How to add switches to factory location

[dgillie]

1st off. if you don't like it, then don't do it.

2nd. I take no responsibility if you completely slaughter your blank switch holders and render them useless.

ok ready...


Step 1. Locate the fuse panel to the left( american version) of the steering wheel.

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step 2. take a very small flathead screw driver and insert into the bottom gap of the panel
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step 3. pry foward, it should pop out fairly easily. tape the end of the screwdriver if you are worried about marking or denting your dash. here is a popped out panel.
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step 4. locate the tab switch cover you'd like to modify. notice there is a tab on the top and bottom of the blank switch cover. you will need to press both of those together and pull forward to get it out. this should also come out fairly easily.

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step 5. taking apart the panel. be patient and use the same small flathead screwdriver to pop the 4 taps( two on each side) holding the blank switch cover to its socket. be gentle, while they are decently sturdy it is very easy to break one. ( i am using a previous experiment gone wrong in the pics to demonstrate the tab removal.)

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here is one that is taken apart already modified)
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step 5. dremel or drill for your switch (be patient. this can go wrong really really fast.) re assemble and enjoy your new switch and all its glory.


as always, I am willing to help if you have any questions or comments.

[RastaGaL01]

Nice! ..

heres mine

[dgillie]

nice, what do your switches do?

[lvdukerider]

Looks good. I wonder if the switches with the flip up safety covers would look good and not risk getting knocked on or off accidently.

[RastaGaL01]

Left one is for my interior lights under the seats and dashboard. The middle one is to switch maps on my standback and the right one is for the LED strips connected to the yellow "parking" lights

Originally Posted by dgillie nice, what do your switches do?

[dgillie]

i thought about that, but didnt want to be called ricer

[dgillie]

ok. awesome, so then i pose a question. where would you put a traction control switch since you are now out of room for switches there.

[manelscout4life]

[alien_sporez]

Yes, the black switches look MUCH better than the chrome toggles.

Show the final picture of them installed.

[dgillie]

I need to buy some more switch covers 1st so I can work on doing that again. I totally massacred it the 1st time i tried it. so when I get some time I will work on it.

[Captn Toast]

Hey guys ... New to this forum but love it already ... Will fork my $25 out shortly as I have learned so much .... This switch panel is the same here in aus with 3 spare switch locations ... Nothing more frustrating than looking at a panel like that and thinking there are 3 more features for this car which I don't have . From what I have seen tere isn't actually any further options for these spare spaces ? It's great people have got creative etc but surely they wouldn't design it if there wasnt something planned ? Or is this a stock panel from a cx9 with the extra bells and whistles ?

Someone else suggested getting a tcs switch/ button andvremovingbthe paint and then connecting it to ancillary features ... Will prob do that but I guess my question is can we add some factory features for these spare spaces

Cheers

[dgillie]

the adjustable headlights maybe? have fun paying for that

[CosmicArkie]

Yeah, the panel is cross-model universal, so various trim levels result in assorted numbers
of blanks.