C5 Climate Control dim/dark display fix
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Poquoson VA
Fixed mine a few weeks ago, worked great. I had the soldering done for free as "training" for one of my micro miniature repair techs. The luster of my accomplishment was tarnished as I snapped the shifter cable changing out the broken/brittle piece on the shifter. When "they" say, "be careful that you don't snap the outer cable housing", they weren't kidding. $900 + dollars later, fixed.
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 48
Likes: 3
Great ideas using the clamps I did mine without using clamps and one of the resisters started to slide a little but I did get it back in place and cleaned off a little solder that slid with it.
In the end evertything worked great. Your way is a much better aproche to the problem.
In the end evertything worked great. Your way is a much better aproche to the problem.
Navigator
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9
Likes: 1
From: Black Diamond WA
I just completed this yesterday and the display is bright and clear. I'm impressed.
The 241 chips are not attached too well and when you hit the chip with a fine tip soldering iron - they move easily. Also my chips were in different locations not in two rows of 4.
Thanks
The 241 chips are not attached too well and when you hit the chip with a fine tip soldering iron - they move easily. Also my chips were in different locations not in two rows of 4.
Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
The easiest way to deal with soldering down components like that is to just tape them down with kapton (high temperature) tape. Don't use masking, packing, scotch, etc. tape which will just melt or burn.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 147
Likes: 45
From: Highland Lakes NJ
I know the original post was over a decade ago but I'm new to Corvettes and new to the forum, so THANK YOU Genocid!
Just got an '03 C5 with under 44K miles
The only issues are some ripped stitching on the driver's side bolster and the dim HVAC display. There is a local upholstery shop that will replace the vinyl panel and rebuild the cushions for a reasonable price. I'm really happy to see I'll be able to fix the display myself for free!
Just got an '03 C5 with under 44K miles
The only issues are some ripped stitching on the driver's side bolster and the dim HVAC display. There is a local upholstery shop that will replace the vinyl panel and rebuild the cushions for a reasonable price. I'm really happy to see I'll be able to fix the display myself for free!
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 147
Likes: 45
From: Highland Lakes NJ
I just completed this yesterday and the display is bright and clear. I'm impressed.
The 241 chips are not attached too well and when you hit the chip with a fine tip soldering iron - they move easily. Also my chips were in different locations not in two rows of 4.
Thanks
The 241 chips are not attached too well and when you hit the chip with a fine tip soldering iron - they move easily. Also my chips were in different locations not in two rows of 4.
Thanks
Total project took about 2 hours. YMMV.
Last edited by J. Kent; Sep 9, 2017 at 05:31 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 146
Likes: 1
From: Milpitas CA
Did my wife's yesterday. Added solder at places, not at others. But the outcome was a great success, and I think the resisters move when you heat the not-broken end first. But, isolating the breaks ahead of time is likely not worth the effort. The clamp looks like a good idea as well. Wish I'd thought of it. Currently HF has a very small 30 Watt soldering iron on sale for about $4.00. I used one of those. All is now good.
Corvette Cowboy
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,852
Likes: 23
From: Cen-Cal Broke A$$ Kalifornia
Well 18 yrs later time to do mine after read the first page I see there are other things to look at out of the 30 or so pages is there a post I should read that’s not on the first couple post. TIA for any and all help.
Pops
Pops
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 147
Likes: 45
From: Highland Lakes NJ
2 bits of advice:
- Use a real soldering iron and solder meant for electronics. A 40 watt pencil iron will do. A gun is too big. Do NOT use any kind of "cold" solder.
- use a small plastic clamp with a long reach like the one in my photo (post #606). If you don't the resistors will slide around. They do not have leads that go thru the board (like all the other resistors on there), just pads that sit on the board. Poor design that causes the breaks IMO
The great thing about this fix (besides being totally free) is you can remove the module, take it indoors and solder it on your bench (or kitchen table). Don't take any shortcuts with battery-powered soldering irons or cold solder. Do it right. The trickiest part is preventing the resistors from sliding around.
I'll add my vote: THIS SHOULD BE A STICKY!
-Kent
Last edited by J. Kent; Apr 26, 2018 at 03:45 PM.
Corvette Cowboy
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,852
Likes: 23
From: Cen-Cal Broke A$$ Kalifornia
J. Kent thanks for the info my job is to get it out and get the parts together here at work we have a full service circuit board dept. that will do all the soldering 👍
Thanks again
Dale
Thanks again
Dale
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 45
From: Castleton VA
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Another successful display restoration.
My additional $0.02: Have fine-point tweezers at hand before you start. When (not if) a resistor slides, you'll be able to easily put it back in place. In fact, after my first "slider," on all the rest of the resistors I prevented sliding by lightly pressed down on the center of the resistor with the tweezers before touching it with the tip of the soldering iron. If I needed more solder, I'd pull up the iron, put a dab on the iron tip, put the tweezers back on the resistor, then bring the iron back into contact. Less than 5 minutes to solder all 16 pads, going very slow. The display now matches the radio display brightness for the first time in more than a decade.
My additional $0.02: Have fine-point tweezers at hand before you start. When (not if) a resistor slides, you'll be able to easily put it back in place. In fact, after my first "slider," on all the rest of the resistors I prevented sliding by lightly pressed down on the center of the resistor with the tweezers before touching it with the tip of the soldering iron. If I needed more solder, I'd pull up the iron, put a dab on the iron tip, put the tweezers back on the resistor, then bring the iron back into contact. Less than 5 minutes to solder all 16 pads, going very slow. The display now matches the radio display brightness for the first time in more than a decade.
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Poquoson VA
Thanks for the videos. The dim display fix worked great, wish I had done the bulbs at the same time, didn't realize a few were out until after putting it back together. I need to replace the little orange gear indicator so I'll do the lights then.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 147
Likes: 45
From: Highland Lakes NJ
Or these?
What you need is a surface-mount 240 ohm resistor but I'm not sure of the wattage. 1w seems safe if the physical size works. Panasonic is always a good choice. The ones on Amazon are a lot of 50 pcs.
Hope this helps. Do you have a local electronics parts store?
Racer
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 499
Likes: 63
From: Arkansas
Electronic Parts
TRY these, all trusted long time businesses. The last two specialize in Hobby Tools, kits, modules, sensors etc. and have training Videos. Check out the Soldering....
Good Luck,
Michael.
Jameco
https://www.jameco.com/shop/keyword=...ctronics-parts
Newark
https://www.newark.com/homeb?adobe_mc_ref=
Mouser
https://www.mouser.com/
Difikey
https://www.digikey.com/
Adafruit
https://www.adafruit.com/
Sparkfun
https://www.sparkfun.com
Good Luck,
Michael.
Jameco
https://www.jameco.com/shop/keyword=...ctronics-parts
Newark
https://www.newark.com/homeb?adobe_mc_ref=
Mouser
https://www.mouser.com/
Difikey
https://www.digikey.com/
Adafruit
https://www.adafruit.com/
Sparkfun
https://www.sparkfun.com
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 40
Likes: 21
From: Port Charlotte FL
Just got the car and is the first problem I encountered. With mine, I start the car in the garage and it's nice and bright, but as soon as I back out into the light it goes dim on me. Figure its those solder points.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 776
Likes: 246
From: KY
That isn't the problem. Might not be any problem at all because if they are bright in the garage then they are working correctly. Do you have the Daytime Sentinel option on the DIC selected? If you do try turning it off and see what that does.