Auto Temp 1 to Manual A/C control

[MONC440]

Background
My 70 SF came with Auto Temp 1, I have not tested it and all the under hood A/C and Heating components are removed. I have been told Auto Temp 1 had many problems and with the limitation of parts it is hard to fix if it is not working properly. My 70 Fury III parts car has manual A/C and I know you can still get parts for that system. I'm thinking of converting from Auto Temp to Manual. I have read the service manual and looked over the parts books and I'm having a hard time deciphering the differences in the controls.

I have some choices to make, 1. leave the Auto Temp controls in, hook up all the A/C system components, charge the system and hope it works. Based on everything I have read about Auto Temp I'm not very confident this would be successful. 2. convert to the manual controls then hook up all the A/C system components, charge the system. I'm a long way from doing the under hood parts but I have my windshield and dash pad out so I can repair the windshield frame and install the new one so it is easy to get to all the under dash components. I'm going to vacuum test all the door actuators while I have the windshield and dash out.

Questions
1. What kind of success have any of you had with Auto Temp 1?
2. Have any of you converted from Auto Temp to Manual, if so what did you have to do?

Any and all comments are welcome.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Boydsdodge]

Watching this one. Thanks.

 

[CBODY67]

The basic hvac components should be the similar, if not the same. The differences will be in how the vac actuators, fan speed, heat, etc. are modulated.

ATC 1 was a high-luxury option back then. As GM's Comfortron was usually associated with Cadillacs. I suspect the Chry system was a bit over-complicated for what it was, more-so than the GM system. Back then, I preferred the manual system as I could change things like I wanted them rather than wait for "some thing" behind the dash panel to do it. BTAIM

I also suspect that many things tended to give the Chrysler ATC 1 its "reputation" included several things. Its low installation levels (whether in option or std equipment), dealership techs not fully versed on what was supposed to happen when, customer mis-perceptions not agreeing with how it was designed to work. Might figure in response times, too!

THEN, as the various sensors aged, not much sales volume on them, they were discontinued. Few people possibly considered adapting similar GM sensors (which seemed to be more numerous and reliable?), either. Which led to the "We can't fix it . . ." situation", I suspect. In more modern times, perhaps adapting some of the newer electronic controls and actuators of the aftermarket hvac systems might work?

When ATC II happened, things were better, but still complicated, by observation. Mercedes tended to copy it for their systems, too! Including using the later water valve/modulator, which is in the aftermarket replacement vendors selections!

Best of luck with which ever way you go,
CBODY67

 

[MONC440]

Ok I made some progress. I already have my windshield out and had to remove the dash pad to fix the window channel so I decided what a great time to do all my under dash stuff. I pulled all the manual A/C controls off the parts car (dash control, wiring and vacuum lines) I then compared the HVAC hard parts to my auto temp and all the vacuum pods and doors are the same. I then removed all of the auto temp parts from my car, dash control, control unit assembly (in the pass kick panel), wiring, vacuum lines/check valves, blower motor resistor, ambient air temp sensor, interior air temp sensor, water valve thermostat, recert door vacuum transfer switch, and a couple other sensors that I'm not sure what they are. LOL

It looks like all I need to do is install the dash controls, blower motor resistor (different from the AT) wiring and vacuum lines. I will post pics soon.

 

[MONC440]

All of this....

Will be replaced by this. LOL

 

[3C's & a D?]

I'd say you made the right choice. It might not help, but a member changed his formal era autotemp A/C controls to manual. There's a thread on that somewhere in this forum.

 

[MONC440]

So I got everything working under the dash. I had to rebuild the blower motor switch and vacuum switch by taking them apart cleaning the corrosion off the connections reassemble them. The vacuum controls move all the pods properly and the blower motor works properly. The only thing in question is the water valve, I have not tested it yet because my car doesn't have any heater lines hooked up at this point.