Automatic Climate Control Display Broken
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Automatic Climate Control Display Broken
Hello,
I have a 2001 Corvette with the automatic climate control in the center console. The lights that show you the settings go off and on. At this point they are almost always off. The last time I went by my local Chevy Stealership I asked them about the problem. They told me there was no repair they could (would) do to the unit and that it had to be entirely replaced and it would cost an arm and a leg.
So I started poking around on Ebay the other day and decided to try and do a search for the climate control unit. There were several refurbished units that you could buy for around $200 which was much cheaper than the dealer price. There were a couple of different people who were selling the instructions on how to repair this unit if it had problems with the display. It claims that all you need is a few tools and the ability to perform a fairly simple solder. It doesn't mention anything about any additional electrical parts that might need to be replaced.
Has anyone had a similar problem with the display on their control? Is there any chance that these instructions will work? I mean for $16.99 I am thinking it might be worth taking the chance since the alternatives are so expensive.
-Mike
I have a 2001 Corvette with the automatic climate control in the center console. The lights that show you the settings go off and on. At this point they are almost always off. The last time I went by my local Chevy Stealership I asked them about the problem. They told me there was no repair they could (would) do to the unit and that it had to be entirely replaced and it would cost an arm and a leg.
So I started poking around on Ebay the other day and decided to try and do a search for the climate control unit. There were several refurbished units that you could buy for around $200 which was much cheaper than the dealer price. There were a couple of different people who were selling the instructions on how to repair this unit if it had problems with the display. It claims that all you need is a few tools and the ability to perform a fairly simple solder. It doesn't mention anything about any additional electrical parts that might need to be replaced.
Has anyone had a similar problem with the display on their control? Is there any chance that these instructions will work? I mean for $16.99 I am thinking it might be worth taking the chance since the alternatives are so expensive.
-Mike
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,383
Likes: 13
From: Kinston North Carolina
Easy repair for anyone that has soldering skills, small components on PCB.http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...t=hvac+display
Last edited by byronhunter; May 3, 2009 at 03:01 PM.
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
You know you are absolutely right, I should have check the DIY first. The link from byronhunter looks like it is just what I need. Thanks for all the help and I will post an update on how worked out for me in case someone searches for this in the future.
-Mike
-Mike
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
I want to thank you guys for the help. A - for not flaming because I didn't look at the DIY first, and B - for having such a great resource.
I followed the steps in the link above and it was too easy. I am fairly mechanically inclined but don't have much experience with soldering or electrical work. If you are like me and thinking about taking this on yourself don't be scared, you can do it.
I went to Radio Shack and got a Hot/Cold Cordless Soldering gun for $20 and I got the .022 rosin core solder too. With 4 AA batteries I was out the door for around $30. The steps in the DIY are so well defined it was easy to follow them exactly. I was a little nervous about soldering the parts because I haven't done anything like that in at least 10 years. The Hot/Cold gun is a little tricky because the tip is pretty big for this job and you have to get things just right for the heat to turn on.
When I tried the first one the opposite side must have been loose because as soon as I heated on side up it slipped out of position. I enlisted the wife with a small flat head screwdriver to apply a little pressure to each one as I worked. I found that I could put the iron a little higher up sort of at the elbow of the little microchip(?) and then slid the solder underneath. I couldn't see exactly what I was doing but there is a little gap in the tip so I could see when the solder started to bubble up. I just took my time and worked my way around to every side of every chip.
This was in my wife's car and when we plugged it in to test the work and the numbers lit up she practically squealed with glee. Fixing her corvette might be the only way I can make her this happy.
The dealer wanted something like $370 for the part and like $270 for labor. How they can justify charging $270 for labor I will never know. It took me like an hour. Thanks again to everyone for the help.
-Mike
I followed the steps in the link above and it was too easy. I am fairly mechanically inclined but don't have much experience with soldering or electrical work. If you are like me and thinking about taking this on yourself don't be scared, you can do it.
I went to Radio Shack and got a Hot/Cold Cordless Soldering gun for $20 and I got the .022 rosin core solder too. With 4 AA batteries I was out the door for around $30. The steps in the DIY are so well defined it was easy to follow them exactly. I was a little nervous about soldering the parts because I haven't done anything like that in at least 10 years. The Hot/Cold gun is a little tricky because the tip is pretty big for this job and you have to get things just right for the heat to turn on.
When I tried the first one the opposite side must have been loose because as soon as I heated on side up it slipped out of position. I enlisted the wife with a small flat head screwdriver to apply a little pressure to each one as I worked. I found that I could put the iron a little higher up sort of at the elbow of the little microchip(?) and then slid the solder underneath. I couldn't see exactly what I was doing but there is a little gap in the tip so I could see when the solder started to bubble up. I just took my time and worked my way around to every side of every chip.
This was in my wife's car and when we plugged it in to test the work and the numbers lit up she practically squealed with glee. Fixing her corvette might be the only way I can make her this happy.
The dealer wanted something like $370 for the part and like $270 for labor. How they can justify charging $270 for labor I will never know. It took me like an hour. Thanks again to everyone for the help.
-Mike
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,705
Likes: 548
From: St. Peters MO
C7 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
2018 C7 of Year Finalist
I want to thank you guys for the help. A - for not flaming because I didn't look at the DIY first, and B - for having such a great resource.
I followed the steps in the link above and it was too easy. I am fairly mechanically inclined but don't have much experience with soldering or electrical work. If you are like me and thinking about taking this on yourself don't be scared, you can do it.
I went to Radio Shack and got a Hot/Cold Cordless Soldering gun for $20 and I got the .022 rosin core solder too. With 4 AA batteries I was out the door for around $30. The steps in the DIY are so well defined it was easy to follow them exactly. I was a little nervous about soldering the parts because I haven't done anything like that in at least 10 years. The Hot/Cold gun is a little tricky because the tip is pretty big for this job and you have to get things just right for the heat to turn on.
When I tried the first one the opposite side must have been loose because as soon as I heated on side up it slipped out of position. I enlisted the wife with a small flat head screwdriver to apply a little pressure to each one as I worked. I found that I could put the iron a little higher up sort of at the elbow of the little microchip(?) and then slid the solder underneath. I couldn't see exactly what I was doing but there is a little gap in the tip so I could see when the solder started to bubble up. I just took my time and worked my way around to every side of every chip.
This was in my wife's car and when we plugged it in to test the work and the numbers lit up she practically squealed with glee. Fixing her corvette might be the only way I can make her this happy.
The dealer wanted something like $370 for the part and like $270 for labor. How they can justify charging $270 for labor I will never know. It took me like an hour. Thanks again to everyone for the help.
-Mike
I followed the steps in the link above and it was too easy. I am fairly mechanically inclined but don't have much experience with soldering or electrical work. If you are like me and thinking about taking this on yourself don't be scared, you can do it.
I went to Radio Shack and got a Hot/Cold Cordless Soldering gun for $20 and I got the .022 rosin core solder too. With 4 AA batteries I was out the door for around $30. The steps in the DIY are so well defined it was easy to follow them exactly. I was a little nervous about soldering the parts because I haven't done anything like that in at least 10 years. The Hot/Cold gun is a little tricky because the tip is pretty big for this job and you have to get things just right for the heat to turn on.
When I tried the first one the opposite side must have been loose because as soon as I heated on side up it slipped out of position. I enlisted the wife with a small flat head screwdriver to apply a little pressure to each one as I worked. I found that I could put the iron a little higher up sort of at the elbow of the little microchip(?) and then slid the solder underneath. I couldn't see exactly what I was doing but there is a little gap in the tip so I could see when the solder started to bubble up. I just took my time and worked my way around to every side of every chip.
This was in my wife's car and when we plugged it in to test the work and the numbers lit up she practically squealed with glee. Fixing her corvette might be the only way I can make her this happy.
The dealer wanted something like $370 for the part and like $270 for labor. How they can justify charging $270 for labor I will never know. It took me like an hour. Thanks again to everyone for the help.
-Mike
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,066
Likes: 9
From: Eddy Texas
Man, that's great. Congrats on the fix!
Did anyone else notice the timeline on this repair?
4 1/2 hrs from deciding to do it till posting the results, including a trip to Radio Shack!! Now that's what I call gettin it done. Excellent job, thanks for the update.
Did anyone else notice the timeline on this repair?
4 1/2 hrs from deciding to do it till posting the results, including a trip to Radio Shack!! Now that's what I call gettin it done. Excellent job, thanks for the update.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 2
From: St. Clair Shores Mi
I guess I do have a bulb out.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
The lamps are incandescent types, therefore over time, they will burn out. As stated already, get the lamps and solder them in. There are 14 altogether. Replace all of them at the same time. Forum member Tstar has the best source info on obtaining the correct lamps. 70ma work best.
