electronic vs manual climate control
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,772
Likes: 177
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
Yeah, why don't you rip out the fuel injection and computer too so you can eliminate some more electrical gremlins. 
Really, if a part isn't working right it's much better to fix it instead of trying to re-engineer the whole thing.
To answer your question, I believe there is much more involved than just replacing the control unit.
All of the actuators on the electronic control version would be different. You'd have to replace all of that too.
Really, if a part isn't working right it's much better to fix it instead of trying to re-engineer the whole thing.
To answer your question, I believe there is much more involved than just replacing the control unit.
All of the actuators on the electronic control version would be different. You'd have to replace all of that too.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,772
Likes: 177
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
no i won't rip out the fuel injection and computer, and
frankly i don't think there are actuators on the manual version
the inop heater gave me a scare, if it weren't for the resistors, i would have been starin' at a 16 hour actuaor job, and that was what i was looking for as per one thread and couldn't even find some of the stuff they were trying to discribe.
a pot governs the speed of the motor, hi -med-low
a slider much like a 10 speed bike shifter connects to the hot cold flap
and lastly another cable directs an air direction flap, what i'm thinkin is there are no actuators, with manual, the operator is the actuator..
comments?
frankly i don't think there are actuators on the manual version
the inop heater gave me a scare, if it weren't for the resistors, i would have been starin' at a 16 hour actuaor job, and that was what i was looking for as per one thread and couldn't even find some of the stuff they were trying to discribe.
a pot governs the speed of the motor, hi -med-low
a slider much like a 10 speed bike shifter connects to the hot cold flap
and lastly another cable directs an air direction flap, what i'm thinkin is there are no actuators, with manual, the operator is the actuator..
comments?
But I am not sure you could replace all the components of the electronic version with the needed manually operated ones. Doors, cables, etc.
Do some searching around here, as there are plenty of threads on fixing various issues with the electronic version.
There are some common problems that seem to crop up, but I believe all are fixable.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,376
Likes: 111
From: Cherokee National Forest TN
Rather than trying to convert the original unit to a manual it would probably be easier to install an aftermarket unit behind the dash. You could probably plumb it to the original dash vents.
Vintage Air & Airtique have compact heat/air units with defrost.
Vintage Air & Airtique have compact heat/air units with defrost.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 15
From: Wallingford Vermont
I'm more with Slick on this.... I'd much rather have a manual control HVAC on my '86. But it didn't come that way and I'm not about to start another project (yet).
Yes, you can fix a bad system but that's not really what Slick was gettin' at. So to answer his question: I don't know. 'Sounds like it's not as simple as swapping some controls and cables around. I would guess to really do it a whole junk HVAC/car would have to be available. Maybe if someone local was parting out their car you could get all the parts and see how it was all put together.
Yes, you can fix a bad system but that's not really what Slick was gettin' at. So to answer his question: I don't know. 'Sounds like it's not as simple as swapping some controls and cables around. I would guess to really do it a whole junk HVAC/car would have to be available. Maybe if someone local was parting out their car you could get all the parts and see how it was all put together.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 7,839
Likes: 22
From: San Diego, Ca
The vacuum actuators are the same. You'll need a Manual Control Panel, the manual vacuum harness (inside only) which will now run from the passenger compartment to the Panel and then to the Actuators, the Temp Door Cable and I believe a new Temp Door and inside heater box cover to handle the Cable hookup. On the outside, you'll need a resistor pod for the Blower Motor and a Relay. You'll also need to hack up the harness and make sure the ECM signal is spliced into the a/c request and then to the ECM (so study the schematics in the Shop Manual to see the differences and the wiring you no longer need). Like anything, it's doable but the level of PITA is up there. A donor car would help because some of this is no longer available so talk to some of the salvage yards if you're interested.