Help: replacing the climate control panel. - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

joeker · 06-20-2005, 07:22 PM

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 · 06-21-2005, 06:31 AM

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 · 06-22-2005, 11:35 PM

Quote:

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 · 06-23-2005, 06:41 AM

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 · 03-02-2007, 11:21 AM

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 · 03-02-2007, 03:26 PM

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

Tool Pants · 03-02-2007, 11:40 PM

Quote:

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 · 03-26-2007, 08:09 PM

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 · 03-27-2007, 05:51 AM

this is what my screen looks like...

Brucelee · 03-27-2007, 06:38 AM

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

butterfingers · 03-27-2007, 10:40 AM

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 · 03-27-2007, 10:51 AM

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 · 03-27-2007, 10:54 AM

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.

Quote:

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!

dbansal · 07-08-2014, 06:23 AM

butterfingers... did you ever use the kit??? Anyone use the kit with success?

BobMarley1 · 07-08-2014, 06:44 AM

Yes, no problems.

Giller · 08-30-2014, 04:30 PM

Updating this thread as I too just used the LCD Repair kit to fix my burnt out numbers on the temp. control unit. Was super easy - at most, took about a half hour start to finish. Yes, your display will look SLIGHTLY different - but it will work!
Totally happy with the results.

Somewhere someone mentioned you have to modify the kit to fit. This is false, at least for me and my 02. Pop the old out, install the new and done. No modification needed - this kit if for 986's.

Porsche Climate Control LCD Repair Kit | ModuleMaster