact for additional info.". I sent him some questions yesterday; no response yet.

Like: What minor modifications are required to the existing mounting bracket? Does the "slightly wider LCD glass" fit into the controller body properly? What "additional info" does he have?

What exactly have you been provided in the way of hardware? What instructions did he supply to help answer the questions?

thx Norm

[clickman]

Originally Posted by butterfingers

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

butterfingers - I'm sure others will correct me on this if I'm wrong, but I THINK Porsche went to the "bus"-type distributed control system in 2003, so they should be pretty much the same for at least 2001 - 2002, but I HAVE NOT LOOKED UP THE PART NUMBERS TO SAY THAT'S FOR SURE. For example, I see others in this thread (like FrayAdjacent) have 4 screws connecting the 2 controller halves, while mine has 3, even though we both have MY2001. (Talk about being no help at all ) Norm