radio/climate control display color?

[scionic-breeze]

...the dealer told me I could change the display color on the radio and the climate control lcd on my 2008 tC. I played around with the options in the car, and couldn't find it. I also flipped through my tC manual, and couldn't find any directions either.

Is this true? :blink1:

[Kosterfield]

Yeah, you can. It involves taking both of them apart and replacing the LEDs inside of both units. (one of the stereos does change color, can't remember which), but for climate control it's LED replacement only.

[JDub86]

As far as I know you have to change the LEDs. I wish you had the option to choose a LED color when buying the car.

[scionic-breeze]

Yeah, I was afraid of that... I have the base-model headunit in the car (not enough 'upgrades' to make the additional $329 worth it). I doubt it changes. A little disapointing...

I would imagine switching the LEDs out would void the warranty, no?

[2dot4]

it only voids the waranty on the HVAC display if something goes wrong...like if your temp dial stops working, they'll deny your warranty.

It doesn't void the entire warranty. Dont get confused and assume one single thing will void your entire warranty - it doesn't work that way. The only reason a dealer can refuse warranty service is if the malfunction in question can be DIRECTLY linked to a relative, unapproved, not-dealer-installed, modification.

some dealers are shady and will refuse service for something that isn't directly linked to a mod, but you can fight it. If they fight back, and it's something that you cant afford and shouldn't have to afford, you can take it to court - there's a court ruling on the issue...so as long as it can be determined that the mod isn't the direct cause of the malfunction, you're golden.

Turns out that they can't even refuse to honor a transmission warranty if you're boosted. They can't assume that you're driving like a madman just cause you have a turbo - if it goes to court, they have to prove that you were accelerating rapidly and run at high speeds and high rpms. I'm not 100% sure if the tCs are fitted with that black box or not. If you ask me, the black box is some bullshit - Would you deem it acceptable if someone was monitoring how you use your lawnmower? or food processor? lol - sorry I'm going off on a tangent.

So yeah, that's the basics of auto warranties.

[Mike_Hunt]

Only the 07 radio headunit upgrade would change colors, the 08 upgrade unit has skins and the screen will ether be blue or white...If you get the LEDs changed by a shop they should cover what anything they worked on for atleast 3 years...

[Mike_Hunt]

I'm not 100% sure if the tCs are fitted with that black box or not. If you ask me, the black box is some bullshit -.

Yes all tC have the black box just for that reason, Scions no fool they know what we are doing to these cars...

[2dot4]

If you get the LEDs changed by a shop they should cover what anything they worked on for atleast 3 years...

I havent seen a labor warranty from a shop that's any longer than 12 months....a lot of shops will give you a 6 week warranty on custom stuff...most of them verify that they work and once you leave the lot, you're on your own. Depends on where you go, but I've never seen a 3 year labor warranty on custom installs - maybe on brakes or exhaust.

[Krdshrk]

...the dealer told me I could change the display color on the radio and the climate control lcd on my 2008 tC. I played around with the options in the car, and couldn't find it. I also flipped through my tC manual, and couldn't find any directions either.

Is this true? :blink1:

Your dealer is full of it.

[Hunner]

Ya I've got the premium HU for the 08 and you can change the led color on the HU to blue or amber but thats it. You have to break it open and swap led's it you want to change the climate control. :-(

[nrgwar]

yup LED swap ;) cheap & easy trick to do

[scionic-breeze]

Your dealer is full of it.

Yeah, I was afraid of that... there was a couple of other things he was wrong about too. Luckily, I had pretty much done all my research before the purchase, so I knew about those things. Obviously, the color of the hu/cc weren't gonna make or break the deal.


Only the 07 radio headunit upgrade would change colors, the 08 upgrade unit has skins and the screen will ether be blue or white...If you get the LEDs changed by a shop they should cover what anything they worked on for atleast 3 years...

Hmm... I used to work at a shop, we only warrantied our custom work for 18 months. I know how to do the swap, but I was just worried about the warranty issues, which....


it only voids the waranty on the HVAC display if something goes wrong...like if your temp dial stops working, they'll deny your warranty.

It doesn't void the entire warranty. Dont get confused and assume one single thing will void your entire warranty - it doesn't work that way. The only reason a dealer can refuse warranty service is if the malfunction in question can be DIRECTLY linked to a relative, unapproved, not-dealer-installed, modification.

some dealers are shady and will refuse service for something that isn't directly linked to a mod, but you can fight it. If they fight back, and it's something that you cant afford and shouldn't have to afford, you can take it to court - there's a court ruling on the issue...so as long as it can be determined that the mod isn't the direct cause of the malfunction, you're golden.

Turns out that they can't even refuse to honor a transmission warranty if you're boosted. They can't assume that you're driving like a madman just cause you have a turbo - if it goes to court, they have to prove that you were accelerating rapidly and run at high speeds and high rpms. I'm not 100% sure if the tCs are fitted with that black box or not. If you ask me, the black box is some bullshit - Would you deem it acceptable if someone was monitoring how you use your lawnmower? or food processor? lol - sorry I'm going off on a tangent.

So yeah, that's the basics of auto warranties.
Thanks for the info. This is my first new car purchase, so I'm not really familiar with car warranties. Before this, I only had 1 car with a warranty, and it was for a whole [gasp] 90 days!