AC modes control on 2002 Explorer
dimamo1983
02-02-2004, 12:30 AM
hey everybody, just joined the forum in hope of getting some advice from the gurus on here.
I'm working on a student project to modify the 2002 ford explorer basically into a better vehicle (decrease fuel consumption and emissions, make it into a hybrid, increase consumer appeal, and so on).
We are placing a touchscreen inside the car to display some information to the driver and to allow for some of the usual "hardware" functions (like music/video playback and air conditioning) to be controlled using the touchscreen.
Right now I'm trying to figure out how in the world am I supposed to tell AC system to do what is selected on the touchscreen. I was able to figure out how to control the blower/fan speed selector (1-2-3-4) and the temperature knob (cold-hot and everything in between), as well as all the buttons (AC, rear defrost, etc), but I'm stuck on the modes selector (MAX - pannel - pannel/floor - OFF - floor - floor/windshield - windshield). I know that it is controlled using vacuum lines, but that's as much as I was able to figure out.
I was wondering if anyone can explain me how this is actually done. Supposedly, there is a check/selector valve in-between the knob and the 5 vacuum lines that come into it.
So, my first question is how does that work? Is one line an "input" and the others are open/closed by the check/valve depending on the current nobe position? How can I find out which one is which and which ones are closed for which selections? Oh, yeah, it would probalby be useful to mention that the truck is apart right now, so I can't just start it up and just feel which line is doing what.
And my second question is if anyone could suggest a way I can electrically control the valve. I can either generate a digital signal or analog one. I was told that there are some electrically controlled check valves out there, but how do I know what to look for (and yes, i've tried google already)?
So, basically, whatever you can tell me would be helpful.
thanks a lot
dima
===================
http://www.osufuturetruck.org
I'm working on a student project to modify the 2002 ford explorer basically into a better vehicle (decrease fuel consumption and emissions, make it into a hybrid, increase consumer appeal, and so on).
We are placing a touchscreen inside the car to display some information to the driver and to allow for some of the usual "hardware" functions (like music/video playback and air conditioning) to be controlled using the touchscreen.
Right now I'm trying to figure out how in the world am I supposed to tell AC system to do what is selected on the touchscreen. I was able to figure out how to control the blower/fan speed selector (1-2-3-4) and the temperature knob (cold-hot and everything in between), as well as all the buttons (AC, rear defrost, etc), but I'm stuck on the modes selector (MAX - pannel - pannel/floor - OFF - floor - floor/windshield - windshield). I know that it is controlled using vacuum lines, but that's as much as I was able to figure out.
I was wondering if anyone can explain me how this is actually done. Supposedly, there is a check/selector valve in-between the knob and the 5 vacuum lines that come into it.
So, my first question is how does that work? Is one line an "input" and the others are open/closed by the check/valve depending on the current nobe position? How can I find out which one is which and which ones are closed for which selections? Oh, yeah, it would probalby be useful to mention that the truck is apart right now, so I can't just start it up and just feel which line is doing what.
And my second question is if anyone could suggest a way I can electrically control the valve. I can either generate a digital signal or analog one. I was told that there are some electrically controlled check valves out there, but how do I know what to look for (and yes, i've tried google already)?
So, basically, whatever you can tell me would be helpful.
thanks a lot
dima
===================
http://www.osufuturetruck.org
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