Air-Conditioning Buttons Fix - Porsche 911 997
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- čas přidán 8. 09. 2024
- Buttons / Switches from Amazon, factory correct: amzn.to/433SSIb
Like many Porsche 997 owners, the air-conditioning buttons / switches in my car are all scratched up and gross. They look terrible and it drives many 997 owners, like me, utterly bonkers. There is a fix though! For $150, from a company called ClimaRepair, you can purchase two new buttons that are scratch resistant and will bring your interior back to its former glory. In this video I provide a detailed step by step guide for how to remove the A/C unit, remove the old buttons and install the new ones. I hope you find this video useful! Enjoy!
Tools Used:
- Impact Driver or Wrench
- T25 socket
- T20 socket
- T6 screw driver
- Blue painter’s tape / masking tape (optional)
- Soft mat or microfiber towel (optional)
#AutoAmateur
Check out my blog at www.autoamateur... for posts about cars, driving them and maintaining them (or at least trying to!).
Title Music by Massive Attack, Incidental Music by Joakim Karud.
Note: Attempt any work on your own car at your own risk. Always consult a manual or a professional first. The steps, tools and approaches I use are my own choices and I’m certainly not an expert!
Oops, the white diffuser layer of the LCD goes between the white plastic frame and the LCD itself (seen at 15:17 when you first take it apart), otherwise you don't get a diffuse light source from the row of LEDs and you can see the individual hotspots like at 25:27
Nice one!
I'm waiting for my buttons to turn up to do this job. I can't see what went wrong though here? It looks like the white thing is in when he put it back together? I can see the problem though at 25:27. How should the white thing go?
@@MartynStanleyAuthor - At 23:01 you can see it installed incorrectly. When reassembling, the transparent white diffuser should be installed first, so that it is below the opaque white plastic frame.
@@mcarp22 Ahhh, you mean they are the wrong way around? The one on top should be underneath?
FYI...For those not wanting to disassemble the control unit down to the LCD screen level, after removing the 4 screws from the cover and opening the control into two. Used a sharp scissors and cut the tabs on the backside in half and with a needle noise pliers twist and break them off. With a flat head screw push the old buttons out and pop in the new ones.
Great video. The 997 GT3 interior looks brand new again
Hi, just wanted to say thank you for this video. Although my problem was not the peeled buttons but a damaged A/C display (probably accidentally hit hard by the previous owner). I bought a replacement one from an after market Porsche parts company in Germany and fixed it after watching your video - 60$ and 20 minutes is all it took, thanks once again!
That's awesome! Good job!
parts link please
Excellent video! I really appreciate the level of detail here. I looked at several different resources to do this project and yours is the best. Thanks for making this video, you made the world a little bit better place. 👍One note for those who are tackling this job: When I first put my climate control unit back together, I somehow oriented the plungers in the reverse direction, and when testing the unit in my car, the switches would not work. I took everything apart again, re-oriented the plungers in the correct direction, and everything works perfectly. So just go slowly when you are reinserting the plungers to make sure the notched end of the plunger is visible.
Thanks for much for the kind feedback, I really appreciate it! Glad everything worked out for you in the end. Cheers!
@@AutoAmateur I feel like we just worked on the job together. I have created a few "how to" automotive videos myself; yours is an excellent example of the breed. It's cool how you can create something one time and end up helping thousands of people around the world. Well done!
I completed the replacement of the switches with the help of this video. It was outstanding and allowed me to do this process with a minimum of issues. The video covered all of the steps needed to complete the job. Very good camera work and narrative. The new switches look great in my Porsche.
Awesome DIY!!! 100% worth it!!
I did a project on my Gen 2 Prius last year where the gauge cluster COMPLETELY burnt out. $900 repair from Toyota to replace the entire thing. I bought $3 worth of capacitors and pull it out, soldered it on myself, GOOD TO GO as new. These wins are THE BEST.
That’s awesome!!!! Wow! Hat’s off to you mate! 🙌🤩
Best how-to video ever. Clear explanations, multiple camera angles, every step shown. Lovely. Thanks very much.
Thanks Jeff!! Appreciate it! 🤩🙌🙌
Thanks for the instructional video about the fan and temp replacement switches. I’m going to try it and hope for the best. I know it took a lot of time and effort to make the video, but it surely will help me do the job.
That’s great! Happy to hear the video will help!! 🤩
I knew when you posted this last year it was going to come in handy. Just did mine today. Got them from Uro Tuning. $44 bucks and change. No way was I going to spend $150 on two pieces of plastic. Scottish heritage and all. Cheers!!
Haha. Frrrrrreeeeeeedom! 🏴 Good for you!! 🙌😆
Thanks for the tip! Ordered the wee parts this morning. $53 shipped via FedEx. 🏴
And thanks AA for the thorough video!!😎
@@SuperJacknyc Awesome!! Good luck!
Link please!
Great video. I was hesitant to fix mine, but now I’m confident I can do it myself
Awesome!! Good luck!! 🙌🤩
did that on my 987 last week, just cleaned the old buttons a put new paint on, looks great again.
Great Video! Without any doubt the best instructions to replace buttons on my 987 Boxster S. The presentation was factual without the “fluff” you see in there instructional videos. Great Job!
Glad it helped! Thank you!!
Thank you so very much for this video! I am the original owner of an ‘07 Cayman S that I’ve kept it in exceptional condition all these years, with the exception of those two scuffed buttons that drive me crazy! I’m so particular that I didn’t want anyone to replace them, fearing someone would break the clips removing the trim panels. Apparently, my concerns are well-founded! I am so excited to learn that, with a little patience and attention to detail, I’ll be able to do this repair myself.
Thanks so much and good luck! 👍
Just did mine with MACarbon switches, thanks for the walkthrough, I didn’t even look at the instructions that came with it :)
That’s so cool!! Awesome! 👍👍👍👍👍
Followed this step by step and got this done. Was a bit scared but shouldnt have worried. Thankyou
So glad the video helped!! Great job, awesome.
I replaced my Boxster 987's switches on Friday, following your how-to. Worked great! Thanks from a fellow (former) Minnesotan!
Cheers Dave!! Nice job!! 🙌🙌🙌❄️❄️❄️
So just replaced the AC and both knobs on radio, your video helped a lot …. Thanks again!
Excellent! Cheers Jose! Great job.
Thanks, followed your video and got them swapped over. Got the replacements from AliExpress for £5 and look and feel OEM. Only problem I had was the LCD display section falling out, took a while to figure how it all went back together but could see from your video paused how it did. Thanks again, a great help.
Nice work!
Hey just a word of thanks - I bought these switches from climaterepair several years ago and they have been sitting on the top of my toolbox since. Finally decided to give it a go today after watching your video- took me under an hour, and I didn’t break the trim clips! Thanks for the great tutorial.
That’s AWESOME!!!! Great job!! Glad this helped. 🤩🙌
Yep, you are the sensible one James. I purchased a new unit from Suncoast the day i picked up my 997 😁
I'm thinking about doing the same thing.
If you attempt it yourself and need any help, give me a shout!
@@AutoAmateur Thanks!
Most useful video by AutoAmateur. It took 1½ to do mine. The retaining screws hidden in the carpet trim on my 997.1 are T27 torx, not T25 as described. The hardest part was taking the side trims off without breaking the tabs, but I managed it and didn’t break any.
Thanks for the kind feedback and well done!! Glad the video helped!
Great video! You screaming "no" at the beginning made me spit out my drink in laughter!
Hahahaha. 😜
THANK YOU! This was immensely helpful. I didn't have tweezers like you so I used a suggestion in the comments to use toothpicks. It really was straightforward having this video as a guide.
Really glad you found this helpful! Thanks for the kind feedback.
Well-done. Job went smoothly. All clips still intact. Looks great and functioning smoothly. Thanks for the help. Bravo.
Nice one David! Congratulations!!
THANKS so much for posting this fix! My buttons completely bothered me as they were wet to the touch and left black “ink” or “paint” on my fingers. I’m not sure if the previous owner tried to “repaint” the switches as I’ve seen some recommend but they were gross. Your video inspired me to buy the replacement switches from your recommended source. I didn’t do expedited shipping as I really wasn’t sure when I’d tackle the project, so I wasn’t in a huge hurry, but they arrived, UK to US, in under 2 weeks! The project was simpler because of this video. I was very careful w/the LCD screen and reassembled everything meticulously and everything worked the 1st time. My new switches look fantastic and are no longer sticky - Thanks!
Glad it all worked out for you Rich!! Cheers!
@@AutoAmateur you’re spot on with the tweezer - hack! That made the job a lot simpler
I finally got round to replacing my switches, which I received a few days ago. Great video, very clear step by step procedure, and the tweezers worked a treat.
They really let the interior appearance down and I always noticed them, even if no one else did.
Next job is to replace the chrome trim on one of the centre vents, which a previous owner has hacked about, presumably to fit a phone mount.
Well done! Glad the video helped.
Excellent instructional video. Everything was clear and thorough, couldn't have asked for a better video. Thanks for putting this up.
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for posting this video. I just finished this project on my car and this DIY vid made it a piece of cake!
That is awesome! Glad it helps!
Thank you for posting such a detailed video.
You're very welcome! Glad it was helpful.
Excellent couldn't have done it without your great video. My switches arrived in the UK from ClimaRepair who dispatch from Spain took just over two weeks to arrive. There are some horror stories on-line a few years ago about the quality of these switches but mine were perfect - also I see there is a Porsche parts supplier in Essex UK who have these in stock - sourced from ClimaRepair at about the same eye-watering price - but when installed by magic you forget about the cost. I just followed your guidance and it was a smooth installation start to finish - like you my top panel clips broke or were broken but apart from that I'm over the moon with the end result.
Hey Andy! That’s awesome! Congratulations on a job well done! 🥳🥳🥳🙌
Very nice description of each step. If I were replacing my buttons, I would feel very confident following yours to do the work.
Thanks Todd! Appreciate it!
Thanks for the great video. Very helpful. My new switches arrived this week and I just installed them in my 997 using your video as a how-to guide. Your tweezer method worked perfectly. Everything went smoothly until I clicked in the new switches. They did not move freely up and down like yours in the video. Using a flathead screwdriver to slightly bend them as recommended in the ClimaRepair video did not work. On a hunch, I very lightly sanded the back sides of the top and bottom part of the new switches until the sharp edges at each end were slightly smoother. Instant improvement. But you have to be very careful when you sand, since the switches are so delicate. All good. So happy I found your video for this switch fix!
Very cool!! Glad it helped!!
Thanks for the walk through, you walked me through this in 30 minutes, mine 987 looks as good as new, cheers 🙏👍👍
That’s awesome Marcus, thanks for the feedback!!
A big thank you for sharing this. I’ve just followed your instructions and had no problems. CZcams is a wonderful resource.
Cheers Simon, glad it helped! Random - if you have a brother named Ross from Merseyside UK, let him know I said hello.
@@AutoAmateur Alas, not a relative of mine.
Your instruction is AMAZING!! This button has been driving ME nuts. I think Porsche realized it and made revision after and started to use regular hard plastic switches. Just like the one that you are replacing it with. Thank you for your great video instruction.
Cheers Jay! I'm so glad the video helped!! Awesome!!
I did it yesterday on my C2 Mk1 and everything worked pretty well. Thanks for the great tutorial!
Thanks Paolo!
By far the most complete instruction video. Subscribed.
Thank you!! 🙌🙌
Thanks for sharing this. It seems like 90% of the 997.1s that I see for sale have the janky climate control buttons. Nice job! 👍
That’s right! Me too. Thanks!! This was a fun project, albeit a little nerve wrecking. Just glad I didn’t have to break out my trusty knife. Haha. 😆🤩
Great video. From the loks of t it should be no problem replqacing the fan speed and temp button without taking anything apart.. Looks like you can bend out the plastic "tab" oon each side of the button to replace the buttons..
The little screws are a tiny torques. A .05 mm hex will work as well. Great video thanks for your help
Thanks Edward! Cheers!
I finally got around to doing this project. Went with the MACarbon (based in NorCal) ones vs. the Climarepair buttons. I also figured that once I had the console taken apart, why not go ahead and add Bluetooth (MR12Volt) and a DSC controller?!?! Still have a bit of work to do to tidy the MR12Volt and the accelerometer for the DSC controller, but this video was both my inspiration and a confidence boost to tackle these projects! Thanks! BTW, the tweezers are a brilliant idea, can’t imagine doing that w/ 2 screwdrivers!
Thank you for the instruction. It’s very easy to follow your steps.
Awesome and thanks!!
Very good tutorial.....makes the change much easier ...thanks 👍👌😉
Thanks Luc!!
Fantastic job my friend! I'm going to use your video to replace mine since your instructions are very simple and to the point. I suspect every one else will also when they search for this repair. Thanks for the video!
Thanks Vincent!! Awesome!! If you get stuck at all, give me a shout! Cheers! 🤩🙌
poor mans fix, tape of the controllers and the fan and temp lettering. Spray some plasti dip into a dixie cup, then brush it onto the buttons. I was very happy with results. Looks great! Another option for those who don't feel comfortable taking their car apart. Great Video!
That’s a great idea!!
I was thinking that too, but what if the white writing is rubbed off? All black buttons?
This method would not be the best if the white rubbing was rubbed off. @@DavesGenny
GREAT VIDEO!! So helpful!! I rate you 5 STARS!! Thanks for making this informative video!
Thank you Rhonda!! 🙌
Did the repair with my dad on the 987 Boxster S today, took about 1 hour flat taking our time not to mess anything up. It's such a big difference! The old buttons were chipped and gooey to the touch (gross). If anyone is on the fence about this mod DO IT. It's a big life improvement and worth the $150.
That’s awesome Drew!!!!! Glad it went well for you!!
🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳
@@AutoAmateur It's amazing what this mod can do for the car. I felt completely repulsed touching the previous buttons and never used the buttons because of it. They are a pleasure to operate now!
drewmorg same for me!
I bought a decal sticker to put on top of the original buttons, $10 so if it doesn’t work no harm done. Will update on wether or not they work well
Great video! I just did this on my 997 with no problems. My side carpet panels use a t30. I also used some toothpicks instead of tweezers and that worked really well. Took me under 2 hours at a leisurely pace with some breaks
Nice work!
Can’t thank you enough for the instructional video. Just changed out the control levers on my 997, and thanks to you, couldn’t have gone better. Thanks!
Great job Seth!! Cheers!!
Awesome! Great video and instructions! The buttons bothered me the moment I bought the car... was a bit hesitant to change them myself, but thanks to your video it was a walk in the park. Thanks so much. Ivo (the Netherlands).
That’s great to hear Ivo! Well done! 👍
Thanks for the video. I just received my Aliexpress equivalents ($20 shipped) and will apply what I just learned.
Good luck!
It went very smoothly. I did not have a torx 6 but found a small flat screw driver that fitted after a bit of filing.
You can buy these same buttons now for about $50.00 on Amazon. I did...excellent quality.
Great video. Helped a ton. Just completed the repair on my car
Congratulations!! Nice one!!
Thanks so much for the video, just helped to fix an issue I’d been frustrated with since in bought my 997 five years ago.
Cheers! Great to hear!
Great video, thanks for making this an easy job. The worst part was realizing that I did not have a T6 bit, so I had to visit the hardware store mid-repair for the proper tool. Overall, it was as easy as it looks in the video. Thanks for the help!
Thank you Tom. Great job!!
Very good…. This will help me out a lot ….thank you
You’re welcome!! Good luck.
Your new steering is so nice!!! Like it in sand beige...
Thanks!!
@@AutoAmateur Cheers from a first time Porsche owner in Malaysia... Just Meguiar's cleaned and waxed my 2011 987.2 Base PDK this evening!!
Love it... same issue for me and same solution unless i bought the two buttons $25 on Aliexpress ! 😂
Thank you for this helpful video, I followed every step and have a great result with my 997.
Awesome news David!! Thanks!!
Thanks for this video. I purchased the switches and was able to replace them last weekend. The tweezers tip worked great. Thumbs up!
Awesome!! Great job Manuel. 🥳🥳🥳
Awesome vid!! I know you have the 991 now, but this saves the rest of us lol.
I'm removing mine to have the face painted red.
Thank you!
Very helpful video, thank you! I also have the paint issue with my 997 and it drives me crazy!
Thanks for a very well sorted video
Cheers Mike!!
niiiiiice job James, and now you know a knife is not always necessary to tinker your 911... Cheers from France 😉👍
Haha. C’est vrai! 😆🙌
Nice video! I did this to my 997 some months ago. Totally worth it!
Nice one!! I’m so happy the scratchy buttons are GONE! 😆
Great video! The tweezer trick made getting the old switches out easy. Thanks!
Awesome!! Glad it worked for you! 🤩🙌
Thank you. I just did mine thanks to you showing me how. Well done
Nice one! Well done!!
If the buttons are not bad and are just starting to show signs of wear, a black Sharpie works just fine to prolong the button life..
The sharpie is the duct tape of pens. 🤩
Doesnt look purple after applying?
Beauty. Nice video James. Found myself staring at that fantastic steering wheel. Have to save up!
Thanks Vic!! Appreciate it! 🙌
Thank you so much for your helpful video. I just installed my new switches on my 997 C4S 👍👍
Nice one!!
Thanks for the amazing video 😊
Thank YOU! 🙏
Awesome as usual. The psm button is faulty and loose. Wish me luck. Thanks for doing this. great instructions.
Thank you for the tutorial, it was very helpful!
You’re welcome! Thanks!
Another very fiddly job exceedingly well done! 👍
Thanks Clive!! This one was a bit of a bugger to do but I loved how it turned out.
Thanks.. worked like a charm
Glad it helped! Cheers.
I couldn't find a video where you got that trim piece around the stereo changed out and I realize it has been a couple of years since you posted this video. I have a 997 that I replaced the factory stereo in and used the same kit. Once that kit is installed it is very difficult to remove. The screw that you show at the end does need to be backed out all the way. In fact once the new stereo is installed, that screw really isn't necessary. There is a bit of gentle trying that has to be done to remove the after market head unit with that adapter kit.
Great video and very relaxing to watch. Nice editing. I was just removing the right side trim panel today so that I could remove an old phone pedestal thing that's been sticking out on the right side of the stack since I got the car. I never used it, and the car looks much better without it. You've kind of inspired me to replace my buttons now as well. My 997, too, came with trashed AC controls-- fresh ones would be a nice improvement :D
Cheers Julian! Yeah, it’s amazing how much nicer the interior of my 997 looked after replacing those buttons. Go for it!
Appreciate the channel! You give loads of greats tips and subtle yet nice upgrades.
Cheers Ross! Appreciate it!!
The only thing I find shocking is the price of the switches. Porsche tax, I guess. Great video that will help many for years.
Believe me, considering the frustration and rage I’ve felt over the last 18 months of ownership, it’s cheaper than therapy. Haha. 😆🤷♂️
Auto Amateur, excellent point!! 😂
Hahaha. 🤩
Excellent video! Thanks.
Glad you liked it!
This is an awesome video. I will be doing this soon. Thanks
Thanks Gary! Give me a shout if you need any help along the way.
Your video helped me did mine today! Thank you, sir!
Thank you, that was helpful, I have to change those two too.
Cheers! Thanks!!
Congratulations buddy, been following your channel for a while. Greets from Chile
Thank you Jorge!! From Chile?! That’s awesome!! I hope to visit one day! 🇨🇱
I use a black Sharpie on mine and comes out good
Nice one!
Pretty easy job thanks to this video thanks
Awesome. Thanks!
FYI...Put the plungers in from the front! They should drop right in with no resistance. If you put them in from the back they're really tight and it does not work (ask me how I know 😅) Another FYI these are very cheap, they're all over Amazon for under $20....
Tidy job James big improvement 👍
Cheers Paul!! 🙌
Fantastic detailed video, I've got this to do at some point - your video will come in extremely useful 👍
Cheers! Glad it was helpful!
Great, great video! Thanks a lot!
Thanks - this helped me a lot!
Cheers Simon, I'm glad!
This seems like an easy to moderate job. Wish it was more plug and play...
Great video! but 6:47 it is t30 not t25 on my 2005 997 c2s
Thank you!
TIP!!! If you loosen the leftmost bottom screw on the board (the one near the fan button), the fan button works flawlessly!
Nice one!
Huh? Can you explain?
@@streaydog019 I simply did not screw the leftmost bottom screw all the way and the button did no longer get stuck. You should do some testing your self to see how much you need to loosen it. If you skip to 14:00 in the video, it will be the rightmost-top silver-colored screw that you seen on the PCB (green board) that you need to loosen.
Excellent
Great video very helpful. Love the car. It looks really nice
Thanks Dan!!
Great works like he dit
Thanks!!
Great video ! Job well done !!
Thank you my friend!! 🙌🤩
Ok, I get it. It's an opaque diffuser not some type of protective padding / gasket - ok, now I get where it has to go ...... good video - I have the new switches - I think I'll procrastinate more - somewhat concerned that your top side trim panel brackets were already broken......is there a fix for that ?
Unfortunately there’s no fix for that really unless you try to glue back the broken trim clips. As I discovered, my trim clips were already broken and I would never have known. There was never any vibrations or rattling or anything like that. Just make sure you lift the final (upper) part of the side trim OUT towards you and not UP very far as you do it.
Nice job! I just did this recently on my 997S. It’s too bad you did all this work...especially the new steering wheel/airbag knife job and then trade cars. Lol. I will say I think your 997 interior looked more luxurious than the all plain black in the 991 though, but I’m biased. ;)
It was just a series of fun projects with an amazing car. I now have a new set of fun projects to look forward to with a new amazing car. It’s all good. 🤩👍
Auto Amateur and I look forward to seeing your new videos!...even if it is only a 3.4 now. ;)