C5 Climate Control dim/dark display fix
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Ive been soldering for 50 YEARS. When a SOLDER JOINT FAILS,,,, There are several reasons for the failure. In the case of the resistors, there just isn't enough SOLDER to properly attach the resistor to the trace pad. The resistor actually seperates from OR POPS off the mount pad.
When I repaired mine, I added a very very small amount of liquid rosin core FLUX to the resistor / pad joint. I heated up the PAD and resistor joint and added "JUST A TOUCH OF SOLDER" while pressing DOWN on the resistor. Once the repair was COOL the repair was DONE!
EASY AS THAT!
BC
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 16,897
Likes: 5,364
From: T-Town WA
2016 C6 of Year Finalist
Racer
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 280
Likes: 21
From: Austin TX
In the case of the resistors, there just isn't enough SOLDER to properly attach the resistor to the trace pad. The resistor actually seperates from OR POPS off the mount pad.
When I repaired mine, I added a very very small amount of liquid rosin core FLUX to the resistor / pad joint. I heated up the PAD and resistor joint and added "JUST A TOUCH OF SOLDER" while pressing DOWN on the resistor. Once the repair was COOL the repair was DONE!
Thanks Bill. I may tackle this Sunday. Extremely good with a soldering iron (about 28 years experience). Just need to find a day off to do it.
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
HVAC back lighting
I know exactly what you are talking about... It happened to me after I took my c5 into the dealer to replace the key lock cylinder.. It worked when I took it in. But after I picked it up and drove home I went back out after dark and noticed it right away. Perfect display and everything else had backlighting except my climate control unit back lighting. Did you ever get the problem fixed? I have been searching for days ... I'm taking it back to the dealer Tuesday. He said bring it in and that one of his techs probably just forgot to plug something back in... I wish it was going to be that easy...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 5,278
Likes: 539
From: Kelowna BC
I know exactly what you are talking about... It happened to me after I took my c5 into the dealer to replace the key lock cylinder.. It worked when I took it in. But after I picked it up and drove home I went back out after dark and noticed it right away. Perfect display and everything else had backlighting except my climate control unit back lighting. Did you ever get the problem fixed? I have been searching for days ... I'm taking it back to the dealer Tuesday. He said bring it in and that one of his techs probably just forgot to plug something back in... I wish it was going to be that easy...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 57
From: Kensington MD
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Advanced
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 62
Likes: 1
Just finished this guys. Thank you so much for the write up. Never soldered before in my life. Bought the soldering equipment for $30 off amazon and finished it up today in a couple of hours and it came out working great.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 45
Likes: 10
From: Troy, VA
I know this is an old thread - but I am glad it is still here. They are still quoting $500 to replace - but after about an hour I was able to get the lights back on on my newly acquired '97. The circuit board looks a lot different than those shown here; the resistors are the same - just a different number of them and in a different location.
Can this be made a sticky? I know some of the pictures are gone, but I found other videos on YouTube that showed the soldering of the resistors.
Thanks to everyone who has contributed - I really appreciate your time and expertise...both here on the C5 side and even over on the C4 side.
Can this be made a sticky? I know some of the pictures are gone, but I found other videos on YouTube that showed the soldering of the resistors.
Thanks to everyone who has contributed - I really appreciate your time and expertise...both here on the C5 side and even over on the C4 side.
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,442
Likes: 2,187
From: Buffalo Texas
SAD! Ive been soldering for 50 YEARS. When a SOLDER JOINT FAILS,,,, There are several reasons for the failure.
In the case of the resistors, there just isn't enough SOLDER to properly attach the resistor to the trace pad. The resistor actually seperates from OR POPS off the mount pad.
When I repaired mine, I added a very very small amount of liquid rosin core FLUX to the resistor / pad joint. I heated up the PAD and resistor joint and added "JUST A TOUCH OF SOLDER" while pressing DOWN on the resistor. Once the repair was COOL the repair was DONE!
EASY AS THAT!
BC
Ive been soldering for 50 YEARS. When a SOLDER JOINT FAILS,,,, There are several reasons for the failure. In the case of the resistors, there just isn't enough SOLDER to properly attach the resistor to the trace pad. The resistor actually seperates from OR POPS off the mount pad.
When I repaired mine, I added a very very small amount of liquid rosin core FLUX to the resistor / pad joint. I heated up the PAD and resistor joint and added "JUST A TOUCH OF SOLDER" while pressing DOWN on the resistor. Once the repair was COOL the repair was DONE!
EASY AS THAT!
BC
Did the same 
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Glad I found this thread! Just bought a 99 with the display out, this was the fix! No need to ship it out or overspend on a replacement, probably took an hour and I solder wires together maybe once or twice a year. It was a bit intimidating on account of how small the components are but it went smoothly. I twisted a couple out of place but it wasn't hard to reposition it. Thank to the contributors!
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: North fort Myers Fl. & Mequon W. Fl.in Winter &Wi. Summer
Climate control/erratic backlighting
As a new member of this forum, I want to thank the members for the directions on correcting the lighting in the climate control system. I went through the procedure, and it worked great .....for a month. However after experiencing a shorted directional light and socket problem, a problem occurred. The control unit continues to light up properly when you open the passenger door, and when you inset the key into the ignition. However the minute you engage the key to start the engine , and with the engine running, the button and **** backlighting go out, and stay our until the engine is stopped. Does anyone have any suggestions where to look to trace the problem. All the backlights work, just not with the engine running. Thanks in advance.
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
I just started using the forum again after 7 years without a vette. I retired to France (Normandy) and I have a beautiful yellow C5 again, however the aircon display faded to nothing soon after buying. With google's help I found this thread and hey presto, even with my shaky fat fingers I managed to do this repair.
One suggestion for the clumsier solderers amongst us is to go down one side of all the resistors adding a tiny bit of solder, then walk away and have a cup of coffee. Then go back and do the other side. That way the resistors are less likely to completely dislodge and you then don't have the challenge of holding them in place with one hand and soldering with the other. I made that mistake and it's tricky with shaky hands!
Anyway, thanks guys for another great repair tip.
One suggestion for the clumsier solderers amongst us is to go down one side of all the resistors adding a tiny bit of solder, then walk away and have a cup of coffee. Then go back and do the other side. That way the resistors are less likely to completely dislodge and you then don't have the challenge of holding them in place with one hand and soldering with the other. I made that mistake and it's tricky with shaky hands!
Anyway, thanks guys for another great repair tip.