2011 GC - A/C Climate Control Unit Upgrade question

Welcome to the forum!

The upgrade is very easy to do, just stay organized and work slow. I really need to make up a thread for the 2011+ vans and this upgrade. It will work without programming but it is recommended.

Both the front only manual controls and front/rear manual controls can be easily upgraded to auto climate controls.

You will need;
-Front ATC panel,
-ATC panel plugs,
-Sunlight sensor (bubble straight back from the center speaker hole on top of the dash),
-Sunlight sensor connector, with 4 wires in it (your van will have the connector, but only uses 2 of 4 slots so you must replace it).
-Some wiring,
-And optionally for the front and rear manual controls, the rear HVAC panel on the roof with the auto function. The manual panel is identical except for an added fully auto mode, so if you don't add it your rear seat passengers will have to choose where the air blows and the quantity, but the temperature is controlled automatically.

The plugs for the front auto controls are important, because the shape of the connectors are not the same but the pins themselves can be moved from your existing manual controls to the auto controls connector. So you will take the auto controls connector, de-pin the wires one at a time and when you de-pin any wire from the auto connector, you will also de-pin the same wire from your van's current manual connectors and re-pin it into the auto controls connector until you get through all the wires. That way you won't get lost.
You must also add wires between the sunlight sensor and the front atc panel. If you have front only ac you must run 4 wires between panel and sensor, only 2 need to be run for vans with front and rear manual climate.

Apart from that, the rear hvac panel on the roof can be swapped also but is not fully needed. The only difference between the rear auto and manual is the added auto function on the fan speed knob, the rest is identical. The manual rear panel works perfectly in the auto system otherwise, the temperature knob changes the rear temperature (displayed on the front atc panel) in degrees and the cold/hot blend is controlled automatically anyways, but the fan speed and where the air blows out of in the rear will have to be set manually, unless the driver or front passenger set the rear to fully automatic mode on the front panel.

Sorry for not responding for a bit, my van's alternator decided to die on me just a bit after posting this, so $540 later and everything's back to normal.

Michalb said:

Welcome to the forum!

The upgrade is very easy to do, just stay organized and work slow. I really need to make up a thread for the 2011+ vans and this upgrade. It will work without programming but it is recommended.

Both the front only manual controls and front/rear manual controls can be easily upgraded to auto climate controls.

You will need;
-Front ATC panel,
-ATC panel plugs,
-Sunlight sensor (bubble straight back from the center speaker hole on top of the dash),
-Sunlight sensor connector, with 4 wires in it (your van will have the connector, but only uses 2 of 4 slots so you must replace it).
-Some wiring,
-And optionally for the front and rear manual controls, the rear HVAC panel on the roof with the auto function. The manual panel is identical except for an added fully auto mode, so if you don't add it your rear seat passengers will have to choose where the air blows and the quantity, but the temperature is controlled automatically.

The plugs for the front auto controls are important, because the shape of the connectors are not the same but the pins themselves can be moved from your existing manual controls to the auto controls connector. So you will take the auto controls connector, de-pin the wires one at a time and when you de-pin any wire from the auto connector, you will also de-pin the same wire from your van's current manual connectors and re-pin it into the auto controls connector until you get through all the wires. That way you won't get lost.
You must also add wires between the sunlight sensor and the front atc panel. If you have front only ac you must run 4 wires between panel and sensor, only 2 need to be run for vans with front and rear manual climate.

Apart from that, the rear hvac panel on the roof can be swapped also but is not fully needed. The only difference between the rear auto and manual is the added auto function on the fan speed knob, the rest is identical. The manual rear panel works perfectly in the auto system otherwise, the temperature knob changes the rear temperature (displayed on the front atc panel) in degrees and the cold/hot blend is controlled automatically anyways, but the fan speed and where the air blows out of in the rear will have to be set manually, unless the driver or front passenger set the rear to fully automatic mode on the front panel.

Click to expand...

Thank you!

I did order the ATC panel from ebay, it is used but it's in really good condition. However, it did not come with the connectors that goes into the back of it. I'm probably going to head to my local u-pull-it yard, and I was wondering if I could possibly just grab the whole wiring harness? Also, should I buy a new sunlight sensor or grab a used one? (they're quite affordable new) I will be doing the rear HVAC panel later. I have to mess with a blend door in the rear AC unit because it currently sounds like a faint whistle, and my van fails the blend door auto-check because of said blend door.

For the sunlight sensor connector, would I have to tear down the dashboard to get to it, or does the panel at the very top of the dashboard come off by itself? (with the speaker grills on it)

Also, if it wouldn't be possible (or recommended) to grab the whole wiring harness for the front HVAC system, where could I find accurate diagrams to re-pin the old wires into the new connectors? I can get the new connectors online from what I saw, but I feel that getting the whole harness from a local yard might end up being cheaper, or the same price, as ordering those.

Louprotecteur said:

I guess you should even make a book about all that knowledge you acquired on those vans! BTW, my concersion from MTC 5o ATC still works and impress people. On the outside, it looks just like an average van but on the inside, it is almost fully decked out.

To the original poster, I confirm that what MichalB said is legit and also, you can take the opportunity to add the Town and country analog clock if you get the whole center dash with vents, ATC controls, most of the time for the same price. Your Dodge Grand Caravan already has the wire for the clock.

Click to expand...

Sounds like an interesting mod, does the analog clock have a backlight? If so, I might go ahead and pick up the analog clock and the dash bezel. Speaking of adding T&C parts into a DGC, do you think it's possible to swap out my basic cluster for a T&C cluster with the EVIC? For some reason, I really like the look of the T&C clusters, and that would be awesome to have.

Mango_Lemonade said:

I did order the ATC panel from ebay, it is used but it's in really good condition. However, it did not come with the connectors that goes into the back of it. I'm probably going to head to my local u-pull-it yard, and I was wondering if I could possibly just grab the whole wiring harness? Also, should I buy a new sunlight sensor or grab a used one? (they're quite affordable new) I will be doing the rear HVAC panel later. I have to mess with a blend door in the rear AC unit because it currently sounds like a faint whistle, and my van fails the blend door auto-check because of said blend door.

For the sunlight sensor connector, would I have to tear down the dashboard to get to it, or does the panel at the very top of the dashboard come off by itself? (with the speaker grills on it)

Also, if it wouldn't be possible (or recommended) to grab the whole wiring harness for the front HVAC system, where could I find accurate diagrams to re-pin the old wires into the new connectors? I can get the new connectors online from what I saw, but I feel that getting the whole harness from a local yard might end up being cheaper, or the same price, as ordering those.

Click to expand...

You do not have to re-wire the dash for the auto panel, but I'm sure you can if you really wanted to. It's just a lot of unnecessary work and that time could be spent on better things. You only have to run 2 wires, both go to the sun sensor which sits just rearwards of the center speaker hole, your van has a cap there. You can buy a new one if you so desire but I've never had a used unit fail. One thing to keep in mind, make sure the sun sensor itself has 4 actual pins inside of it, not 3. Only other notable thing is when you go to re-pin the MTC pins into the different shape ATC connector, one of the MTC connector pins has this tab which extends out and prevents them from sliding into the new ATC connector. Grab needle nose pliers and fold that piece which extends out, to be flush with the pin and then it will slide in, and clip into the atc connector perfectly. It will still fit back into the MTC connector should you want to go back.

Mango_Lemonade said:

I'd prefer to have the instructions to tear down the dashboard, in preparation for when I do decide to do the EVIC cluster upgrade. I'm pretty sure I also need the compass module for the compass feature to work. I'll study into all of that a bit more down the line after I recoup some of my money from the lovely alternator job.

From what I've studied, the center bezel that contains the climate control is pretty much just clips and two bolts/screws hidden behind the head unit bezel, so I should be fine there. But, I'd also like to find a diagram for how the AC harness is laid out in the dashboard, if I decide to just grab a harness with the ATC connectors already on it from the salvage yard.

Click to expand...

The EVIC swap is simple for 2011+ vans. Swap the cluster (but you have to remove the dash pad which is a fair amount of work), and you add the compass module (connector is already in the dash, you should be able to reach it from the footwell or the center speaker hole), and then you must swap the left steering wheel switch. Programming change "compass module present to "set", and premium TPMS to "Set" which will then display all the tire pressures (but not in the correct position). That should be it for EVIC.

The center bezel is easy to remove. First remove the bezel around the radio, it pries straight out, then there's 2 Philips screws just above the air vents, remove them and push the top of the entire center bezel out, may remove the radio to make it easier. Then just pull it straight out and disconnect the connectors.

I do not recommend swapping the entire dash harness, but it's completely up to you. Book an entire day for it if you do decide to swap it, and work slowly. Remember the HVAC ductwork in the dahs bolts to the inside dash frame, take your time and don't force it.

Edit; the only options to add for the dash harness itself are the power inverter for the rear, if it's not already equipped (but may be wired already), and the auto climate controls with the different connectors, and the premium sound system with the amplifier but it's more tearing apart then just the dash. If you are talking about adding any of the following; backup camera, overhead screen(s), bluetooth, or dvd player that is all a separate harness which sits in the dash. It can be pushed and pulled through the gaps above the air vents below the plastic dash frame without any more removal other then the radio, center bezel, passenger glove box, and A-pillars.
Here's what the entertainment harness looks like which sits in the dash;

So I have finally obtained the connectors, although I have yet to receive the sun sensor. This looks like the beginning of some fun!