"Upgraded" Climate Control Install

[Beater]

As soon as I realized the stock climate control unit lacked a physical fan speed knob (or buttons), I was skeptical that I would adjust to relying on using the touch screen (and hitting the "Climate" button each time) to change the fan speed. It's been 8+ months now and I still dislike not having a physical control for the fan speed.

As a result I ordered a climate control unit from a different model 2017 Civic in hopes that it would be plug and play. Other than swapping out the bezels and airbag status light, this "upgrade" is 100% plug and play. I went onto eBay, searched for "2017 Civic climate control unit," I browsed the listings until I found a unit that had both a fan speed knob along with my normal functions (heated seats, windshield defrosters, heated side mirrors, etc... The only "downside" to this swap, is that you will lose the dual climate control feature.

Top: Stock 2017 Civic Si climate control unit. Also, note the darker color trim.
Bottom: New climate control unit from a 2017 Civic.

Back of units:

First remove the airbag status light housing (2 screws). Then firmly tug off the 2 knobs, then remove the 4 outermost screws, which is whats holding the bezel to the unit itself. Swap the climate control unit with your bezel, airbag status light housing, and install back into your Civic.

Note that the right knob is now a fan speed knob:

 

[Doublestack00]

I'd love to do this, I hate not having a fan control knob. How does this effect the dual zone climate control? Does it now not work?

 

[Beater]

I'd love to do this, I hate not having a fan control knob. How does this effect the dual zone climate control? Does it now not work?

That is a "downside" to doing this swap - you will lose the dual climate control feature. In my case this was not a big deal, as the majority of the time I spend commuting alone.

 

[Doublestack00]

That is a "downside" to doing this swap - you will lose the dual climate control feature. In my case this was not a big deal, as the majority of the time I spend commuting alone.

I am ok with loosing it as well, what I am wondering is if it got out of "sync" how would you fix it since there is no button?

 

[Beater]

I am ok with loosing it as well, what I am wondering is if it got out of "sync" how would you fix it since there is no button?

That’s interesting - I totally forgot about it potentially gettting out of sync prior to the install. Since I rarely used the dual climate control, I’m pretty sure it was swapped when it was off.

EDIT: I can confirm that the temperature for both passsenger and driver sides are working together as one. Love this ‘mod’

 

[Doublestack00]

That’s interesting - I totally forgot about it potentially gettting out of sync prior to the install. Since I rarely used the dual climate control, I’m pretty sure it was swapped when it was off.

EDIT: I can confirm that the temperature for both passsenger and driver sides are working together as one. Love this ‘mod’

Will you report back in a few weeks? I might be making this switch myself, I hate not having a physical fan knob.

 

[Shankmeyster]

I mean really, how many times are you actually using dual zone anyway? Probably very rarely if ever.

 

[Doublestack00]

I mean really, how many times are you actually using dual zone anyway? Probably very rarely if ever.

I don't. What I am wondering is if the dual ever gets out of sync and needs to be resynced. What happens if the car battery dies? Would I have to reinstall the old unit to resync it?

 

[Beater]

No issues so far. All functions work as intended and the temperature settings for both sides work together and never get out of that mode.

I can’t see a scenario where it gets confused (even if you disconnect the battery).

 

[maddmatt02]

I wonder if it's like other cars/other systems where everything necessary for functionality is already there it's just missing the switch so it's the actual HVAC control that handles the job of differing both sides temps and with the new single zone controller there isn't even a chance for them to get out of sync... Looking at wiring diagrams could probably tell you but I'm not digging into that. I almost never adjust fan speed anyways I just hit auto and let it do its thing.

 

[FLCL]

Thanks for the info. Not having a fan speed knob has been bothering me since I bought my SI. Will be swapping mine out for an EX's next week.

 

[1stAznBum]

I want to do this swap too but that climate control unit seems to be hard to find at the moment. Googling the numbers on that sticker (79600TBAC411M1) doesn't show results except for a ebay listing which OP might have bought from. I believe the original part number for our units is: 79603-TBA-A61ZB.

I don't think US spec cars get that unit... I tried looking at 16/17 EX's and they don't have the heated seats functions. EX-T and higher trims get the same climate control units we have.

Looking at Canadian cars, it seems only LX trims get it and I think the part number is 79603-TBA-C41ZA.

 

[Doublestack00]

I can't find one either.

 

[jakabony]

I mean, technically, this is a climate control downgrade, since you are retaining the same technical function but losing dual climate control?

 

[1stAznBum]

I mean, technically, this is a climate control downgrade, since you are retaining the same technical function but losing dual climate control?

To each their own! For me though I'd have no use in dual zone climate since it's usually only me in the car. You can't use auto mode with the AC defaulting to off (Toyota's can do it).

I'd prefer to be able to adjust fan speed with the knob rather than push the climate button, wait 2-3 seconds for the screen to load up and then tapping the fan speed.

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