Manual HVAC Control Conversion

[merkurdriver]

Along the same lines, I would consider going with the manually operated HVAC from a Euro car, but that's clearly a bigger project. I know Dimitri was considering it at one point but I'm pretty sure he never got it done.

XR box & cable controls will go right in there. Just need the slider lever and fan speed switch knob from another continent. . . and then the work of wiring it up.

[dimswits]

Along the same lines, I would consider going with the manually operated HVAC from a Euro car, but that's clearly a bigger project. I know Dimitri was considering it at one point but I'm pretty sure he never got it done.

XR box & cable controls will go right in there. Just need the slider lever and fan speed switch knob from another continent. . . and then the work of wiring it up.

That's exactly the list of parts I have assembled (except that I have actual Scorpio slider assemblies), and as Brad says, haven't yet gotten around to. The sliders are quite different cosmetically from the XR.

[DPDISXR4Ti]

I split this off into it's own thread as it should be. Been thinking about this one some more. As far as the Scorpio (Granada MK3) fan speed switch goes, where would you located that? Would you also want the trim panel that houses the switch from the Euro donor if you wanted the conversion to look "factory"?

[dimswits]

I split this off into it's own thread as it should be. Been thinking about this one some more. As far as the Scorpio (Granada MK3) fan speed switch goes, where would you located that? Would you also want the trim panel that houses the switch from the Euro donor if you wanted the conversion to look "factory"?

It goes where the EATC display is and looks just like the headlamp switch. No extra trim required.

[merkurdriver]

It goes where the EATC display is and looks just like the headlamp switch. No extra trim required.

( x 2 ) Pops right in and fits stock bezel trim like it should be there.
Grass is always greener...guys in Europe want the North American EATC stuff.

[brokencase]

Whats wrong with the EATC? Why would you want to do this?

[Ed Lijewski]

The Slider controls (on XR and Euro Scorpio et al) are trouble/glitch free. Gotta repeat that: trouble/glitch free. Also, they provide instant response to every adjustment, faster than the EATC including fan speed changes. And allow instant mixing of A/C cooled air with heated air through the core to match operator's requests.

Also, trouble/glitch free. IME.

YMMV

[DPDISXR4Ti]

Whats wrong with the EATC? Why would you want to do this?

I prefer the simplicity and reliability of things that operate manually. Not always mind you - I haven't used a manual crank drill in decades, although I do own one.

Jan suggested I might need the vents from the manual HVAC car since I'd no longer have the brain that controls the motorized ones currently on the car. Thoughts on that?

[dimswits]

Jan suggested I might need the vents from the manual HVAC car since I'd no longer have the brain that controls the motorized ones currently on the car. Thoughts on that?

I have wondered about this too. The stock US Scorpio airbox has no provision for cutting airflow to the dash vents, that is handled by the stupid motors. It has been a long long time since I owned an XR, but I do not recall needing to manually close the dash vents if I didn’t want dash air. If that’s correct, then you shouldn’t need the manual Scorpio vents. Furthermore the stock vents actually close by being moved all the way left or right, unlike most cars with separate vent closure wheels or levers.

[John Brennan]

It has been a long long time since I owned an XR, but I do not recall needing to manually close the dash vents if I didn’t want dash air.

That's been the case on every XR I've owned (all have needed manual closure).

[Ed Lijewski]

On my XRs, you do need to close dash vents if you don't want air coming through them. With slider lever on Floor air still comes through dash vents; if you want full blower air on floor the dash vents should be closed. With slider lever on Dash, some air still blows to floor. With slider lever on Defrost for either defrosting outside ice or defogging inside (with a/c on), some air still comes through dash vents so closing them provides max blower impact on windshield.

Other's XRs may be different.

YMMV

[Ed Lijewski]

Whats wrong with the EATC? Why would you want to do this?

I prefer the simplicity and reliability of things that operate manually. Not always mind you - I haven't used a manual crank drill in decades, although I do own one.

Jan suggested I might need the vents from the manual HVAC car since I'd no longer have the brain that controls the motorized ones currently on the car. Thoughts on that?

Worth looking at them to see if/how they operate differently (per Jan) than the Scorpio vent deflectors.

YMMV

[dimswits]

Worth looking at them to see if/how they operate differently (per Jan) than the Scorpio vent deflectors.

YMMV

They have separate levers to completely close each vent just as the XR does.

[Ed Lijewski]

Are they plug and play (in the fake wood trim)? If so, I'd prefer them. XR vent adjuster wheels move smoothly without sticking while Scorpio vent vanes (I have a spare wood trim piece) don't.

YMMV

[dimswits]

You would swap the entire trim/vent panel, because it has slots for those levers that don't exist in the US version.

BTW, the fake wood panel is not fake at all. Before 1080 vinyl wrap was a thing, I took one apart with the idea of converting the trim to brushed aluminum. It took a LOT of work with a heat gun to get the layers separated. It's a very thin layer of sweet smelling wood veneer formed over an aluminum backer. Over the wood is a very thick layer of resin (maybe 5 times thicker than the wood itself) that leads everyone to brand it as "fake." The vents are a couple of plastic pieces held to the backside by fingers of the aluminum backer that are bent through holes in the plastic.

I abandoned the idea because the resin layer is so thick the vents stood proud of the piece once it was removed.

On my XRs, you do need to close dash vents if you don't want air coming through them. With slider lever on Floor air still comes through dash vents; if you want full blower air on floor the dash vents should be closed. With slider lever on Dash, some air still blows to floor. With slider lever on Defrost for either defrosting outside ice or defogging inside (with a/c on), some air still comes through dash vents so closing them provides max blower impact on windshield.

I stand corrected. Great design decision there.