conversion to Electronic climate control
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 849
Likes: 1
From: dubuque iowa
conversion to Electronic climate control
anyone know what parts, wiring, and labor is involved in a conversion to Electronic climate control from the old manual controls?
Last edited by ladystoy69; Aug 12, 2005 at 06:42 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,699
Likes: 2
From: The Black Hole LA
I do know that the engine wiring harness is different. Atleast it was on my '90. When I had to buy an engine wiring harness for it I had to specify which climate controls I had. Also I'm pretty sure the dash wiring harness is different as well.
Instructor
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Lebanon Ohio
Im working on it right now...Im actually going from a 1985 manual setup to a 1995 Dash with electronic AC.. the engine wiring is ONLY different because there is a sensor thats routed through that harness that tells you the Outside air temp....SO as far as that goes you could run that circuit yourself..Then the wiring is different>>>there is a sensor on the inside as well>>Plus there is a Control Module..Also the Doors on the HVAC boxes have Electrically controlled actuators on them>>>>Instead of the Rod controlled actuator with the manual AC...And I believ that the CCM is programmed differently for the C68 option...I have some GM training manuals on the CCM and HVAC systems that Im using to decipher it all...I have not completed it yet so I cant explain much more YET.. But as soon as I get it up and running I will advise in greater detail..
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 6,341
Likes: 1
From: Shelton CT
Originally Posted by Kenwood
Im working on it right now...Im actually going from a 1985 manual setup to a 1995 Dash with electronic AC.. the engine wiring is ONLY different because there is a sensor thats routed through that harness that tells you the Outside air temp....SO as far as that goes you could run that circuit yourself..Then the wiring is different>>>there is a sensor on the inside as well>>Plus there is a Control Module..Also the Doors on the HVAC boxes have Electrically controlled actuators on them>>>>Instead of the Rod controlled actuator with the manual AC...And I believ that the CCM is programmed differently for the C68 option...I have some GM training manuals on the CCM and HVAC systems that Im using to decipher it all...I have not completed it yet so I cant explain much more YET.. But as soon as I get it up and running I will advise in greater detail..
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,504
Likes: 4
From: Mexico Beach FL
Originally Posted by Kenwood
And I believ that the CCM is programmed differently for the C68 option...I have some GM training manuals on the CCM and HVAC systems that Im using to decipher it all...I have not completed it yet so I cant explain much more YET.. But as soon as I get it up and running I will advise in greater detail..
The CCM is the master computer and the remaining computers are slaves -- even the ECM is a slave of the CCM, but once the vehicle has been started, the ECM can run the vehicle stand-alone until the next engine start.
The reason the CCM needs to be aware of the C68 climate control is so it will communicate with the climate control. The C68 climate control has to know the speed of the vehicle, and how long the vehicle is at that speed, to know when it can trust the outside temperature sensor. When the vehicle is standing still, or moving slowly, the external temperature sensor can "heat soak" from the close proximity to the radiator, which could give a false reading of ambient temperature.
So, the CCM communicates to the C68 climate control the speed of the vehicle and how long the vehicle is at that speed to let the C68 climate control know when the air-flow over the outside temperature sensor can be trusted to read ambient temperature.
And, I don't think you can re-program a CCM after it accumulates 100 miles on the odometer.
Tom Piper
Instructor
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 206
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From: Lebanon Ohio
Originally Posted by MrNuke
I'll be interested in that aswell.. I too have an '85 that could use some electronic climate control lovin'..
Frist off thanks tom piper for better explaining that part of it to me...Im just going on assembly and training manuals...It helps to talk to people who understanbd whow the system works because a lot of the time the manuals assume you already have the basic concept of whats happening..
MR Nuke>As far as the 85 conversion goes>>> IM not just converting an 85 to electric AC... Im converting the entire Dash/interior over to a 1995 setup...Its a mix of 1995 parts and 1990 parts to make it all work..Very legnthy process>>> I just did not want you to think I was adding electric AC somehow to a 1985... Once complete you will never know my car was an 85 from the look/functionality of the interior..
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,504
Likes: 4
From: Mexico Beach FL
P.S.
The C68 climate control needs to know the "true" outside temperature for more than just to display it to the driver.
The C68 climate control uses the outside temperature to decide how to position "flaps" and regulators -- so, it is instrumental to the functioning of the C68 climate control.
Tom Piper
The C68 climate control needs to know the "true" outside temperature for more than just to display it to the driver.
The C68 climate control uses the outside temperature to decide how to position "flaps" and regulators -- so, it is instrumental to the functioning of the C68 climate control.
Tom Piper
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,699
Likes: 2
From: The Black Hole LA
Originally Posted by Tom Piper
P.S.
The C68 climate control needs to know the "true" outside temperature for more than just to display it to the driver.
The C68 climate control uses the outside temperature to decide how to position "flaps" and regulators -- so, it is instrumental to the functioning of the C68 climate control.
Tom Piper
The C68 climate control needs to know the "true" outside temperature for more than just to display it to the driver.
The C68 climate control uses the outside temperature to decide how to position "flaps" and regulators -- so, it is instrumental to the functioning of the C68 climate control.
Tom Piper
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Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,504
Likes: 4
From: Mexico Beach FL
Originally Posted by hz900
Where is the outside sensor located? I am putting the wiring harness back in my '90 and did not know this, I would like to make sure it is hooked up and in the proper place.
Tom Piper
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,884
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From: Magnolia Mississippi
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
I wonder what if any additional would be required to convert a manual control set to the Electronic CM, if you stay with the 87 yr, same as my manual one
Instructor
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Lebanon Ohio
Originally Posted by Tom Piper
And, I don't think you can re-program a CCM after it accumulates 100 miles on the odometer.
Tom Piper
YEah that is my understanding as well GM training manual talks about some special equip used to program it.BUT my question is the only thing it sounded like that was locked out was the Odometer...still souned like other stuff could be changed>>But I dont know that to be fact either...the training manuals are almost useless unless your sitting in the training class able to ask questions...LOL...Both the 1990 and 1995 CCM I have are for the electric AC already..Thats why Im taking the plunge if you will..>However I do have a manual AC controller from a 1996 should I not be successfull..
Last edited by Kenwood; Aug 12, 2005 at 08:30 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,183
Likes: 1
From: MidOhio
When I finally find "my" '89 it will probably have a C68 in it since 93.4% of them did. At that time I will be in the market to trade anyone for a standard C60 control, even up. I'll never understand why anyone would want to put up with all that electro-mechanical junk just to keep from having to move a lever or turn a **** now and then! 
Of course, I'm gonna pull the AC out of it completely anyhow to clean up the engine room, reduce weight and eliminate another pending electro-mechanical hassle.
Of course, I'm gonna pull the AC out of it completely anyhow to clean up the engine room, reduce weight and eliminate another pending electro-mechanical hassle.
