Climate Control Mods?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: Pasco WA
Climate Control Mods?
Just wondering, can a conversion from the manual climate control to the electronic climate control be done or is it near impossible? Does the factory wire the car differently for each controller or is the wiring generic enough to just do a switch?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,384
Likes: 124
From: Reno/Sparks Nevada
I recently dismantled an '86 completely down to nearly the last nut, bolt, and wire. The dash components were removed and the firewall cut out. I have an '85 with manual controls. Seems there were an extra connector or two and/or a relay, an electronically controlled vacumn manifold, and the electronc controller in the '86 that don't appear on my '85. I believe the underdash harness appears a little different from mine for the changes. I'm not sure what year you're referring to but these were my observations on this project. The parts manual does refer to different part numbers on various items including the harness if the car was equipped with C60 Manual Control or the C68 Electronic Climate Control. I would expect the same differences until there was no option.
Art
Art
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 7,839
Likes: 22
From: San Diego, Ca
I don't believe it's there, but for my '89 there is some LT5/ZR1 wiring - such as for the fuel pump, bundled into the harness which I finally figured out by pouring over the body schematics at the rear of the manual. For any year, you probably at least need the harness that interfaces between the control panel, programmer and inside and outside sensors. The control panel connector has quite a few more cavities and you will also need to enlarge the opening in the evaporator case for the blower module and provide a fused power source. Communication with the PCM is enhanced for electronic too and for your year, that may entail a different chip or a reprogram. Of course anything can be done with enough determination. If you want to try it, a Shop Manual and then all the parts from a donor would probably be best.
