Just took care of my 2000!
C5 Climate Control dim/dark display fix
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Genocid, I tackled the described project yesterday using your write-up and photos. It took about two hours, including the resoldering. My 2004 had the alternate control. I just touched up the edges of the eight "241" resistors in the center of the board; they are the only components that are surface soldered. It worked, and of course saved me a sizeable sum of cash. Many thanks for the fine job of explaining how to do it.
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Just finished reading all of the posts. It's mid Nov. here in Mich. and getting ready to put the '03 away soon, but want to enjoy before the snow flies. My HUD has fallen out of sight and the climate control lights have really dimmed so I thought this will be a good winter project. I gave the face of the climate control a slight "rap" several weeks ago and surprisingly they came back on to the normal brightness and have stayed that way now for several weeks, will probably be back off shortly anyhow. But thanks for all the info above.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 651
Likes: 33
From: North Port Florida
The 115 volts can't get to what you're soldering, you either got the components too hot, caused a strip to "lift" from heat or let some solder run where it shouldn't be. Think how dangerous it would be to use a soldering gun if the 115 volt AC was at the tip, not just for the electronics, but for the solderer as well.
t
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 137
Likes: 8
From: Dallas Tx
Genocid, I tackled the described project yesterday using your write-up and photos. It took about two hours, including the resoldering. My 2004 had the alternate control. I just touched up the edges of the eight "241" resistors in the center of the board; they are the only components that are surface soldered. It worked, and of course saved me a sizeable sum of cash. Many thanks for the fine job of explaining how to do it.
Thanks!
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 15,866
Likes: 196
From: PA
Just got my 03z last month and couldnt figure out how the heck to operate the crazy climate control, realized recently its because the display isnt working, lol. I was debating ordering a new one but I didnt even want to know what my stealership would want for one. Im going to try this fix this weekend. This site rocks! 
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Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 15,866
Likes: 196
From: PA
Just wanted to post up that I finally got around to doing this repair over the long weekend. I was installing my new MGW shifter anyway so I did this at the same time. Just wanted to say thanks, my climate control display looks like brand new now, it didnt work at all when I got the car recently. Just $20 for a small soldering iron and solder at Radio Shack, this repair was well worth doing. Thanks again!
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Dallas TX
I was trying to find the guy on ebay. I only found "info@fixmygauges.com" at the link in an earlier post. He said No he don't have any boards. I guess I will have to do it myself again. The radio lights on the left 2 buttons are out.
1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Montgomery Alabama
a/c control head lamp
35 minutes from start to finish..... $4.99 @harbor freight for soldering iron, $1.99 for solder, worked like a charm. how could anybody pay someone to have this done. simplest repair i've ever done. thanks to genocide for the link to remove the console.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 298
Likes: 12
eBay Vendor to fix HVAC Controller
I used this service. They turn the unit around in a day. Fixes all the display and button lights too.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/370503504056...84.m1497.l2649
http://www.ebay.com/itm/370503504056...84.m1497.l2649
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,112
Likes: 62
From: Chicago IL
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
I wish someone would post pictures of the other power boards as I have one of those and I've had this problem for a very long time. The next time I attempt to address this issue, I will take pictures and post but my last venture into it, didn't work when I tried to re-solder the flatpack resistors. My 100's digit does work, at least it did work last summer as it was nice and bright whereas the other two digits were dim.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,987
Likes: 18
From: DuBois PA
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
That's odd Dave, did the display work properly if you pushed down on the the resistors?
The layout of the "241" dispaly driver resistors are different on some boards but the repair is the same ie. resolder all the "241" resistors...
Send your unit in to me Dave, I'll take a peak at it for you if you have problems.
Tim
The layout of the "241" dispaly driver resistors are different on some boards but the repair is the same ie. resolder all the "241" resistors...
Send your unit in to me Dave, I'll take a peak at it for you if you have problems.
Tim
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
That's odd Dave, did the display work properly if you pushed down on the the resistors?
The layout of the "241" dispaly driver resistors are different on some boards but the repair is the same ie. resolder all the "241" resistors...
Send your unit in to me Dave, I'll take a peak at it for you if you have problems.
Tim
The layout of the "241" dispaly driver resistors are different on some boards but the repair is the same ie. resolder all the "241" resistors...
Send your unit in to me Dave, I'll take a peak at it for you if you have problems.
Tim