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Add front panel controls with lit audio / hvac *****?
OK, possible project:
Lariat and higher trim trucks have the "forward control panel" which includes illuminated rings around the volume / tune and auto climate control *****. These rings are lit in Ice Blue and add a touch of class missing from the XL/XLT trucks.
I've noticed the XLT truck panels are the same, however. The two climate control ***** perform different functions but are the same size. The two radio ***** are identical. All the buttons match up as well, even though the climate panel functions are somewhat different in the XLT as well.
What I'm wondering is can I buy a front control interface panel from a *base* Lariat (which would not have the heated/cooled buttons) and connect it in my XLT to have the rings illuminated? Could the ***** on the HVAC be switched along with the HVAC buttons (so heated seats are included)?
Anyone have a part number? I'm assuming there are a million variations given the buttons across the very top of the panel could be different (cameras, HDC, exhaust brake, flashers, etc).
I like the idea here a lot. I agree having the illuminated rings would be very cool. I wonder if using some of the different buttons from the lariat along with the forescan mod to show climate control settings in the Sync screen would result in some higher trim level functionality? Like instead of having the graduated lights showing fan speed, it's an infinite dial and the fan speed shows up on the screen, like it would for a lariat+. Not saying I want that but I still wonder.
I'm just not sure if the front panel buttons are permanent and sold with the panel or are remove able and sold separately. The auto climate trucks have an additional blend door for passenger temp. It is possible to retrofit it all in but it would require dash removal. An XLT has just as many fan speeds as a Lariat.
Depending on cost of the front panel, I might be willing to try it