TD5 Air Con Control buttons

Driving tonight I noticed that the lights on the buttons of my air con unit were out , The display is backlit, but the buttons are out.

Then I wondered if they had ever been on... I cant remember them ever being lit.

Are they supposed to light up, if so - how do you change the bulbs??

yes to illumination, how to change? sorry not a clue.
hope it isnt a new unit !!

Thanks Mat, that's half the battle!

read on a different forum that the unit is held in by spring clips.
i guess these would be at the sides.
nothing to lose by carefully pulling it out and having a look.

you know, i never noticed that they were out 'till now and we've had this disco over 6 months now...

I can forsee the whole of the dash coming apart one day to try to get to a single bloody bulb!!!

Stupid/obvious comment time.. Are you absolutely sure they light up?? At work at the moment so can't check but I recall reading an article about the Series II Disco and its ergonomics and it mentioned that it was silly to have the four big buttons all the same shape, size and not illuminated which made it hard to operate at night without taking your eyes off the road.. It was talking about how controls almost have braille type raised icons on them nowadays..

triple checked and mine light up.

James , It looks like you and I are on the same quest. When I find out how to get into it i'll let you know...

Can't wait to get home now and check!

Hi had same thing go on my disco td5.To remove the display if you use a metal ruler down the side of the display unit at a 45 degree angle towards the center of the display there is a metal tag you need to push inwards to release the unit on each side,then you have to unplug the display and remove the back cover then you will see there are 2 or 3 bulbs for the display and then 1 each for the temp rocker switcher.The part number for the rocker switch bulb is VJWH100070 and they are about £2.35 plus vat each.Hope that helped.

Scotty

Nice one Scotty...

Yes, mine do light up which when I first looked, I didn't think they did as the decals look painted on??!

But if/when they fail, this info is very useful - thanks!!

Hmm, must look at mine. I do know the clock light has gone to lamp Heaven. Anyone know how to get that out?

Tried to get the unit out to no avail... I dont want to risk damage,

Scotty, the Clips are on the left and right sides halfway down? did you have to spring both of them back either side at the same time to get it out?

Yes you do have to get both sides at the same time but if you use the ruler to pull the unit forward slighty with a torch you will see the metal tabs.the unit is very strong trust me

Scotty, I have intermittant failing (some days it works, other days it doesn't) of the lights on the smaller swithes...
Anyway, could you be more precise as to the "catches" at the side of the climate "unit". Are they close to the front panel, near the back, do you have to get to them both at once? Keen to fix mine now I know it's that easy (I understood previously from my dealer that you neede to take the radio out first!)!

here is some slightly better advice.If you insert metal rulers straight down each side of the climate unit level with the center of the temp rocker switch after about 2cm it should stop if you get it correct then if you move the ruler which you inserted, towards the center of the unit it should become loose on that side the do the other side then the climate unit should come out then follow earler instuctions.If anybody wants to send me a personal message I can email them a photo showing the metal lugs so you can see what you are trying to do.

Scotty

Right... Firstly thanks to Scotty for the instructions.

Here are some photo's

I used 2 dinner table knives to get the unit out, slide in both sides as per scotty's post then move the butt's of the knife's horizontally outwards so that the tips compress the clips inwards.

unplug the connectors

there are two screws that hold the back of the unit together, remove these and carefully fold back so not to desturb the ribbon cable. there are three Large bulbs behind the Display and one each behind the temperature controls and one in the middle for the button lights.

there is no need to dismantle the unit further, use a flat blade screwdriver to give the bulbs a quarter turn and they should remove.

If you disturb the ribbon cable ( or want to seperate the halfs) see photo... use your fingernails on eitherside of the clip to lift it up it should release the ribon cable, to re-instate, slide the ribbon in, home then push down the clip.

once i get a source for the bulbs i will post, or if someone knows...??? please post too.

It's easier to take out the radio 1st, then you can release the aircon unit with a finger round the back fo the dash...now just to source the bulbs!

The bulbs are available from a main dealer, the last time I bought them they were around £1.50 each, couldn't find them anywhere else