How to fix Regal dim HVAC

[BillBoost37]

Most HVAC control units suffer a dim or not visible display. This problem is caused by some surface mount resistors in the back of the unit. A few minutes with a soldering iron and this can be fixed for free.
Open the center console and remove all the stuff in it.
Remove the rubber piece at the bottom of it and you will see two 10mm bolts, remove them
Lift up on the trim panel that sits between the cubby hole door and the console door. Unhook the traction control (and heated seat) connectors and set the piece aside. Looking in you will see an inline connector (white IIRC) disconnect it. That's the power and such for the center console.
Looking straight down behind the shifter are two more 10mm bolts, remove them.
Looking in at where the dash meets the lower dash, you will see a 10mm bolt on each side. Remove both of them.(looking straight at side of console from driver or passenger door.)
Now the tough part. The passenger side of the console contains a cigarette lighter socket. The FSM says to use special J tool to try and get it out, then when you break it to replace with part XXXXXXX. The socket hits on the shifter assembly as you pull the console back. I find that two small screwdrivers can sometimes do the trick. BTW it still has pwoer, be careful putting metal into it. Expect that the socket will get bent and won't work properly afterwards or slide the console back as far as the socket allows and work your way in with the 7mm driver to get the four screws holding the HVAC to the dash. Then pull the HVAC up and out and disconnect the connector for the wiring.
Here is the backside of the HVAC unit. Remove the four screws.

Leaving the unit face down lift the back off the face. The face contains many buttons and parts that will fall on the floor if you seperate it or invert the face while it is off the back.
Looking at the back now, remove these four screws.

Wiggle the back circuit board out of the plastic housing. Set it down with the pins facing up.

These five surface mounted resistors are the issue. They need to have the solder reheated to reflow it.

This is done by touching a soldering iron to the metal ends of the resistors

Reassemble the unit and go try it out. It should work again.

[chevyy1212]

Wheres these 2 bolts were the dash meets the lowers dash? Way lost on findin those

[chevyy1212]

Scratch that I spent a hour being an idiot found it. Now for this stupid cigarette lighter... SUCKS

[BillBoost37]

FWIW the cig lighter says in teh GM manual to try X tool that pulls the two tabs in..if that doesn't work, break it and charge customer for a new one.

[Scottydoggs]

Scratch that I spent a hour being an idiot found it. Now for this stupid cigarette lighter... SUCKS

the power ports should stay in their mounts in the console, you un hook the wires, and leave it all in place. i un hooked the heated seat, and trac off buttons from under the cup holder. and that's it.

if you leave the 2 pita bolts off the back corners where the console bolts to the lower dash trim, (where the climate control trim is) it all comes back apart later much easier if you ever need to get in there again.

[BillBoost37]

FWIW, you can simply bring the console back a couple inches w/o removing it..

The power port on the passenger side of the console though. I hated it so much I replaced it with some intrigue ones.

[chevyy1212]

I ended up finding the 2 bolts after a hour of being dumb. As for the cigarette lighter I was trying to take out the one in the center not the one on the passenger side by the floor. Either way found the bolts and after 30 minutes of not getting the ciggarette lighter out i just pulled wiggled and got more than enough room without unhooking anything lighter wise to get the HVAC unit out. Actually really easy as soon as it all was realized

[BillBoost37]

Glad it worked out. It's relatively easy once you get the bolts out.

[chevyy1212]

It was actually harder figuring out which bolts for me. I swung it without taking the cigarette lighter out too wasnt to hard. I had my electronics department at my work
re-heat those 5 and 3 others that pretty much fell off. Great writeup tho. Its so bright sweet