As stated in last month's "Going Retro" article, I recently picked up my first C5-a fully loaded '02 coupe. As any new-to-you used-Corvette owner knows, the good and the bad sometimes go hand in hand. As such, I'll spend this month covering repairs to the car's Dual Climate Control. A true thing of wonder and comfort, this was one of those upgrades I was glad to see featured on my Corvette. But mine, like many of its vintage, was showing its age, with burned-out lights and a dim (and sometimes non-functional) main display. The easy answer to these issues is to send it to Corvette Central for service-but what about the handy DIY'er? For you (and for the curious), we present this quick overview of the magic that goes into this sort of repair.
With kaput Dual Climate Control...
With kaput Dual Climate Control lights, homing in on the right temperature-or knowing the external temp-is nigh impossible.
For the handy, this repair...
For the handy, this repair starts by removing the armrest.
Just pop these hardware c...
Just pop these hardware covers...
...and remove the nuts with...
...and remove the nuts with a 10mm socket.
Next, remove the traction-control...
Next, remove the traction-control bezel, the hardware hidden behind it...
...and the wiring that's still...
...and the wiring that's still holding the armrest in place.
Pop the A/C sensor cover to...
Pop the A/C sensor cover to access the hardware hidden behind it...
...and remove these final...
...and remove these final few T15-rated screws.
The center-console bezel is...
The center-console bezel is now ready for removal-after you unhook the wires leading to the cigarette lighter, of course.
Finally, the climate control...
Finally, the climate control can now be accessed...
...and removed.
Disassembly starts with these...
Disassembly starts with these screws, one at each corner.