Hot. Cold. In control.

Your 996 or 986
climate screen.
Readable again.

When the climate control screen in your 986 Boxster or 996 goes unreadable, you are guessing the temperature. A new LCD puts every degree back in front of you.

Scroll to drop the temperature. Keep going to turn up the fan.
914Rubber / LCD replacement
Every degree.
Every detail.
911 (996)
The problem

Has the climate control in your 911 or Boxster become unreadable?

After: a climate control unit with a clear display reading 68 degrees
Before: a climate control unit with a bright half-moon patch and scrambled numbers
Before
After
Drag the handle / half moon on the left, new LCD on the right

The unit is usually fine. The screen inside it has worn out. It happens to these cars with age, and Porsche does not sell the screen on its own.

The half moon
A bright patch spreads in from the edge of the display. Owners call it the half moon of death.
Scrambled numbers
Parts of the temperature digits and icons drop out until you cannot read them.
Both sides affected
The temperature side and the fan side are one LCD, so both usually go.
Your options

Why replace the whole unit?

Your climate control still works. Only the screen has failed. So fix the screen.

Factory remanufactured unit
About $1,750
A Porsche factory-remanufactured panel. You pay for an entire unit to get one working screen.
Tested used unit
About $200
Pulled from a car the same age as yours, so it may carry the same aging LCD. The fade can come right back.
914Rubber LCD kit
Just $80
A new LCD in the unit you already own. Swap it yourself with no soldering, and keep your original part in the dash.
Get the kit
In the box

What is in the kit

The kit: a new LCD, two contact strips, a pair of gloves and an alcohol prep pad
  • 1Replacement LCD
  • 2Conductive contact strips
  • 1Pair of gloves
  • 1Alcohol prep pad
  • +Printed instructions
Not in the box

Tools you will need

Ordinary hand tools. Nothing here is specialist, and there is no soldering.

  • 01T20 Torx screwdriver or bit*
  • 02Plastic trim-removal tool
  • 03No. 2 Phillips screwdriver
  • 04No. 1 Phillips screwdriver
  • 05Small flat-nose or needle-nose pliers
  • +Optional: small plastic pick and tweezers

*Most cars use two T20 Torx mounting screws. Some units may have Phillips-head fasteners.

Fitment

What it fits

Porsche Boxster (986)
1997 to 2004
Porsche 911 (996)
1998 to 2005

For cars with the digital climate control unit. One kit per car.

Replaces the display inside
996 653 101 03
996 653 101 09
996 531 101 03 EFR
996 531 101 09 EFR
996 531 101 10 FFA

How the job goes

  1. 01 Pull the unit Take the climate control unit out of the dash.
  2. 02 Open it up Open the unit and lift out the old display and its two contact strips.
  3. 03 Swap the screen Clean the contacts, set the new LCD in the metal cage and slide in the new strips.
  4. 04 Test, then refit Plug it in and check the display before it goes back in the dash.

Never pulled a dash panel before?

That is normal. The whole job is on video in 11 minutes, start to finish, and printed instructions come in the box.

ToolsA T20 Torx, No. 1 and No. 2 Phillips screwdrivers, a plastic trim tool and small pliers. The gloves and alcohol pad are in the kit.
DifficultyBasic hand tools. No soldering, no wiring. You take the unit apart, clean the contacts and put it back together.
The install video Christene Reed replaces the LCD in a 996 with the half moon of death The same steps apply to the Boxster.
Common mistakes
Peel the clear protective film off the new LCD before you fit it.
Peel the clear backing off both sides of each contact strip. A strip with backing left on shows nothing.
If a backing will not peel cleanly, stop and call us. Summer heat in shipping can bond it, and we will replace the strip.
Keep the unit upright once it is open. Small buttons inside can fall out.
Wear the gloves and touch the new LCD as little as you can.
What owners say

Looks factory. Goes in easily.

Independent 986 and 996 owners consistently praise the factory-style appearance, straightforward installation, and value compared with replacing the complete climate controller.

“Just replaced the LCD in my Targa. Easy peasy. Got the kit from 914rubber.com, fast shipping. Perfect replacement, same look icons as factory. Took all of 15 minutes. Most importantly, the wife is happy.”
JayGSan Diego, California / Rennlist
“OK, the climate control is fixed! I ordered the kit from 914rubber.com. It came with very detailed instructions. It took me an hour because I was being very careful. I’m sure I could do it in 20 minutes the second time.”
Cuda911Oceanside/Vista, California / Rennlist
“Just did the LCD screen replacement from 914 Rubber. Great instructions and took about 45 minutes, taking my time. Excellent results! Could probably do it in half the time if doing it again.”
Down SouthPensacola, Florida / Rennlist
“It looks better than the original display when it was working.”
mffarrellVancouver, Washington / Rennlist
“You can buy a stock-like replacement from the guy at 914Rubber.com. He has high quality replicas of the stock LCD. I have one and it’s perfect.”
frisbee91Delaware, USA / Rennlist
“This is definitely one of the best climate control LCD replacements available. I have used it, as well as Cuda911, and it’s a perfect replacement.”
JayGSan Diego, California / Rennlist
“The one from 914rubber.com is identical. Some of the others that are available are similar, but not identical.”
Cuda911Oceanside/Vista, California / Rennlist
“Install is pretty easy, the instructions are pretty straight forward, and I had no issues. It really is easier than you’d think it would be for replacing a LCD screen.”
James_03C4SSeattle, Washington / Rennlist
“The 914Rubber kit is different. It has one identical to the 996 OEM display layout.”
frisbee91Delaware, USA / Rennlist
“It worked perfectly and was very easy to install following the instructions.”
CJOctober 2021 / 914rubber.com review
“I also used the kit from 914Rubber. It works well and was an easy job to do.”
James_03C4SSeattle, Washington / Rennlist
A complete kit. The LCD, both contact strips, gloves, an alcohol pad and printed instructions are in the box.
A person answers the phone. Send us a photo of your display before you buy, or call if you get stuck mid-install.
Satisfaction guaranteed. If you are not happy with the kit, return it for a refund of the cost of the part.
Ask the question

Questions owners ask

How do I fix the half moon of death on a Porsche 996 or 986 Boxster?

Replace the LCD inside the climate control unit. The 914 Rubber kit includes a new LCD and two contact strips. You pull the unit from the dash, swap the LCD and strips, and refit it with basic hand tools. No soldering.

How much does it cost to fix a 996 or Boxster climate control display?

The 914 Rubber LCD replacement kit is $80 and you fit it yourself. A factory remanufactured unit is about $1,750.

Why is my Boxster or 996 climate control display unreadable?

The LCD inside the climate control unit wears out with age. A bright half-moon patch spreads in from the edge and the numbers lose segments. The rest of the unit usually still works.

Can I fix it without replacing the whole unit?

Yes. The LCD and its two contact strips can be replaced on their own. Porsche only sells the complete unit, so a replacement LCD kit is the lower-cost repair.

Do I need to solder anything?

No. The display is held against the circuit board by two rubber contact strips. The job is disassembly, cleaning and reassembly.

I installed it and part of the display is still missing. What went wrong?

The usual cause is a contact strip that is not seated squarely. Open the unit, reseat both strips, check that the protective film is off the LCD, and test again before refitting it.

Will this fix a dead backlight or peeling buttons?

No. This kit replaces the LCD and its two contact strips only. A dead backlight or worn buttons mean the unit itself needs repair.

Does this fix the displays in the instrument cluster too?

No. Owners ask us this often. This kit is for the climate control unit in the center of the dash only. We do not make the instrument cluster displays.

The clear backing will not peel off a contact strip. What now?

Each strip has a clear backing on both sides, and both must come off. If one will not peel cleanly, stop. Heat during shipping can bond it to the strip. Call us and we will replace it.

Where is the install video?

It plays right on this page in the "Never pulled a dash panel before?" section, and it is also on YouTube: LCD Replacement for 986/996 Climate Control Unit. It runs 11 minutes. If you cannot open it, call us and we will text you the link.

How long does the kit take to arrive, and is it in stock?

It is in stock with us now. We are known for shipping orders out fast from our own facility. We do not promise same-day delivery, and the time in transit depends on the shipping method you choose.

Does the new display look like the original?

Yes. It is made to match the factory display, with the same glowing segments on a dark screen and the same layout. The after photo and the install video on this page show the kit fitted.

Read your climate control again.

New LCD, contact strips, gloves, prep pad and the video. One kit per car.

Get the kit, $80

Not sure it is the screen? Send us a photo of your display and we will tell you.