New to the Forums, though I've been browsing this forum the last few months, as I'm a new 8 owner. Working with a 2005 6spd with Bose system.

If this post belong somewhere else, please let me know.

I'm running into an issue after installing a stereo using the Metra Kit (yeah big surprise, I know). And before someone says anything, I have looked for HOURS through the countless threads about the Metra Kits.

Here are my issues:

1) Climate control lights no longer turn on when headlights are engaged, also blows only hot. I can control the fan and the mode, just can't control the temp. I know about the solder fix, metra is sending me a replacement Axxess Box, so I'm going to try that and make sure the extension cables aren't the issue. I will then try the solder fix on the climate control to see if that helps. There are a ton of threads about this, so I know I have lots to things I can try that I haven't yet.

2) THIS IS THE STRANGE PART. I can no longer dim my gauge cluster to red anymore with the headlights engaged, it will dim but it stays white. The stereo harness only has 1 O/WHT wire for illumination/dim. I have tried all the possible combinations with the metra wiring as it has a solid orange as well as O/Wht, one says illumination the other says Dim. I've tried splicing them together as well as connection each one individually to the stereos illumination wire, to no avail. I've also tried not having this wire connected at all. Nothing changes at all no matter which combination I have. I have currently left it with it connected O/Wht to O/Wht, which is what the wiring scheme shows.

I have not found a single thread with this Gauge dimmer issue and I have searched high and low. Is this simply a side effect of using an aftermarket stereo on the 8? Or perhaps I'm overlooking something obvious and just haven't had my "oh Duh" moment yet?

Any help is much appreciated, Thanks!

 

cmon guys, I know one of you Rotary Wizards is rolling your eyes at my issue. Enlighten me with some knowledge!

 

This is suppose to be in https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-interior-audio-electronics-24/ i believe.
& it is a shame to hear , I wanted to put one in myself also, once I got the money, not too sure now though.

 

YES I am having this EXACT problem was there ever a solution to this? or were you ever able to get it solved?! it is driving me nuts!

 

I'm also having this same issue, it's been going on for over a month now, but due to school and work I haven't been able to do anything yet.

I had my metra kit installed over two years ago and it worked perfectly. Then about two months ago I helped a friend with the installation and we took apart my radio to look at the connections. To my surprise the person who did my installation did a really messy job, so while I was there I taped up loose connections and fixed weak connections.

Put it back together no problem, about a week later I decided I should fix my climate control issue (solder fix) because sometimes it would blow hot. I fixed it, and upon install my dash light became permanently white. All I did was disconnect the climate control and reinstall it, I didn't touch other connections.

My dash won't turn red or dim, and the climate control lights don't light up, and my rear defrost and recycled or fresh air buttons don't work.

I then attempted to fix this by pulling apart my radio and checking every connection, and I resoldered them all. To no avail. Checked every fuse on the car and radio, nothing.

Then one day randomly my climate control lights turned on. My dash stayed white, so sometimes the climate control lights up and it doesn't. I was also able to make my defrost and fresh air buttons work by pushing on the radio and pressing the buttons.

I know I have no loose connections and they are all connected right. I think it has to do with the actual metra connections wires failing, since when I push the radio some buttons work.

Hope this helps, maybe someone else will chime in. I would love to fix this issue too...

 

This is just the sort of weird thing that tends to make me not want to add aftermarket stuff to my car's engine or electronics.

 

i am thinking of just getting this down which wire is what both in the metra extension wires and the actual cars illumination wire which in theory should make the lights turn on. Now as far as the night mode on the odometer that has me stomped I don't understand how that would be built into the wires that connect to climate controls or factory radio..when it is its own separate unit and the white lighting itself and dimmer still work..just makes no sense