Damned AC buttons-- a fix???
#496
Instructor
Ahhh much better...
Out with the old....
I installed the new toggles yesterday. I don't have a "before" pic of the HVAC control, but you can see how the old ones looked. The whole process, including removing the control unit, took me about an hour - being careful to not break anything. I think I could do it in 30 minutes if I had to do it again, which hopefully I won't . The MAcarbon parts are every bit OEM look. Very pleased.
John - I'll drop the cores in the mail to you Monday.
#497
Thanks alwayswantedone! Glad you liked them. We'll get that deposit refunded once they arrive.
We currently have a set in stock in case anyone is still on the fence about doing it.
https://macarbon.com/index.php?optio...111&Itemid=656
We currently have a set in stock in case anyone is still on the fence about doing it.
https://macarbon.com/index.php?optio...111&Itemid=656
#498
We just finished another three sets and have them in stock. PM us or order through the website or give us a call if you want to get yours taken care of.
https://macarbon.com/index.php?optio...111&Itemid=656
https://macarbon.com/index.php?optio...111&Itemid=656
#500
Thanks for the kind words vikingpilot.
We have two sets in stock right now if anyone is wanting to get theirs done.
They can be purchased here:
https://macarbon.com/index.php?optio...111&Itemid=656
We have two sets in stock right now if anyone is wanting to get theirs done.
They can be purchased here:
https://macarbon.com/index.php?optio...111&Itemid=656
#502
This thread thoroughly entertained me for an hour!
I'm a new Porsche owner (not even a year with my 997), and probably the only thing I'm annoyed with is this issue with the climate controls. By chance, I stumbled on this thread tonight and got excited when I started reading it. Then I got disappointed. Then laughed quite a bit. Now I'm happy to see that there are viable solutions to the problem. I'm so glad to be part of this community.
I had to quote this one because I was thinking the same thing as I progressed through the thread. You were on to something.
Yes, indeed.
I still think they look like garbage just looking at the pics.
This got me LOL. I had to take a walk around the block and come back.
Very impressive! I was thinking of doing something similar by taking it apart and cleaning the hell out of those controls. I knew that it would be tricky, but I think the paint route is the way to go. I will have to take a close look at the symbols and find a way to cover those from getting black paint in them. I like the idea of keeping the symbols and having the backlight.
You are the man! Well done on getting someone like John interested and involved in this community. My hats off to you (and John).
Guess what? Asked my credit card company for information regarding Clima Repair. The phone number listed for Clima Repair in the credit card transaction is a California phone number.
Where was that 335i from in that picture posted earlier?
So we have a person with a Spanish and American passport posting a picture of his (California) car.
Then we have a company shipping from Spain from a company with a phone number listed in California... So coincidental - or not.
Where was that 335i from in that picture posted earlier?
So we have a person with a Spanish and American passport posting a picture of his (California) car.
Then we have a company shipping from Spain from a company with a phone number listed in California... So coincidental - or not.
Yes, indeed.
This got me LOL. I had to take a walk around the block and come back.
Time to share my story. I was one of the "early adopters" of the V1 switches, of course they turned out horrible. Was planning on opening a paypal dispute but had to leave on a last minute extended business trip. By the time I got back, I had forgotten about it.
I reached out recently, after finding out that they had been offering V2 replacements for customers who bought the V1 switches. I figured it was probably too late and a lost cause, but decided to give it a try anyway. To be fair they got back to me within a reasonable time, but said because it was over 6 months, they would send me the V2s, but I would have to pay the shipping & handling ($30). At this point it felt like I was being fed misleading information, where did the $30 come from? Their site clearly states free shipping, even on checkout, the most expensive rate was "Worldwide Flat Rate" at $5.99.
I decided not to take them up on their offer and chalk it up as a loss. I figured I'd try to fix the switches myself. Surprisingly they came out much better than I expected. Here are the steps I took in case anyone else wanted to DIY themselves:
1. Remove the old switches and with some rags, qtips and rubbing alcohol, strip away all of the rubber paint.
2. I decided against trying to preserve the glowing symbol/text on the switches as I didn't have any stencils or the patience to tape them off.
3. Pick up a can of Krylon Flat Black spray paint and apply a couple coats on the switches, making sure to get into the crevices.
4. Use a small light to shine through from behind to make sure the switches are evenly coated and there are no spots where the light can leak through. If there are, simply stick some black tape behind the switches to cover up the spots.
This is what the refinished switches look like compared to the awful Climarepair switches.
Heres another pic of the refinished switches reinstalled back into the climate control module. The flat black finish was practically identical to the other switches. Very happy with the result.
I reached out recently, after finding out that they had been offering V2 replacements for customers who bought the V1 switches. I figured it was probably too late and a lost cause, but decided to give it a try anyway. To be fair they got back to me within a reasonable time, but said because it was over 6 months, they would send me the V2s, but I would have to pay the shipping & handling ($30). At this point it felt like I was being fed misleading information, where did the $30 come from? Their site clearly states free shipping, even on checkout, the most expensive rate was "Worldwide Flat Rate" at $5.99.
I decided not to take them up on their offer and chalk it up as a loss. I figured I'd try to fix the switches myself. Surprisingly they came out much better than I expected. Here are the steps I took in case anyone else wanted to DIY themselves:
1. Remove the old switches and with some rags, qtips and rubbing alcohol, strip away all of the rubber paint.
2. I decided against trying to preserve the glowing symbol/text on the switches as I didn't have any stencils or the patience to tape them off.
3. Pick up a can of Krylon Flat Black spray paint and apply a couple coats on the switches, making sure to get into the crevices.
4. Use a small light to shine through from behind to make sure the switches are evenly coated and there are no spots where the light can leak through. If there are, simply stick some black tape behind the switches to cover up the spots.
This is what the refinished switches look like compared to the awful Climarepair switches.
Heres another pic of the refinished switches reinstalled back into the climate control module. The flat black finish was practically identical to the other switches. Very happy with the result.
Got them istalled over lunch. 30 minutes job minus the trip to the store to get a T6. Very easy:
- remove the unit from the dash and u plug 2 cables.
- remove 4 T6 screws to remove the front panel
- remove 8 T6 screws to remove the pcb board
- drop the lcd out catefully
- remove 10yr old coke stains from the back of the lcd panel
- push a small flat head to undue the clips on either side of the button. This is a little fiddley.
- push the little plungers in to push the button out.
- push the new buttons back in
- button up and your done
Came out excellent and the side benefit is my climate control lcd is a lot brighter after cleaning the coke stains off the back. I though the lcd was going bad but it was just crusty coke...
John pointed out the temp button backlight looks a little dimmer but I think that might be the angle.
- remove the unit from the dash and u plug 2 cables.
- remove 4 T6 screws to remove the front panel
- remove 8 T6 screws to remove the pcb board
- drop the lcd out catefully
- remove 10yr old coke stains from the back of the lcd panel
- push a small flat head to undue the clips on either side of the button. This is a little fiddley.
- push the little plungers in to push the button out.
- push the new buttons back in
- button up and your done
Came out excellent and the side benefit is my climate control lcd is a lot brighter after cleaning the coke stains off the back. I though the lcd was going bad but it was just crusty coke...
John pointed out the temp button backlight looks a little dimmer but I think that might be the angle.
#503
Thanks for the kind words vikingpilot.
We have two sets in stock right now if anyone is wanting to get theirs done.
They can be purchased here:
https://macarbon.com/index.php?optio...111&Itemid=656
We have two sets in stock right now if anyone is wanting to get theirs done.
They can be purchased here:
https://macarbon.com/index.php?optio...111&Itemid=656
those look amazing but, and maybe this has been covered somewhere else, if they are refinished originals with same soft touch feel as website says, whats to keep them from doing the same thing over time?
thanks
shawn
#507
Instructor
WANTED, your old switches.
I am working on a fix up for these and need some old nasty Temp and Fan switches to test out.
Let me know if you have any, and I will gladly take them and keep you informed if my test works out.
I am super fussy, so I hope my plan will be as close to factory as possible.
PM me with what you have and I'll arrange to get them from you.
Cheers
I am working on a fix up for these and need some old nasty Temp and Fan switches to test out.
Let me know if you have any, and I will gladly take them and keep you informed if my test works out.
I am super fussy, so I hope my plan will be as close to factory as possible.
PM me with what you have and I'll arrange to get them from you.
Cheers
Last edited by Greyghost230; 09-07-2018 at 08:30 PM. Reason: Bump
#508
Our latest batch is ready
For anyone who still has sticky switches and has not yet fixed them, our next batch is in. They can be ordered through the site via this link or give us a call at the shop. 650.489.4415
#510