Will this work?

[someazn]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LKQ-04-05-Toyota-Solara-Climate-Control-Unit-OEM_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33545QQihZ017QQitemZ270012366281QQrdZ1

Sounds like a dumb question but will this work with a solara that doesnt have the automatic climate control?

[Turbosolara]

no usually there are alot censors and wire harness involves. just simply swap the contorl will not work.

[Down2TheC]

You wouldn't want it anyway. Can't see how pressing a button 20 times is handier than moving a lever or knob from one side to the other. And it's logic is way off. I'd swap with you in a second. Other than looking better the system sux.

[NeFaRiOuS_SLE]

Yeah, won't work because of various sensors and whatnot. Besides, even I'd swap mine out; it's a pain in the arse to deal with sometimes, but I could imagine a Gen2 being a bit worse since my Gen1 at least has a temperature knob instead of a button.

[cklinh]

Hm... but how often do you go from one end to the other end? I think with the automatic climate control systems, you're supposed to park it on a temperature that's comfortable for you and leave it there... I've barely budged mine from 73 degrees since I've gotten the car... (occasionally up to 75 so the warmers would kick at a higher rate... but that's it...)

[Down2TheC]

I'll cop to that. It's not every day. But still it's one of many gripes I have about it.
[rant]
- It still chooses recirc in the summer when you turn on the car. It's 85 outside, 102 in the car, and it chooses the inside air. Duh. So I have to switch it every time I put the key in.
- You can't choose the flow without kicking it into manual. This means hot feet in the winter and hot feet in the summer unless you go manual. (once up to temp it blows cold air high or hot air low.)
- 70 in Auto means try to make it 70. Switching to auto that same 70 means that the heater door opens 25%. Should be two separate fields.

Sorry but as a software guy I have to question the dufus who made the design spec for this. And it's about all I have left to rag about on the car.
- lag = fixed by Toyota
- headrests, no MP3, trans = All fixable for the right price.
- HVAC - you're stuck with it. It's highly integrated to the car.
[/rant]
To end on a positive...I like the heater controlling the fan when the car's not warm yet. That's cool.

[crimson blades]

I go from one end of the range to the other with mine, but I have the convertible. On a cold night the heat is on high with the top down and on hot days, the A/C is on max. It's supposed to be sunny and 90's here today. The top will be down with the A/C blowin.

[KSolara]

i wouldnt get it if it worked..
i love the three knobs.. they look cleaner too

[NeFaRiOuS_SLE]

I'll cop to that. It's not every day. But still it's one of many gripes I have about it.
[rant]
- It still chooses recirc in the summer when you turn on the car. It's 85 outside, 102 in the car, and it chooses the inside air. Duh. So I have to switch it every time I put the key in.
- You can't choose the flow without kicking it into manual. This means hot feet in the winter and hot feet in the summer unless you go manual. (once up to temp it blows cold air high or hot air low.)
- 70 in Auto means try to make it 70. Switching to auto that same 70 means that the heater door opens 25%. Should be two separate fields.

Sorry but as a software guy I have to question the dufus who made the design spec for this. And it's about all I have left to rag about on the car.
- lag = fixed by Toyota
- headrests, no MP3, trans = All fixable for the right price.
- HVAC - you're stuck with it. It's highly integrated to the car.
[/rant]
To end on a positive...I like the heater controlling the fan when the car's not warm yet. That's cool.

Well, the recirc mode somehow makes the AC cool faster, plus I notice the fan speed on my car is higher in recirc when turned up to the max. But the bad thing is that you have to remember to take it OUT of recirc and even turn your heat on just to keep it from turning back on, because I had mildew problems a couple of times and the air stank until I got it taken care of.

[PXLpainter]

I would gladly trade for "knobs" controls any day. I HATE the "climate control" (more like OUT of control). It always takes about 3-5 seconds to even start up after you've started to the car, just so you can turn it down or off. Just because it may think it needs to be 70º - it may still blast you in the face with cold air for a minute before turning itself down.

Gimme knobs any day!

[MikeATL]

IMO

digital>analog (except in wrist watches)

It always takes about 3-5 seconds to even start up after you've started to the car, just so you can turn it down or off.

I have always heard that its not good to start the car with the air on, this takes care of that issue for you.

Digital Climate Control is just one of those things all luxury car's have. I'm not saying the Solara is a luxury car, but it gets it a little closer to one.

[FLUXEMAG]

Starting your engine with the AC compressor on will place additional stress on your starter motor. Probably won't be an issue until ~100k miles. I live in AZ so mine rarely sees any setting besides coldest-recirculate-max. I thought about buying one of the controllers on ebay, but whatever, knobs are fine. The digital does look cooler though, and not in the temperature way.

[Sentinel]

The thing I don;t like about my gen 1 auto climate is I have to adjust the temp to get what I want. In the summer I have to have it @ 70 or below to get the air cold fast enough on a short drive ,and on long drives (over an hour or 2) I continually have to bump up the temp to as high as 79 degrees. Same in the winter,but opposite.

My inlaws have an Oddesey (sp?) Honda's minivan, and they stick it at a temp and leave it there...

[swindler]

IMO

digital>analog (except in wrist watches)

It always takes about 3-5 seconds to even start up after you've started to the car, just so you can turn it down or off.

I have always heard that its not good to start the car with the air on, this takes care of that issue for you.

Digital Climate Control is just one of those things all luxury car's have. I'm not saying the Solara is a luxury car, but it gets it a little closer to one.

Wow! I never thought climate control would be that controversial!

I always thought the delay was because it was waiting for the air to cool/warm. If it's hot, you don't want the fans on high when the air available to blow is still hot. That would just make you hotter. You want the compressor to cool the air first before you start blowing. A home A/C unit does the same thing.

I have a convertible too, and my situation in Texas may be a little different than others. I almost always need to cool. But I can only think of one time that I haven't had the thing in AUTO - but I can't remember why. And I haven't varied the setting more than 72ºF to 75ºF, with 73ºF nominal.

[PXLpainter]

I guess its like anything else - different streaks for different freaks!

The problem is, when you live in a hot climate like SoCal, you can't depend on auto-anything. There may be days when the humidity is high and the temp outside is only 78 but you need to cool-down fast and don't want to wait for your car to slowly cool-down when you are hot and sticky. On the other hand, if I get in my car in the garage and start it up, the temp may be fine until I back out with the top down and it's 90 outside - I'm going to want to blast that cool air in my face a bit - or if I put the top up I won't need as much either.

I've been using knobs and slider controls in every car I've owned and its suited me just fine for over 30 years of driving. I like to maintain control of my car and the environment around me while I'm driving - and reaching over to push buttons and look at an LCD panel while I do it takes my focus off the road - like messing with the radio or any other distraction. When I've had manual controls, I could "feel" my way around and never take my eyes off the road. Another reason why I've been hesitant to jump on the Nav unit bandwagon as well. I hate having to scroll with my iPod or dial phone number on my cell phone while driving for the same reason. I think that's why we have so many already BAD drivers with too many distractions on the road these days.

Guess I'm too much of a control freak to let some machine tell me how I should feel at any one moment!

Unless the thermostat can read my body temperature and that of my passengers who think it may be too cold/hot as well, then give me back the controls dammit!