85TurboZ

Anyone interested in a repair write-up for the digital climate control screens? I did this yesterday , to replace a supposedly bad screen , however , I found out there were only some bad lightbulbs. The screen generally works , but without backlighting , the icons and temperature #s cannot be seen. If anybody wants to know how to do this , I can provide a writeup , with pics.

86ZXTurbo

I had the same thing happen to me a year ago. I had this shop put in my stereo system and when I got the car back my backlighting didnt work for the climate control. They helped me pull it out and find 2 lil lights that stopped working. I have no idea why 2 busted while it was with them, but I went to the nissan dealer, got more lights, and they wired the lil devils in and it worked fine.

85TurboZ

From what I've seen on other boards , though , a lot of people are replacing the screen , thinking that is the problem. Just thought I'd like to make it general knowledge that it is not. Can't help it you are one of the smart ones.
I'd say that they probably dropped or bumped the CC system when they removed the stereo. All that equipment comes out as a single piece from right there , depending on how you do it.

86ZXTurbo

i know its one piece when I went back I pretty much sat there and watched them trying to learn how it all worked. they probably thought I was makin sure they didnt break something else. hehe Im not a drama queen though, I just asked if they could help me since it stopped working with them and they didnt have a problem. And u can tell if its the screen or not cuz in direct light you can still see the little icons on the screen. I had the t-tops off and the sun was right on it, so I kinew the icons were still working.

85TurboZ

Yup , exactly. Another thing I was planning to add to the repair article was lighbulb replacement with LEDS. I plan on using superbright blue LEDs , which will match my interior. I don't particularly care for the green color all the lights are now.

Copper727

I've been contemplating that for a while too! And everyone knows that I love blue interiors!! How do you plan on doing this?

85TurboZ

My solution is not nearly that simple. I've noticed the dash lightbulbs in the older Zs don't seem to last very long , so I'm changing the entire dash panel lighting to an LED setup , as I mentioned before. LEDs are also brighter , and I want to get rid of the drab green color. LEDs require inline resistors to be able to handle 12 volts. This basically involves removing the actual lighbulb from the base it sits in , and installing an LED and a resistor in that base.

86ZXTurbo

where are you located? dont forget to take pix before during and after as well. I want to see how this goes.

85TurboZ

I'm located in Colorado. One problem I can see with using LEDs , is the ones I am using are much too directional. Like one bright blue spot straight ahead of the bulb. I'll have to figure out a way to diffuse the light.

85TurboZ

Still working on it , but I basically ran out of money til next check. LEDs are not cheap , especially the blue ones. Cheapest Ive found them was like $4 apiece , for the brightest ones I could find. Plus the resistors are $ .50 each. This will not be a cheap project.

Copper727

Hahaaha...I knew it couldn't be as simple as it may sound! Like I've already mentioned, I've contemplated the idea many times - even thought about changing the colors of the digital dash - but that's an ambition project that will just have to wait until summer vacation. Hopefully, you'll be finished by then and I could steal some of your ideas! I'm a very patient man...

85TurboZ

Multicolored sounds interesting. Not really sure how that would work , and I don't need it to be that complicated.

Copper727

Oh no! Just want to get rid of all the green and replace with blue. Gracious in its simplicity, yet ambitious in scope...

85TurboZ

Besides , blue goes with my interior , and I'm hoping to have this be a show car one day.

Copper727

Pictures! Pictures, pictures, pictures!! We need to check out your Z! So....post pictures or tell us the link to your CarDomain!! I wanna check out this Z31 show car, and perhaps steal some ideas...

85TurboZ

Hmm , I forgot I had not posted pics here.

Link to a short set of pics at Sony Imagestation http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4288859267 You will need to be registered to view.

Copper727

Damn it!! I have to join that darn site in order to view someone else's site?? That's so bogus! I ain't joining man...I don't trust them already...

85TurboZ

I also like how yours looks. I was looking for a small wing like what you have , but I want a shorter one. 4-5 inches high at most. Care to tell me where you got that one and how much you paid?

85TurboZ

Registration is a quick 30 second process at most , but I'll see if I can link in something here.

85TurboZ

What the heck? I thought it would pop in as pics , not links to pics. How stupid. Try this a different way . . . . . . .

85TurboZ

85TurboZ

86ZXTurbo

those tail lights look smoked, like they are from a 86. did you replace them or was the car in a accident or something?