Sometimes the Blues is a good thing - especially if it's Robert Johnson .... or maybe even a new colour display for your clock &/or A/C Controller Module
Here's what the finished article looks like:
Randomy Harmony's Clock & A/C Module
My A/C Module
It's not a really hard thing to do & I'm sure you would agree that with the Alpine Head Units it looks a much better match. (wish mine had the blue choice for buttons on my 7996 like Shane's 8315 though)
It's achieved by installing a replacement Blue Gel Filter in place of the stock Red Gel Filter. You can obtain it at various places on the internet like Here - you could choose other colours too if preferred - green maybe.
(all thumb-nail pics are clickable links to large pics)
Start by removing the clock, then the console to get access to remove the A/C module.
When you have the Clock & A/C modules on the bench you're ready to start
First the clock module:
Remove the three screws on the rear panel & pop the 4 clips on top & bottom to remove the rear panel & the circuit board.
Now the original Gel panel is revealed - the Clock is a little more complicated because you need to Dremel off the plastic rivets to remove the Gel screen (or you could try cutting them off with a really sharp Xacto or Stanley blade)
After you remove the rivet heads, peel off the Red Gel Screen
Then apply a small strip of the new Blue Gel material - I used a small drop of crazy-glue on either side of the open frame to keep it secure. Make sure the Gel sheet is dust-free on both sides to avoid that showing up when it's illuminated.
Finally re-assemble the clock in reverse order.
For the A/C Module, it's somewhat easier because there is no Dremeling involved.
Remove the screw on the rear panel between the two green connector sockets. Then remove the countersunk screw on each side and pop the adjacent clips to disengage the front display panel. The panel will not completely disengage because of the ribbon cables between the controller & the display (not an issue).
Remove the three plugs & the 4 screws indicated (don't remove the two that aren't circled, along the edge)
Carefully lift the circuit board out to access the front side of the dsplay.
Then its simply peel off the red Gel & replace it with a strip of the Blue. The Red sheet was originally held in place with an adhesive & enough of that probably remains to just hold the new sheet in place, without the need for additional. It really doesn't take much to hold it in place.
Complete the A/C module by re-assembling in reverse sequence.
Re-install the modules & the console.
If you have an OEM radio it's also possible to repeat the process for that too - very similar but the radio is a little more awkward to get access to the display - pretty intuitive however (you do need to remove the cassete module once inside the case if remember).
Acknowledgements are due to:
Malibu Rapper - for giving me some Gel sheet free (yes: Nada - nothing - zippo - zilch - not even postage!)
briank - for organizing & supplying a kit of capacitors for the troublesome A/C module (The A/C module suffers from similar problem as the Bose amps in that the capacitors fail). Mine was OK but I replaced them while this was apart as a preventive measure. ~$10 shipped if I recall - good investment!
mc-ca - for this aspirator fan fix ; another good time to take care of that annoying problem while the console is all apart.
Here's what the finished article looks like:
Randomy Harmony's Clock & A/C Module
My A/C Module
It's not a really hard thing to do & I'm sure you would agree that with the Alpine Head Units it looks a much better match. (wish mine had the blue choice for buttons on my 7996 like Shane's 8315 though)
It's achieved by installing a replacement Blue Gel Filter in place of the stock Red Gel Filter. You can obtain it at various places on the internet like Here - you could choose other colours too if preferred - green maybe.
(all thumb-nail pics are clickable links to large pics)
Start by removing the clock, then the console to get access to remove the A/C module.
When you have the Clock & A/C modules on the bench you're ready to start
First the clock module:
Remove the three screws on the rear panel & pop the 4 clips on top & bottom to remove the rear panel & the circuit board.
Now the original Gel panel is revealed - the Clock is a little more complicated because you need to Dremel off the plastic rivets to remove the Gel screen (or you could try cutting them off with a really sharp Xacto or Stanley blade)
After you remove the rivet heads, peel off the Red Gel Screen
Then apply a small strip of the new Blue Gel material - I used a small drop of crazy-glue on either side of the open frame to keep it secure. Make sure the Gel sheet is dust-free on both sides to avoid that showing up when it's illuminated.
Finally re-assemble the clock in reverse order.
For the A/C Module, it's somewhat easier because there is no Dremeling involved.
Remove the screw on the rear panel between the two green connector sockets. Then remove the countersunk screw on each side and pop the adjacent clips to disengage the front display panel. The panel will not completely disengage because of the ribbon cables between the controller & the display (not an issue).
Remove the three plugs & the 4 screws indicated (don't remove the two that aren't circled, along the edge)
Carefully lift the circuit board out to access the front side of the dsplay.
Then its simply peel off the red Gel & replace it with a strip of the Blue. The Red sheet was originally held in place with an adhesive & enough of that probably remains to just hold the new sheet in place, without the need for additional. It really doesn't take much to hold it in place.
Complete the A/C module by re-assembling in reverse sequence.
Re-install the modules & the console.
If you have an OEM radio it's also possible to repeat the process for that too - very similar but the radio is a little more awkward to get access to the display - pretty intuitive however (you do need to remove the cassete module once inside the case if remember).
Acknowledgements are due to:
Malibu Rapper - for giving me some Gel sheet free (yes: Nada - nothing - zippo - zilch - not even postage!)
briank - for organizing & supplying a kit of capacitors for the troublesome A/C module (The A/C module suffers from similar problem as the Bose amps in that the capacitors fail). Mine was OK but I replaced them while this was apart as a preventive measure. ~$10 shipped if I recall - good investment!
mc-ca - for this aspirator fan fix ; another good time to take care of that annoying problem while the console is all apart.
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Fifty big ones for a 2” by 4” film of plastic? Hmmm, I’m thinking group buy and split, anyone? Or has someone already made the plunge and has more excess film than they know what to do with. Malibu Rapper, I’m looking in your direction *wink*. :tongue: :biggrin:
