Heater knob Swap ?

C

chris26

Hi everyone, just out of curiosity I have cream/white heater knobs on my K12 2004 and I was wondering if anybody with black heater knobs would be willing to swap? :)
 
The knobs don't have any color lettering on them.
The do however have a small semi clear window for the lights that would need to be covered.
Next thing you know all the available ones will be painted black and someone will want cream one's just to be different..

Sent from my ASUS_T00P using Micra Sports Club mobile app
 
I have a few sets of these knobs from heaters I have salvaged when I replaced the from on mine.

I have some yellow plastic spray paint so I might have a go for a laugh and I'll put them in if they look good. Will match my bumble bee wheels.

I'll post a picture of how I get on as soon as I get a minute to do it
IMG20200502145541.jpg


Sent from my CPH1921 using Micra Sports Club mobile app
 
I, also hating the white 'Belling Cooker' look, went 'black' initially, with the simple knob swap ............

Now gone 'Note' ...........:cool:

K12 heater controls.jpg
 
You remember when I sorted mine out a while back. Well they don't feel so nice now like they are loose the heat one and the director.
I still have the unit I bought as I did not feel like it would be worth me returning and it did look a lot cleaner and tighter fitting.
A possible swap over for a rainy day.

Btw, John_D. Have you seen the hazzard light button that is smoked those would look brilliant with the note style Unit installed.
Not sure if they are easy to find but have seen them before only with the trim not separate tho
 
Sparky2018 said:
You remember when I sorted mine out a while back. Well they don't feel so nice now like they are loose the heat one and the director.
I still have the unit I bought as I did not feel like it would be worth me returning and it did look a lot cleaner and tighter fitting.
A possible swap over for a rainy day.

Btw, John_D. Have you seen the hazzard light button that is smoked those would look brilliant with the note style Unit installed.
Not sure if they are easy to find but have seen them before only with the trim not separate tho
Click to expand...
Not seen them but I prefer the red, it is functional. As I don't use the hazards to 'apologise' for crap parking (all that says is 'look at me I'm a twat'), if I ever do need to use it, it will be in an emergency and the red does rather stand out.........
 
That's okay I just thought I would suggest it would look nice with the black trim.
If mine looked as yours is now that would be something i would try. The red does stand out well tho and does serve good purpose being red.

The black one does have a hint of red to it tho also.
Wont work well with my trim because its silver sadly.


6019-a-genuine-nissan-micra-k12-2003-2007-black-hazard-warning-light-switch-10910-p[ekm]150x11...jpg
 
Sparky2018 said:
That's okay I just thought I would suggest it would look nice with the black trim.
If mine looked as yours is now that would be something i would try. The red does stand out well tho and does serve good purpose being red.

The black one does have a hint of red to it tho also.
Wont work well with my trim because its silver sadly.


View attachment 69386
Click to expand...
Just remembered, a few months ago I had to do an emergency stop on a motorway, and my daughter, who was sitting in the front passenger seat had found and hit the hazards light switch virtually before we came to a halt..........
 
This has just reminded me that it was one of the only items I forgot to explain to my mum. As I was trying to see if I could get her back into the driving seat recently. Will definitely be pointing it out so she is aware of its location next time..
 
Thanks John, I've got the white ones and the plastic surrounds (with the markings for direction, heat etc) have turned brittle and caved in, so I think copying you with the Note ones might be the way to go. Other than that, I was considering the push button one with the screen, but I kind of prefer the cleaner look of the dials
 
tdp2612 said:
Thanks John, I've got the white ones and the plastic surrounds (with the markings for direction, heat etc) have turned brittle and caved in, so I think copying you with the Note ones might be the way to go. Other than that, I was considering the push button one with the screen, but I kind of prefer the cleaner look of the dials
Click to expand...
Some details of what is involved in doing the swap to the Note heater control front HERE
 
John_D said:
Some details of what is involved in doing the swap to the Note heater control front HERE
Click to expand...
Thanks for the heads up - is it just some cutting down the buttons and generally bodging a little bit then? The wiring connectors arent any different or anything else that would require me to have a hint of actual ability?
 
tdp2612 said:
Thanks for the heads up - is it just some cutting down the buttons and generally bodging a little bit then? The wiring connectors arent any different or anything else that would require me to have a hint of actual ability?
Click to expand...
You just swap the fronts over so no change to anything else. The modification of the buttons and their housings on the front panel are the only changes. Cutting the front panel button housings down is easy enough but you have to be very careful in reshaping the original buttons to get them to slide freely in the shortened housing. They cannot be at all 'sticky' or they will jam and not operate properly...
 
As far as I remember it was same as mine and you can just shorten the button backs down to make them fit mine is a k12 from a different model and one has a different profile you in short have to match the buttons so front fascia will clip onto the rest of the unit..
I'm yet to replace mine with the new one because I was trying to see if I could get my button to work without sticking.
The method of cut trimming worked well for me but my a.c. and screen heater button one of them is slightly wobbly.
They work now tho and that was all I wanted renewal can be done in a short time if needed..

Sent from my ASUS_T00P using Micra Sports Club mobile app
 
John_D said:
You just swap the fronts over so no change to anything else. The modification of the buttons and their housings on the front panel are the only changes. Cutting the front panel button housings down is easy enough but you have to be very careful in reshaping the original buttons to get them to slide freely in the shortened housing. They cannot be at all 'sticky' or they will jam and not operate properly...
Click to expand...
I've ordered one, so I'll see when it arrives, but do you think you could just take off the fronts of the dials + the knobs themselves? Meaning no need to worry about the buttons being the wrong length, or ending up a little loose. Thanks both of you for the help by the way
 
tdp2612 said:
I've ordered one, so I'll see when it arrives, but do you think you could just take off the fronts of the dials + the knobs themselves? Meaning no need to worry about the buttons being the wrong length, or ending up a little loose. Thanks both of you for the help by the way
Click to expand...
Only if you want to wreck it all :rolleyes: ...........
 
I might have done something horrifically wrong, but basically what I did with the old one is unscrew it, and push it backwards enough so that I could get the the clips around it holing the black plastic bit on. Ive got the old bust up plastic surround, the old dials, and the buttons off it, and the hope is when I get the note one, I'll do something similar, then clip the surround of the note onto the micra one, possibly with slight modifications if they end up looking different, and then putting the new knobs on. Worst comes to the worst, I've wasted £12 after busting it up and I have to put the old one back on

 
Its right chew on isn't it?
Make sure not to loose any of the parts keep them safe.
I had the same problem with the main body behind the fascia.
That and the cables that feed to each the heater and other mechanical part.
Sometimes its best to check it out and then go back to it cause it can get frustrating.
Take your time and it will all go back together good once you get your new note front plate.
You will have to modify those little white plastic button parts.
And it should workout long as you don't break them Or the fascia.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
tdp2612 said:
I might have done something horrifically wrong, but basically what I did with the old one is unscrew it, and push it backwards enough so that I could get the the clips around it holing the black plastic bit on. Ive got the old bust up plastic surround, the old dials, and the buttons off it, and the hope is when I get the note one, I'll do something similar, then clip the surround of the note onto the micra one, possibly with slight modifications if they end up looking different, and then putting the new knobs on. Worst comes to the worst, I've wasted £12 after busting it up and I have to put the old one back on

Click to expand...
Well you have stripped yours the same way as I did mine.....IF you modify the profile of the original short buttons as detailed in my write up AND shorten the two button housings in the Note panel, again as detailed in my write up, the Note front panel will clip straight onto the heater control chassis in the dash and the new knobs will fit on the spindles, and the trim plate screws back over it all, giving the same look in my picture.....
 
Ok, be prepared to cringe at what I've done, but here goes.

I tried cutting down a k12 button, did a pretty ok job in my opinion, but it refused to move freely in the note trim. Cut down the note trim exactly as you did, still didnt help the button move. Gave up on that idea, and tried my own idea. I took a note button, and cut it down, before using glue to stick a bit of plastic over the hole to act as the bit that presses the button.

drive.google.com

IMG_20200514_145341.jpg

drive.google.com drive.google.com

In the picture, I only had one piece but I found I needed 2 to make it stick out far enough to press properly, so I added a 2nd.

Because I was now using the note buttons, I didn't have to worry about them not moving properly, although I did trim the stick out guiding bits a little bit, as they got a bit bent when I was hacksawing. Anyway, with the 2 bits stuck on, the height from the clear plastic bit to the part that pushes the button was basically identical to the original Micra ones. The only downside is that the part the led goes into will no longer cover the whole led, so there will probably be a bit of light spilling out, but I'd call that a small tradeoff.

Other than the buttons being an arse, the rest went really smooth and I'm pretty happy with how it came out in the end. Looks much better than the white knobs and I prefer the less in-your-face colours for hot/cold
1589477022873.png

Gallery of the photos I took in the process here, although I dont have a good before / after sadly

Heater Controls - Google Drive

drive.google.com drive.google.com
 
tdp2612 said:
Ok, be prepared to cringe at what I've done, but here goes.

I tried cutting down a k12 button, did a pretty ok job in my opinion, but it refused to move freely in the note trim. Cut down the note trim exactly as you did, still didnt help the button move. Gave up on that idea, and tried my own idea. I took a note button, and cut it down, before using glue to stick a bit of plastic over the hole to act as the bit that presses the button.

drive.google.com

IMG_20200514_145341.jpg

drive.google.com drive.google.com

In the picture, I only had one piece but I found I needed 2 to make it stick out far enough to press properly, so I added a 2nd.

Because I was now using the note buttons, I didn't have to worry about them not moving properly, although I did trim the stick out guiding bits a little bit, as they got a bit bent when I was hacksawing. Anyway, with the 2 bits stuck on, the height from the clear plastic bit to the part that pushes the button was basically identical to the original Micra ones. The only downside is that the part the led goes into will no longer cover the whole led, so there will probably be a bit of light spilling out, but I'd call that a small tradeoff.

Other than the buttons being an arse, the rest went really smooth and I'm pretty happy with how it came out in the end. Looks much better than the white knobs and I prefer the less in-your-face colours for hot/cold View attachment 69537
Gallery of the photos I took in the process here, although I dont have a good before / after sadly

Heater Controls - Google Drive

drive.google.com drive.google.com
Click to expand...
Looking good:cool: Have you left a gap either side of the bits you stuck on the Note buttons, for the light to get past to illuminate the on/off indicators?
 
John_D said:
Looking good:cool: Have you left a gap either side of the bits you stuck on the Note buttons, for the light to get past to illuminate the on/off indicators?
Click to expand...
Yeah, if you think of the buttons as two halves, the side with the plastic thing the led lights up is all clear, and the other side thats normally just hollow is covered up. The battery's on charge at the moment, but I'll get some photos of it lit up whenever the battery goes back in
 

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