Update to climate controls?

[Jtrussell1890]

So, for context, '96 XLT super cab 2.3l 5spd 2wd.

What I am wanting to accomplish is to update the standard analog climate controls to possibly the digital/ electronic controls from a 2000 Eddie Bauer explorer. I'm not trying to incorporate the full digital info system from the center console, just the climate controls. Can this be done with out tons of modification/ wiring/ ecm or pcm changes? Can this even be done? If it can, where would I need to begin and what are the major issues I might need to over come?

 

[franklin2]

I see a lot of vacuum actuators on the 2000 explorer. They work good and are cheap to make, but they do not work well on a vehicle with a small 4 cyl engine. That engine works harder than a 6cyl or v8, and thus the throttle stays open more, which is not good for a vacuum supply to operate all the vacuum controls.

 

[tinman_72]

I see a lot of vacuum actuators on the 2000 explorer. They work good and are cheap to make, but they do not work well on a vehicle with a small 4 cyl engine. That engine works harder than a 6cyl or v8, and thus the throttle stays open more, which is not good for a vacuum supply to operate all the vacuum controls.

Don't 95-up Rangers use vacuum actuators? There are a lot of four cylinder Rangers out there.

 

[franklin2]

I am getting conflicting information. I picked a 1996 and it shows control cables for the manual A/C heat system, but in the description it talks about vacuum control motors. Maybe it depended on the engine it had? Not sure.

 

[Jtrussell1890]

I am getting conflicting information. I picked a 1996 and it shows control cables for the manual A/C heat system, but in the description it talks about vacuum control motors. Maybe it depended on the engine it had? Not sure.

Based on the diagrams you posted, my particular set of controls are different than those. Mine are the standard 3 round knob set with the left most being fan speed the center being temp and the right most being the vent selector. I have attached a picture of what kind I have.