Digital Climate control radio question

Will a radio cluster from a 98 Taurus with digital climate control work in a 96 Taurus that had the manual switches. I know it will fit but will the A/C and fan speed work with the buttons when the original model had the knobs?

Also, Where does the factory CD changer go in a Wagon?

As you might have guessed I bought another Taurus and I am trying to figure out what I can cannibalize off of the 98SE to upgrade my 96GL.

Without comparing the scematics and the actual components of the two systems, I can't say for sure. I do know that the manual system lacks a number of things that you would need to operate the EATC. You will need to transfer the indoor temp sensor that is found on the previous generation in the dash behind the Taurus emblem. I think it also has an outdoor temp sensor. I'm not sure if it is a second sensor or the same one as just mentioned, but the display has an outdoor temp given and the senser has been in front of the radiator. The EATC uses both electrical and vac controls. Look under the dash and see if they are the same for both vehicles. I don't know a thing about the radio or cd changer. Maybe when I or someone else has more time, we can address this better.

It would be a significant undertaking to convert a car from manual HVAC to EATC. In addition to the temp sensors that tripledaddy mentioned, the EATC uses electric servos for the various doors and flaps. Additionally, you would need the PWM blower motor speed controller instead of the resistor block. The PWM control is larger than the resistor block and probably resides in a different housing case, so you'd probably find yourself removing the dash from both vehicles to get to the housings, wiring, and controls. While you're in there, you may as well consider replacing the heater core.

You'd probably get about halfway done and realize it's more work than it's worth. I know the conversion has been done, and people have posted links on this forum before. Try searching the forum using the "Search this forum" feature from the Taurus forum main page. You might try keywords "EATC conversion."

-Rod