2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Making a Manual Switch for the A/C

[azcummins]

I find it *really* annoying that in newer trucks you can't turn on the A/c then direct it where you want it. Like in my 97, you could turn on the A/C then put it @ your feet, face or even defrost. On my 98, you can only have it on your face or feet/face combo.



Is there a way to cut the wire that turns on the A/C from the climate control selector and put it into a manual switch?

 

[Wiredawg]

I agree!



I like the controls on my '96 much better than my 2000. I've thought about disconnecting the AC control lead from the rotary dial and installing a separate switch. Just haven't taken the time.



Wiredawg

 

[illflem]

It's a very easy mod to disable the AC in defrost on pre '98s. It's absolutely free and takes less than an hour. On '98 + you have to buy a switch, but it's still easy. You can still turn your AC on when you want with either mod, but you aren't forced into it when you don't want it. I wouldn't be without the mod. Here are great directions http://dodgeram.org/tech/repair/HVAC/Defrost_AC.htm

 

[azcummins]

illflem-

Sounds easy enough but



1. Where is the defrost contact and what does it look like?

2. Has anyone verified that it is the Green/White wire that is the A/C in 98's?

 

[illflem]

I don't think you need to to mess with the contacts on a 98+ truck. Just cut the wire and put in the switch. Don't know much about the wire color, check in the Dodge service manual or email Dave Fritz dfritz@vt. edu.

 

[zman]

I too would like to have a separate A/C switch. Has anyone found a nice A/C switch that is lighted and has a round button? I'd like to mount a nice switch on the dash, possibly the lower right corner of the HVAC control panel (mines an '01). A round button switch would make things simpler in terms of drilling a hole in the dash. Not sure how I would mount the switch behind the dash though. Has anyone done a switch install like this yet?



Steve

 

[illflem]

Steve, I'd think you could pull a blue push button switch that says AC on it from any junk yard jap car for next to nothing. Might take awhile to get it out though.

 

[DUNE RACER]

so many projects so little time

I've been wanting do this since day one, I'm planning to use a switch out of a newer toyota, its a small black switch that has "AC" light up in green in the center when pushed. If it ever quits raining here I'll go raoming the junk yard to see if its a feasable switch.



Anyone know for sure the color of the wire to cut on an 01? and what wire to use to feed the new switch, does the AC activate by grounding the contact wire or is it a positive feed?



I'm going to do some probing to try and answer my own questions also.

 

[DUNE RACER]

I took my fan switch apart and verified that the ac wire is the light green with white strip, it appears to be about 18 gauge. This is the same as the 98 that fritz had. I'm still looking for the wire that feeds a signal to the green/white.





I have a digital camera but don't know how to post pictures so I'll have to explain only.

 

[azcummins]

Zach- you can email them if that would be easier. My email address is in my profile.

 

[DUNE RACER]

It looks like there is room for a switch at the bottom of the fan module, it even looks like the factory had a provision for some sort of switch at one time. I still have not figured out what wire would hook to the other side of a seperate switch.



Trying the picture thing again

 

[illflem]

Zach, I don't think you need to worry about a + or -- feed to the switch, just cut the wire and put the switch in, just make or break the Lt green/white wire. If you put a feed to the switch instead of just breaking the wire you will be able to run the AC without the fan on, not good. Since it looks like there is a provision in the plate for a switch maybe a switch from a later model Chrysler will fit right in.

 

[DUNE RACER]

It finally worked!!!



Heres a shot of the innards-

 

[zman]

Zach,



I think the hole that you located is for the heated mirror switch. If you have the tow mirrors, I'm guessing that they aren't heated and thus no switch in your truck. I have the heated mirrors & switch. I'm betting you could install the factory mirror switch and use it to activate your AC. That should be a real clean setup.



Steve

 

[DUNE RACER]

Steve, your right, I do have the tow mirrors (good) with no heat (dumb).

That would make a super clean install but I'm sure a wrecking yard would want some $$ for the whole assembly. There should still be room for another switch on the other side for the heated folks.



I'm pretty sure that the current AC contacts work by applying a ground signal from the large black wire with the orange tracer to the small green wire with the white tracer as far as I can tell by the fan switch. These two wires are connected by the position selector knob in every AC mode. There are only 2 places on the selector that the AC doesn't run. I don't have a wire diagram so I'm still guessing based on what my tester is telling me.

 

[DUNE RACER]

Illflem, thats a good point, I would like to have control of the AC like my wifes toyota where you can select any outlet position then turn the AC on in any of those if you wish. I may have to settle for just being able to turn it off when I want (better than nothing).

 

[illflem]

Zach, you can probably buy the heated mirror switch separately from the dealer. Just the greater ease of installation may make it worth the extra bucks. I bought a OEM fog light switch (on a 12v it goes next to the auto trans OD off switch) just for ease of install and stock look, it was only $17.



The Toyota AC switch is wired somehow so the AC compressor doesn't kick on unless the fan is on (at least my Toyota is). If you were to put a feed to the Lt grn wire though the switch as you were planning you would defeat this safety feature. Your AC coils will ice up without the fan on.



Another thing I've been told is that the AC on in defrost is required by law now, that's why Dodge did it the way they did. I have no idea if this is true though.

 

[DUNE RACER]

Illflem, I'm going to try and get to a wrecking yard friday and see about getting the dodge module with the mirror switch in it. I don't think dodge will sell just the switch because it looks like its built into the panel on the HVAC controler. If I can get a module cheap then I'm going to modify it by seperating the copper contact inside and looping it through the mirror switch so I don't have to cut any wires. I'll have the stock module left so if I ever want to convert back all I have to do is plug the old one back in.



It wouldn't surprise me if there is indeed a law requiring AC defrost. If they would give us the option us poor dumb old folks could probably remember to turn the AC on to dry the windows when they fog up



I'll post some pics when I get done since I learned how to do that now

 

[Tom C]

how would you wire it to be able to fully control the a/c.



i. e. on my '97 truck I had the same air direction options (defrost or floor or defrost and floor, etc) with the a/c on as I did with the a/c off.



on my current 2001 I get a/c only in some place or MAYBE get a/c in others. you cannot control it. The easy part is to put in a switch to cut the a/c off. BUT..... how do you wire it to have the a/c on while in any air direction option?? while also maintaning the option to have it off in any air direction option...

 

[illflem]

Tom, it sounds like Zach found that connecting the Lt green/white wire to ground engages the AC compressor, just install a switch to do this and the AC will come on in all positions and you will also be able to turn it off. Like I said above it will then also be able to come on without the fan, something to beware of. I wouldn't wire it this way unless the switch also has a pilot light to remind you that the AC is on. What's up, you got hot feet?