Greta: Not Really a Build so Much as it is a Maintenance Record Build Thread w/BS.

[ryanjboutin]

Been working on three projects that all have interference with each other.
Started on Friday, still chipping away as I discover parts I need and parts that need replacement.

1. Replacing factory shifter with a short shifter. - Factory shifter has 167K on it, and is a little sloppy.
2. Relocating windows & seat heater buttons from center console to dash board. - 4 buttons unused in dash, windows & seat heater buttons are 4 switches.
3. Adding a Continental head unit. - Conti unit does not have a CD player, but has Bluetooth and aux, and looks period correct for a late 90's "factory" looking head unit.


Short Shifter

Got everything disconnected and found one cable end is rather chunky, and I have to go order one today.
Also, the seat/window harness runs under & to the side of this shifter unit.




Stock on left, canted away from driver.
eBay (B&M clone) canted toward driver.



Test fitting & shifting until the cable end gets in.






Relocating Buttons

Button | Function | New Function/Button
1. Traction Control | Used | n/a
2. Blank | n/a | Driver window up/dn
3. Blank | n/a | Driver seat heater
4. Door locks | Used | n/a
5. Rear window defroster | Not needed in Las Vegas | Passenger window up/dn
6. Top up/down | motor/trans removed, not needed | Passenger seat heater

This was something I thought of, and hadn't seen anyone on 986forum do.
There is an airbag module on the forward part of the tranny tunnel that cannot be [easily] removed.
Airbag module is an issue because the wiring harness for seat/window controls runs in a channel between the module and tranny tunnel.
Module can be seen in the 2nd pic of this post, below the dash, orange/yellow box.
I had to flag all of the 16 or so wires, cut, reroute, and crimp on connectors, once they were all rerouted through the dash it was good to go.



Newly relocated switches, all works well.
Just waiting to button it up fully until the harness adapter for the head unit arrives.




Continental Head Unit

Has power, antenna, but just not the speakers connected.
New harness has different color wires than factory.
Unable to find which speaker wires go where.
Going to order a Bergvill harness adapter.
Due to lack of CD player, it is a very shallow unit.
That is good because I chose not to cut off the existing plugs from the unused buttons, and they need room to be stuffed in there with the harness I rerouted for the new buttons.
Ordered this radio straight from Germany for a couple hundred Euros.
Arrived at my door within 7 days.