Originally Posted by 503C43 ////AMG

So I tore the climate control unit apart today and put it all back together and BOOOOOOOOOM!!!! IT WORKS!!!!! Here is what I did.....

1.) Bought the radio removal keys from the dealership for $10.50, these are used to pull the radio AND climate control unit


2.) pulled the Climate control unit out of my car using the radio removal keys. You slide the keys in and you will hear a click, the keys have a handle and you just pull out the unit. There are 2 connectors on the unit which you have to push down on a little tab and slide the weird gray plastic "hinge" thingy all the way which will pop out the connectors. Hard to explain but if you pull it out you will see exactly what I am talking about.
Attachment 186196

3.) I opened the unit by lifting 4 tabs on the top and putting in some small metal shims to keep them from popping back in (you could use almost anything like paper or whatever I just had these metal things that worked perfectly) then you depress the 3 tabs on the bottom of the unit (I was prying it open as I depressed the tabs to keep them from popping back in)
Attachment 186197
Attachment 186198

4.) you will need to remove the light bulb on the bottom of the unit (simply twist and pull, I used needle nose pliers) as well as the security locking tabs (again I used needle nose pliers as they just pull out) after these are removed you can pull out the circuit board form the main housing. The face will still be attached to the circuit board.
Attachment 186199

5.) you need to remove 6 screws that have a star pattern from the circuit board, these hold the face onto the board (you will need a special screwdriver for this, I believe the size is SD10, whatever that means)and then you will need to lift the tabs you had used earlier to remove the main housing as they have a notch that holds the circuit board in place. Again this is hard to explain but once you get to this step you will see what I mean.


6.) You will now be able to remove the face (the black part with the
buttons on it) form the circuit board and LCD screen.
Attachment 186200

7.) You should be able to see the ribbon cable that goes from the board to the LCD screen. I disconnected the LCD from the ribbon cable at the LCD screen connector (I tried to remove it from the circuit board as well but it was stuck or it's not meant to come off either way I left it on) and cleaned the connections.
Attachment 186202

8.) There is a white piece of plastic with rubber on the ends of it ( It looks similar to what appatula posted as a "zebra board" but mine looked a little different as it had small rubber pieces that came off the side and held onto the LCD screen.) It appeared to me that this was only used to locate and mount the screen. I made sure it was on there tight and then I put it all back together by reversing everything I just did. I made sure to tighten the star screws REAL well....


Immediately I noticed that my button action was WAY more crisp and I could clearly hear a loud CLICK every time I pushed a button.

So I went out to my car and put the climate control unit back in and .......

Originally Posted by 503C43 ////AMG

IT WORKS!!!!!!
Attachment 186203

Here is a pic of the radio removal keys I got for $10.50 from the dealership
Attachment 186205

Here is a pic (crappy I know) of the light bulb located on the under side of the unit
Attachment 186204

Any of you guys have any questions let me know.... This was pretty easy and took about 30 minutes. We will see how long it lasts.....

Originally Posted by kowalski

my fingers are getting old, they are stiff as hell from typing on the computer keypad all the time.........

Originally Posted by MarcusF

Slightly off topic:

Typing? Man, get yourself an Android phone and a limitless data plan. Then you can just say whatever you want and hit send. Save your strength for your girlfriend. Speaking of which, did you ever post her photo?

Originally Posted by DRBC43AMG

MarcusF, you put forward a very pertinent question, regarding Kowalski's girl. We heard a lot about dating etc., but we all miss a photo to admire the contours and other attributes