Romaudi

Most of you know that after you do double din conversion from 00-01 A4/S4, HVAC buttons won't illuminate. So after driving my car at night for few hours last week, I've decided to do something about. It really drove me crazy, but not anymore, cause I figured it out.

Tools you will need:

- Thin, (preffered)long torx T7 (I think)
- Flat screwdriver
- Wire (2ft)
- Wire stripper
- Solder gun (solder wire, paste)
- heat shrink, electrical tape (optional)

Time needed: 1-2 hours for an averege Audi owner.
Difficulty: 3 out of 10

Let's get to it.

Here's what we are dealing with:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/115354/climatronic_9.jpg">
Remove your hvac, by sliding it out of the console. Push and unclip 4 connectors from the back of the HVAC. Put the unit on your bench. Remove 6 torx screws. No need to unscrew the board with display from the faceplate. You only need to get the board with connectors in the back. There are clips on both sides that hold the board. Pry them carefully while sliding the board out.
Now you should see something like this:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/115354/climatronic_14.jpg">

Prepare your soldering "tools" and a wire. We'll be soldering here (see pin with black mark on it). Important: Strip insulation as little as possible!
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/115354/climatronic_17.jpg">

Wire in:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/115354/climatronic_20.jpg">

Now to be safer, make a knot on the wire and fish it through the back of the unit. Then slide the board back into the enclosure. See pic:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/115354/climatronic_22.jpg">

Screw the unit back
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/115354/climatronic_27.jpg">

Take your HVAC back to car. Now you have a few options to tap your wire to.
If you want HVAC to illuminate when you turn your ignition on, wire it to 75X.
If you want it on together with your headlights you can tap into:

-ashtray illumination
-cigarette lighter illumination
-vent illumination

I think in all cases the wire you're looking for is blue. I used ashtray and here's the result: (Note my heat-seat switches don't illuminate cause they're not connected. I'm waiting for pigtails from car-part, so later about that)
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/115354/climatronic_37.jpg">
Oooh. If you do this and it doesn't work for you or your car catches on fire etc, I'm not responsible (lol kidding, but I guess I was supposed to type something like that).

TristanP

Nice one

Romaudi

Thanks

@wesome

Awesome work! Great writeup... props for figuring that out =)

Romaudi

Thank you

firstarsbrnwhite

99.5 is plug and play - just did this on mine but got an F90BT

Romaudi

I know, but 99.5 is single din, right?

TighTT

Just jumping some wires together...no disassembly like yours IIRC.

Romaudi

Link?

ModifiedA4

if you buy one of these puppies:
<img src="http://www.modifieda4.com/images/fog-mod/DSC00730.sized.jpg">

and put it here:
<img src="http://www.modifieda4.com/images/fog-mod/DSC00734.sized.jpg">
<img src="http://www.modifieda4.com/images/fog-mod/DSC00735.sized.jpg">

then they would light up when the parking lights come on.