Automatic Climate Control threads merged

dpnvektor · 03-21-2006, 09:35 PM

Mods, if it's appropriate, please move this post into the DIY forum as I can't post there yet. As my knowledge grows, so will this post. I hope to turn it into a complete DIY eventually. Thanks!

I have spent all afternoon at techinfo.honda.com, and I have gathered a lot of information. Unfortunately, I don't have any conclusive knowledge that a retrofit is possible. However, assuming the CAN bus cooperates with us, it should be.

All of the control logic for the Automatic Climate Control system (hereafter ACC) is stored in the control panel itself. Honda refers to this panel as the 'Climate Control Unit' in their electrical schematics. Fortunately for us, all of the pins we currently have on our standard 'Heater Control Panel' (Honda's term for the non-ACC control panel) have direct correlations to the pins on the ACC system. So, we will only have to add additional wires to the new panel, we shouldn't need to do anything but basic splicing to our existing wiring harness.

The catch: the ACC control panel has a connection to the car's D-CAN bus (the non-ACC system doesn't). While our non-IMA FG's do utilize the D-CAN bus, it's possible that the ACC control panel will not initialize or operate properly unless it gets certain packets across that bus. The hybrid utilizes a dual-stage electric/mechanical AC compressor (so the coolant still flows when IMA has the engine off) that our cars do not have. This compressor and the IMA system use the D-CAN bus to communicate things like engine power status (I.E. the Power Module tells the ACC system to activate the electric compressor because it has shut down the engine), among other things. While it's possible to spoof the CAN bus with a computer, I am guessing that's more than most people will want to do.

Thanks to jbbrann's suggestion, I will check out the CDM Acura CSX, as it might have a compatible ACC that will render all my work today moot.

It's also possible that Honda engineers did a really good job, and engineered the panel to work on models that are not equipped with IMA. This makes sense to me, as it would allow them to use the same ACC control panel across non-IMA models, and would cut their costs. Unfortunately, there is no way to find out without trying.

Aside from the D-CAN connection, there is only one sensor that will need to be spoofed with a resistor (the Heater Core Temp sensor, or you could just buy one and install it along with the other sensors), and we might also need to buy a new air recirculation motor (IMA cars have additional pins, and there is a different part number for the motor at hondaautomotiveparts.com). Additionally, we will need to splice a line into our exterior temp sensor, and we will need to add the cabin moisture/temp sensor and the sun load sensor. All that should be really easy.

If anyone is interested in helping me with this (Maybe someone in the bay area that owns a hybrid?

), here is all of the info I have gathered so far:

http://dump.aethion.net/Cars/Schematics

More as it happens, back to you Tom.

leviathan18 · 03-21-2006, 09:52 PM

sounds interesint care to put it plain words to me???? im from venezuela and sometime my english sux today is one of those days xD

dpnvektor · 03-21-2006, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leviathan18

sounds interesint care to put it plain words to me???? im from venezuela and sometime my english sux today is one of those days xD

Plain Engrish: It can probably be done, but we won't know until someone (probably me) lays down some cash and tries it.

jbbrann · 03-21-2006, 10:34 PM

Good job doing all of the legwork on this - I hope it works out. I'd love to help if I were closer.

dpnvektor · 03-22-2006, 06:39 PM

The CDM Acura CSX looks really promising, but I can't find any parts information for it online. Any chance someone knows a Canadian Acura dealer with a parts website?

aussiebuddha · 03-29-2006, 09:45 PM

thanks for all the info mate.
I'm in Sydney Australia, but I think out cars are pretty much the same, except for having the dashboard, and steering wheel the other way around.

Let me know if i can help somehow with this.
I would have tried it already except Honda Australia, does not want to sell the Climate control parts, and I'd have to buy them from the States.

Cheers.

ttheisen93 · 03-29-2006, 10:30 PM

I've had two cars with auto climate control and I always ended up using manual anyway because the auto mode was annoying. Just not sure this is going to be worth the effort. Have you had it before and really liked it?

aussiebuddha · 03-29-2006, 10:37 PM

well you're kinda right..
I havent had it before..
but i always find i keep turning on and off the A/C
thats why i wanted it.

I mean, if it's not too much effort, i'll do it.. otherwise.. no..

Tate · 03-29-2006, 10:37 PM

I liked the ACC on my 99 TL. I usually just set the temp and manaully set a low fan speed, then let the system takes care of the rest. I find it worked quite well and I hardly needed to adjust the temp again on the same trip

I'm getting my CSX with navi this friday and I can't wait to set temp and fan speed on the ACC with voice commands

C17chief · 03-30-2006, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ttheisen93

I've had two cars with auto climate control and I always ended up using manual anyway because the auto mode was annoying. Just not sure this is going to be worth the effort. Have you had it before and really liked it?

same here, only 1 car with it was enough for me. I found myself having to change something or other on the panel much more on the auto system then a normal manual one. With the auto, I was always turning off the a/c compressor if I didnt need it, changing temps, over riding fan speeds, etc.

dpnvektor · 03-30-2006, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C17chief

same here, only 1 car with it was enough for me. I found myself having to change something or other on the panel much more on the auto system then a normal manual one. With the auto, I was always turning off the a/c compressor if I didnt need it, changing temps, over riding fan speeds, etc.

I currently own 2 cars with ACC, and every car all the way back to my 91 CRX Si has had it. Really, it's just a matter of personal preference. I learned that, usually, if you just leave it alone, it does a pretty good job of maintaining a static temp. For me, I just absolutely fricking HATE having to tweak the temp knob manually. It seems like I always go from too hot to too cold, and back again.

I have done some research on the CSX, and I am almost certain that this will be a fairly simple plug-and-play type mod. We will need to add two cabin sensors, replace our recirculation motor, run a couple wires under the dash, and build a harness connector. Total cost of parts will be around $450 US.

I have no money at the moment, but once I do, I will get the part and do a write up for anyone that wants it.

ttheisen93 · 03-30-2006, 08:59 PM

I just didn't like how when it needs to come up to temp it BLASTS air at you. I found I would turn it off so it wouldn't go up to max speed on the fan. Sorry for going off-topic, tho.

rcase13 · 05-01-2006, 10:12 AM

I would certainly be intrested. I had it in my Mini and I have it in my Saab. I love it. Set and forget. If we could do it as plug and play from the CSX parts bin for less than $500 I would do it. I won't do it if we have to splice wires. honestly though not sure how long we will keep the car. In two years I think we will see much better hybrids that utilize plug in technology. If that happens then I will sell the Civic.

tyler3600 · 07-17-2006, 03:49 AM

I have notice there is a auto climate control on the hybrids and the acura csx. Is there anyone that has put an auto climate in there honda? I like the auto climate control and the blue digital readout. So I was wondering what the involvement would be?

**atruhondagrl** · 07-17-2006, 09:51 AM

I've been wondering the same thing.

PBJames23 · 07-17-2006, 10:04 AM

If anyone could pull that off I would send them a case of beer.:)

CivicWithNav · 07-17-2006, 10:35 AM

i asked this a while ago...

and it probably won't work.

tyler3600 · 07-17-2006, 11:29 AM

looks like it will fit well...just the wiring if its the same or not....

FunkNasty777 · 07-17-2006, 05:56 PM

Work that will be involved will be pretty involved. You will have to take apart a good amount of your interior to run the wiring for the temp monitors throughout the car. It would really be a matter if the wiring harness was the same.

ChrisJ989 · 07-17-2006, 06:30 PM

You know what else is kinda strange on the Civics? (Si that is for me)....how come there's no lights for the visors? thought that's a standard thing now a days....guess not, how much work would that require?

03-21-2006, 09:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
dpnvektor Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 10 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Automatic Climate Control Retrofit Mods, if it's appropriate, please move this post into the DIY forum as I can't post there yet. As my knowledge grows, so will this post. I hope to turn it into a complete DIY eventually. Thanks! I have spent all afternoon at techinfo.honda.com, and I have gathered a lot of information. Unfortunately, I don't have any conclusive knowledge that a retrofit is possible. However, assuming the CAN bus cooperates with us, it should be. All of the control logic for the Automatic Climate Control system (hereafter ACC) is stored in the control panel itself. Honda refers to this panel as the 'Climate Control Unit' in their electrical schematics. Fortunately for us, all of the pins we currently have on our standard 'Heater Control Panel' (Honda's term for the non-ACC control panel) have direct correlations to the pins on the ACC system. So, we will only have to add additional wires to the new panel, we shouldn't need to do anything but basic splicing to our existing wiring harness. The catch: the ACC control panel has a connection to the car's D-CAN bus (the non-ACC system doesn't). While our non-IMA FG's do utilize the D-CAN bus, it's possible that the ACC control panel will not initialize or operate properly unless it gets certain packets across that bus. The hybrid utilizes a dual-stage electric/mechanical AC compressor (so the coolant still flows when IMA has the engine off) that our cars do not have. This compressor and the IMA system use the D-CAN bus to communicate things like engine power status (I.E. the Power Module tells the ACC system to activate the electric compressor because it has shut down the engine), among other things. While it's possible to spoof the CAN bus with a computer, I am guessing that's more than most people will want to do. Thanks to jbbrann's suggestion, I will check out the CDM Acura CSX, as it might have a compatible ACC that will render all my work today moot. It's also possible that Honda engineers did a really good job, and engineered the panel to work on models that are not equipped with IMA. This makes sense to me, as it would allow them to use the same ACC control panel across non-IMA models, and would cut their costs. Unfortunately, there is no way to find out without trying. Aside from the D-CAN connection, there is only one sensor that will need to be spoofed with a resistor (the Heater Core Temp sensor, or you could just buy one and install it along with the other sensors), and we might also need to buy a new air recirculation motor (IMA cars have additional pins, and there is a different part number for the motor at hondaautomotiveparts.com). Additionally, we will need to splice a line into our exterior temp sensor, and we will need to add the cabin moisture/temp sensor and the sun load sensor. All that should be really easy. If anyone is interested in helping me with this (Maybe someone in the bay area that owns a hybrid? ), here is all of the info I have gathered so far: http://dump.aethion.net/Cars/Schematics More as it happens, back to you Tom.

07-17-2006, 03:49 AM	#14 (permalink)
tyler3600 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 26 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Automatic Climate Control threads merged I have notice there is a auto climate control on the hybrids and the acura csx. Is there anyone that has put an auto climate in there honda? I like the auto climate control and the blue digital readout. So I was wondering what the involvement would be?

07-17-2006, 09:51 AM	#15 (permalink)
atruhondagrl Why...so...serious? Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Gotham City Posts: 23,357 iTrader: 22 / 100%	I've been wondering the same thing. __________________ "I'm a dog chasing cars. I don't have plans. I just do things. I'm not a schemer. "

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03-21-2006, 09:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
leviathan18 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Caracas, Venezuela Age: 22 Posts: 380 iTrader: 0 / 0%	sounds interesint care to put it plain words to me???? im from venezuela and sometime my english sux today is one of those days xD

03-21-2006, 10:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
jbbrann Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Conway, AR Age: 27 Posts: 312 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Good job doing all of the legwork on this - I hope it works out. I'd love to help if I were closer.

03-22-2006, 06:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
dpnvektor Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 10 iTrader: 0 / 0%	The CDM Acura CSX looks really promising, but I can't find any parts information for it online. Any chance someone knows a Canadian Acura dealer with a parts website?

03-29-2006, 09:45 PM	#6 (permalink)
aussiebuddha Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Australia Age: 29 Posts: 93 Mario iTrader: 0 / 0%	thanks for all the info mate. I'm in Sydney Australia, but I think out cars are pretty much the same, except for having the dashboard, and steering wheel the other way around. Let me know if i can help somehow with this. I would have tried it already except Honda Australia, does not want to sell the Climate control parts, and I'd have to buy them from the States. Cheers.

03-29-2006, 10:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
ttheisen93 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: No Cal Age: 39 Posts: 103 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I've had two cars with auto climate control and I always ended up using manual anyway because the auto mode was annoying. Just not sure this is going to be worth the effort. Have you had it before and really liked it?

03-29-2006, 10:37 PM	#8 (permalink)
aussiebuddha Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Australia Age: 29 Posts: 93 Mario iTrader: 0 / 0%	well you're kinda right.. I havent had it before.. but i always find i keep turning on and off the A/C thats why i wanted it. I mean, if it's not too much effort, i'll do it.. otherwise.. no..

03-29-2006, 10:37 PM	#9 (permalink)
Tate Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 300 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I liked the ACC on my 99 TL. I usually just set the temp and manaully set a low fan speed, then let the system takes care of the rest. I find it worked quite well and I hardly needed to adjust the temp again on the same trip I'm getting my CSX with navi this friday and I can't wait to set temp and fan speed on the ACC with voice commands

03-30-2006, 08:59 PM	#12 (permalink)
ttheisen93 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: No Cal Age: 39 Posts: 103 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I just didn't like how when it needs to come up to temp it BLASTS air at you. I found I would turn it off so it wouldn't go up to max speed on the fan. Sorry for going off-topic, tho.

05-01-2006, 10:12 AM	#13 (permalink)
rcase13 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 37 Posts: 3 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I would certainly be intrested. I had it in my Mini and I have it in my Saab. I love it. Set and forget. If we could do it as plug and play from the CSX parts bin for less than $500 I would do it. I won't do it if we have to splice wires. honestly though not sure how long we will keep the car. In two years I think we will see much better hybrids that utilize plug in technology. If that happens then I will sell the Civic.

07-17-2006, 10:04 AM	#16 (permalink)
PBJames23 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Madison, WI Age: 21 Posts: 376 iTrader: 0 / 0%	If anyone could pull that off I would send them a case of beer.:)

07-17-2006, 10:35 AM	#17 (permalink)
CivicWithNav Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Woodstock MD Posts: 2,575 iTrader: 13 / 100%	i asked this a while ago... and it probably won't work.

07-17-2006, 11:29 AM	#18 (permalink)
tyler3600 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 26 iTrader: 0 / 0%	looks like it will fit well...just the wiring if its the same or not....

07-17-2006, 05:56 PM	#19 (permalink)
FunkNasty777 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ocean State Age: 25 Posts: 205 Jon iTrader: 1 / 100%	Work that will be involved will be pretty involved. You will have to take apart a good amount of your interior to run the wiring for the temp monitors throughout the car. It would really be a matter if the wiring harness was the same.

07-17-2006, 06:30 PM	#20 (permalink)
ChrisJ989 Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 135 iTrader: 1 / 100%	You know what else is kinda strange on the Civics? (Si that is for me)....how come there's no lights for the visors? thought that's a standard thing now a days....guess not, how much work would that require?