A/C buttons pushed in! (How to Fix that.)

[C5 Dude]

Why is it doing that! Ever seen this! I know you think it’s gone. Broken. Can’t be fixed now. But let me show you how I saved buying a new one. Read on and if this happens to you, you can fix it.

First let’s get all the tools to pull the center console.



You’ll need a drill with a 3/32 bit. A medium flat head screw driver. A T15 Torx screw driver. A ¼ inch drive ratchet with a four inch extension, 10mm socket, 7mm socket, and a 3/16 socket. I use the ¼ inch drive ratchet because a 3/8 drive has a little too much torque for the plastic molding that after years breaks VERY easy. So during all of this you need to be very careful and gentle with all the pieces because they are brittle and can break easily. So, if you think you need to be forceful with any piece, DON’T! You shouldn’t have to be forceful with any piece if you follow these instructions. Crazy I know!



Now move on.

First take the flat head screw driver and remove the tabs covering the rear console fastening nuts.

Now pop up the cover with the selective ride control and traction control switch.


Now remove the wiring plugging into that cover for the traction control and ride selection.

Put that cover aside and now remove the plug that feeds the extra 12V plug in the armrest console.

Now remove the fastening nuts at the rear of the console and under the cover you just put aside.




Now remove the ash tray by gently tugging on it and pulling it out.



You’ll now see two T15 Torx screws in this compartment. Yours may be a Phillips head.



Now remove those screws. One down deep and one right next to the cigarette lighter.



Now gently lift up on the back of the rear console and slide it back and up and twist it so that the underside is facing the passenger side. This will reveal the plug for the gas cap.



Remove that plug and gently remove the rear console and set it to the side somewhere safe.
Now you can slide the boot down inside the shifter, if you have an automatic I think it just lifts over it.
You will want to tilt the back of the console up slightly to clear the bolts that were under the ride control cover and then slide the console back until all the tabs are out of the dash. The two top tabs are very breakable and have a large lip to hold them in slightly so be careful with them. Then tilt it clockwise to clear the steering wheel and the wiper switch like so.



Now remove the wiring plugged into the cigarette lighter like this.


Now set the front console somewhere safe.
Now you should have a good view of the A/C unit in the dash. It has two 7mm screws holding it in. Remove those and slide the unit out.


Unplug the plug from the back of the unit and take it to your work area.


Now you will be able to see exactly where its broken at. Probably these screw tabs are broken.


This is how you fix that.
First get the unit right by making sure the switches are flush and the unit is closed up just like if it was in perfect working order. Then use some zip ties to hold it together while you work on it like this.

Now remove the old screws from the unit.

Get the drill and drill holes in this area in a good distance apart taking care not to hit any internal parts. There shouldn’t be any in this area. Make sure you don’t hit any wires either.

Now screw the old screws into these new holes. Should look like this.

Reinstall the unit and test it out before putting it all back together.

Now reinstall the rest of the center console in reverse order. You need to pay attention to the front console piece and only tighten the Torx screws when you have it in place. You also don’t put the nuts on and tighten them up until the rear is in place. And remember the rear console piece slides under the front console. That’s because you put the front console in place lining it up and then tightening the Torx screws before you put the rear console piece in place. Then tighten the nuts. Don’t forget to replace the gas cap door wiring by plugging it in before you put the rear console piece in place. Don’t let the wiring for the ride control and traction control get caught in the console pieces when you are tightening them down. Then plug them in along with the extra 12V receptacle and snap the cover back in place. Replace the tabs over the rear nuts and you’re done.
Should look like this with all the buttons where they are supposed to be.

[Spiderpat]

Nice job. Very innovative

[Junkman2008]

Originally Posted by Spiderpat

Nice job. Very innovative