W203 Thermotronic upgrade

[merc07]

Just fitted the thermotronic unit. All seems to work ok - ish

I tried to set it up by holding the demist / re-circulation so the lights flash alternately and it cycles through the vents.

How long should this take or does it keep going because it needs the flaps normalizing by STAR ?

The only thing I noticed is if I have the left dial so the led is at the top - air direction up, it still comes out on my feet - I guess it should be on the screen ? The demist button sends it to the screen and all the other positions work ok.

Cheers
Adam

 

[tudu]

Just fitted the thermotronic unit. All seems to work ok - ish

I tried to set it up by holding the demist / re-circulation so the lights flash alternately and it cycles through the vents.

How long should this take or does it keep going because it needs the flaps normalizing by STAR ?

The only thing I noticed is if I have the left dial so the led is at the top - air direction up, it still comes out on my feet - I guess it should be on the screen ? The demist button sends it to the screen and all the other positions work ok.

Cheers
Adam

Think you need some coding via star.

 

[whitenemesis]

When I did this swap and did the soft reset it did cycle endlessly. It all seemed to work OK but I still had the flaps normalised by STAR.

The left hand dial on the Thermatic set the air volume, so I don't think this dial operates "normally" on the swapped Thermotronic unit.

IIRC only the right hand dial (on the swapped Thermatronic) will set the air distribution. The air volume now set with the central buttons. The left dial does nothing.

I always leave mine on "Auto"

 

[merc07]

IIRC only the right hand dial (on the swapped Thermatronic) will set the air distribution. The air volume now set with the central buttons. The left dial does nothing.

Thanks, must have read your last reply wrong (other post). The left dial sends air to all the correct places apart from up. I'll try it again tommorow with the right hand dial. I wasn't sure if leaving it on auto would work if the manual dial didn't work properly.

Glad to see you got your paddles going Tudu !

Cheers
Adam

 

[whitenemesis]

You got me thinking now, I'm sure I tried all the settings and discovered that the air always went where the right hand dial was set.

Auto works very well

 

[R2D2]

My car needed the vents and control coded on star. You'll still kick up error codes though because it will be looking for the filter unit we haven't got!

 

[whitenemesis]

My car needed the vents and control coded on star. You'll still kick up error codes though because it will be looking for the filter unit we haven't got!

Ypu! When the techs were looking into my airbag incompatability they commented that the a/c unit was showing voltage errors, from the actuators that weren't there!

 

[merc07]

Well, I was in the car most of the day today with the aircon on. Seems that all manual controls work fine using the left dial if you leave the right dial alone !

With the setting on full auto though, the blower speed is too high, much higher than with the old unit. Could this be because its speed is set by '1- selected temp, 2- outside temp, 3- intensity of sunlight' - which I guess I don't have (3) so it confuses it?

The blower speed seems to be on level 4 all the time when in auto. I rekon the old unit was on level 2.

How does yours compare ?
Also R2D2, why did you need 'the vents and control coded on star' is that more than just the flaps ?

I guess just leave the air distribution on auto and the blower on manual for now,

Cheers
Adam

 

[BlackC55]

You do need to connect up the Star to normalise the motors and flaps. 10 minuite job.

 

[R2D2]

Inside the ventilation system are motorised flaps that open abd close to direct the air-these motors need set/aligned.

 

[merc07]

Thanks, not sure who will be able to sort it near me though - Bristol

Cheers
Adam

 

[whitenemesis]

Well, I was in the car most of the day today with the aircon on. Seems that all manual controls work fine using the left dial if you leave the right dial alone !

With the setting on full auto though, the blower speed is too high, much higher than with the old unit. Could this be because its speed is set by '1- selected temp, 2- outside temp, 3- intensity of sunlight' - which I guess I don't have (3) so it confuses it?

The blower speed seems to be on level 4 all the time when in auto. I rekon the old unit was on level 2.

How does yours compare ?
Also R2D2, why did you need 'the vents and control coded on star' is that more than just the flaps ?

I guess just leave the air distribution on auto and the blower on manual for now,

Cheers
Adam

Do you have a little black dome in the middle of your bonnet grill? That's the sun sensor. The difference is ours from the Thermatic is only a single sensor, it simply measures sun intensity. Those from the Thermotronic are quad sensors, they measure sun intensity and direction.

I think the single sensor does influence the operation of the swapped Thermotronic unit, it does seem to blow harder / cooler in strong sunlight.

Adam, how do you set distribution to Auto and blower to manual? I thought it was all or nothing?

 

[merc07]

When you have it in Auto both the distribution and blower are auto. You will have no blower speed indicator and no vent led showing. If you press one of the blower speed buttons, the speed indicator comes on but the vent leds still stay off.

P143 in the manual

To increase or reduce the airflow:
Press the airflow + or -
The indicator lamp in the Auto button goes out. Automatic distribution remains activated.

Not sure about a black dome, probably never noticed, I always wandered what it was in my Bora.

Anyone know anywhere around Bristol area I could get it on a Star ? - would it harm anything if I didn't do it for a while ?

Cheers
Adam

 

[whitenemesis]

When you have it in Auto both the distribution and blower are auto. You will have no blower speed indicator and no vent led showing. If you press one of the blower speed buttons, the speed indicator comes on but the vent leds still stay off.

P143 in the manual

To increase or reduce the airflow:
Press the airflow + or -
The indicator lamp in the Auto button goes out. Automatic distribution remains activated.

Not sure about a black dome, probably never noticed, I always wandered what it was in my Bora.

Anyone know anywhere around Bristol area I could get it on a Star ? - would it harm anything if I didn't do it for a while ?

Cheers
Adam

Actually its page 161 in my manual

Thanks for the info Adam, will give it a go tomorrow.

Question... Can the system still maintain the desired temp if airflow speed is manual?

 

[merc07]

Actually its page 161 in my manual

Thanks for the info Adam, will give it a go tomorrow.

Question... Can the system still maintain the desired temp if airflow speed is manual?

Dunno, but I guess it doesn't matter as long as your at the right temp. I'm sure she blows harder than my old one on auto . If so then everything should compensate itself ?????? ie if the blower is slower then it should blow colder air ???

 

[whitenemesis]

Dunno, but I guess it doesn't matter as long as your at the right temp. I'm sure she blows harder than my old one on auto . If so then everything should compensate itself ?????? ie if the blower is slower then it should blow colder air ???

LOL

Well either way I'm happy with the upgrade, looks good and IMHO works better.

Perhaps things will sort themselves out once you get attached to STAR.

It's interesting that my dealer hasn't adversely commented about the swap..

 

[merc07]

I'll bet your dealer wouldn't know what was involved and wouldn't realise half of it was missing anyhow. Was it them that set it up for you?CheersAdam

 

[whitenemesis]

I'll bet your dealer wouldn't know what was involved and wouldn't realise half of it was missing anyhow. Was it them that set it up for you?CheersAdam

Just for fun I asked my dealer the price to retro-fit Thermotronic. First he said it couldn't be done (suprise!) then the techs went into a huddle over WIS and came back to say they could do it! Another conflab and came back with the price £8500
When I pointed out all I wanted was the head unit swapped thay said it wouldn't work...

So, no they didn't set it up for me. That was done by Comand.co.uk

 

[sobeus]

Do you have a little black dome in the middle of your bonnet grill? That's the sun sensor. The difference is ours from the Thermatic is only a single sensor, it simply measures sun intensity. Those from the Thermotronic are quad sensors, they measure sun intensity and direction.

I think the single sensor does influence the operation of the swapped Thermotronic unit, it does seem to blow harder / cooler in strong sunlight.

Adam, how do you set distribution to Auto and blower to manual? I thought it was all or nothing?

The big difference between Thermatic and Thermotoronic is that Thermotornic has sun sensor. The Thermatic dont have this!! The thermatic only goes after how warm/cold the outside temp is.

 

[merc07]

My car needed the vents and control coded on star. You'll still kick up error codes though because it will be looking for the filter unit we haven't got!

Do you have to actually code it as a 581-thermotronic instead of a 580-thermatic on the EZS unit - even though it's just the control panel thats changed? I'm going to have to try a local indy as I'm not ready to visit Command yet - still searching for cheaper heated seat parts.