Electronic Climate Control in 2003 Silverado

[wscsuperfan]

I have a 2003 Silverado LS with the dial climate controls. Is it possible to replace this with the automatic electronic climate control module?

[bgraff1]

nope different connections, and you wont have the interior temp sensor

[White_Stealth]

nope different connections, and you wont have the interior temp sensor
x2

I got one out of a caddy went to go put it in and the blower plugs are different, you could plug it in and it all would light up and function, but no air would come out. Unless you get another plug and figure out how to wire it in it wont work.

[mabutler]

Yep. I looked into it too, but wouldn't work without a lot of modifications.

[m0ntecarloss]

This is just me rambling on here trying to get all my info and thoughts together so bare with me :)

I have searched the net for info on this and have yet to see any useful info other than 'it cant be done' and 'you should get a new truck that came with it' kind of posts....Oh yea I forgot the classic 'auto controls are stupid why would you want to do that'

I'm curious for those that have looked into this what it is that is so complicated about the swap?

From my research thus far everything points to it being a little tedious but doable swap. I subscribed to alldatadiy for my '03 1500HD which shows all the diagrams/connectors/pinouts for both manual and electronic controls and here is what I have found...(note that I have not physically looked at anything yet)

The electronic controller has two connectors - one is the same as the manual controller connector so that will plug right in. However, the manual control has wires which go to the old school style resistor packs to control the fan speed. These are not used by the electronic controller. The electronic controller uses a single wire (non-existing in the plug for the manual controller) that will control the speed of the fan via PWM. This is the reason the fan won't work when you plug it in. So for the swap you need to add a new wire to connector and get a blower control module ($81 gmpartsdirect)

From memory, all the hardware is the same - actuators, blower motor, etc... Just need the blower control module...

The other new connector on the electronic unit is for the sensors. This guy has inputs for the ambient outside temp sensor, in-car temp sensor, 4 duct temp sensors, and the sunload sensors (pass and driver). You should already have the ambient sensor and sunload sensor. The connector for the sunload sensor may not have pins for the driver/pass sunload (only the light sensor for the headlights.) The 5 remaining temp sensors are all the same part although the housings may be different, haven't figured that out yet. They are $3.98 a piece from gmpartsdirect so my thoughts are its just the sensor not the housing, I dunno... So adding these to the vehicle and running the wiring is the tedious part, but so is tearing your interior apart to do car stereos and people somehow manage to do that all the time...

For those concerned about the BCM, there is only one wire coming from it that tells the unit to turn on and the manual controls have this same wire....

So now we've covered what this unit needs in order to operate correctly. The other issue I have seen people try to scare others off with is the wiring harness. Stating that it costs like $700 from GM. Well I don't know about that but its easy enough to make one....

The info from alldatadiy shows connectors and pinouts for each sensor and control unit. The blower control module connector, temp sensors, and sunload sensor can be purchased from www.mouser.com for somewhere between $.50 to $1 a piece, you will need the appropriate pins and such to go with it but still not terribly expensive. The remaining connector for the dash control unit (this is the guy all the sensors are connected to) I have not yet located, but I spent about 5 minutes last night so who knows.

I should also note that rockauto.com has quite a few pigtail connectors for things like the temp sensor and such if you're lazy and have some extra cash (they are a little on the pricey side.)

So that's where I am at. I'm sure I left some things out but I still haven't seen anything that says this is impossible, difficult or even expensive. I still gotta take things out and have a look in my vehicle. Curious about how those duct sensors are gonna go in, as in am I gonna have to drill into the duct work or what.

Need to get me a used electronic control unit and blower control module first :)

[claviz13]

They're not that hot anyway. Pardon the pun. You'll still be adjusting it just as much.

[m0ntecarloss]

That falls into the classic post I mention in the 2nd paragraph. If I didn't like them I wouldn't be asking. I happen to really like it. Had it in previous vehicles and never adjusted it.

No disrespect but it would be helpful to keep posts to informative posts. There's a lot of people that would like to do this and not a lot of good info...

[m0ntecarloss]

Ok so (FOR THOSE THAT LIKE AUTO CLIMATE CONTROL) - I started an info site on whats involved. I have A LOT to add yet but figured it'd be nice for those of you who are at work, bored, and need something to do besides what you are supposed to be doing and stuff.....

Anyway, if you can handle my smartass attitude - sarcasm here you go:

http://montecarlo.homedns.org:8080/wiki/index.php?title=Silverado_Auto_HVAC

[claviz13]

(FOR THOSE THAT LIKE AUTO CLIMATE CONTOL)


:nopity: :nopity: :nopity:

[m0ntecarloss]

:nopity: :nopity: :nopity:


I don't get it

[99-2door]

It can be done, but most people won't want to go through the trouble of doing it. I had to use a non-auto AC box to repair a damaged box in a 2003 ext cab with the auto AC. I was able to transfer all the sensors and such easily. Wiring in the sensors wouldn't be hard, communication with other modules would be the part I would worry about. Seems like you have looked into that as well though.

The auto controls are pretty nice. Our Tahoe has them and I love it cause it is linked to the memory functions and I never have to mess with them even when my wife has been driving it.

[m0ntecarloss]

It can be done, but most people won't want to go through the trouble of doing it.

In comparison to what most 'modders' do to their vehicles this is at the low end of the difficulty/time scale... (ok once someone has already done the research hehe.) Anyone that can do a stereo install 'correctly' can handle it :)

[2003tahoe]

This will definatly be interesting to see if the swap is able to be done successful. I would love to change over to the auto control in my tahoe, so if you do the swap add a How-to on it.