Hey everyone,

Newby posting for the first time, so apologies if my problem's been covered already. I searched but didn't find exactly what I need.

Here's my pickle:

I have a 2019 F350 XL 6.7L (supercab, long bed) base model and I'm trying to upgrade the stereo. It came with the old-school base-model unit (no SYNC) and I'm trying the autotec tesla screen. The radio harness is the same, so that's all good. But here's the thing: every other trim level has a different climate control unit and climate control wiring harness than mine. Whether it's auto/dual climate control or manual climate control, other trims have two plugs that go into the back of a 2-part climate control circuit board that also houses some of the radio controls. My harness, however, has only one plug that goes into a single circuit board in a standalone climate control unit ... and that plug is exactly the same as the smaller of the two harness plugs that come with every other trim level. You can see the subtle difference in form factor between the other trims' climate control unit and my climate control unit

I took a chance that the radio controls and climate controls would be totally separate, and plugged my one plug into a higher trim level board. No dice. In fact I tried it with both manual and auto climate controls. No dice on either, except the auto controls made it so my engine wouldn't shut down even after the key was off and out. I felt like I'd summed a demon while messing with a Ouija board.

Does anyone have any advice on how to upgrade those climate controls? Can I swap the entire dash harness? Every other internal system in my truck seems to be the same as the higher trim levels so I doubt the BCM is different. Or can I get the pinout of those two plugs and get really saucy about running what's needed from my one plug into the correct placement in the two?

Here's why I can't just leave it alone if I want to do this upgrade: my climate control board and ***** won't fit into any other stereo upgrade bezel, because (of course) my climate control ***** are about 3/8" closer together than every other configuration.

Right now my option is to frankenstein the aftermarket bezel together with the lower part of my old bezel and hope the JB weld doesn't show too badly. (and right now my climate controls are zip tied to the bottom of the aftermarket bezel ... real shadetree style.) But I'd love to sort out a better fix than that, especially one that'll let me maybe upgrade the climate controls while I'm at it.

Thanks!

 

Have you tried Crutchfield? They're usually spot-on with what will or won't work when you input your vehicle. After I punched in your model specs, this is the starting page it presented: https://www.crutchfield.com/m_266150/Car-Stereos.html

There's a link on that page that also provides options for installation kits, so that might be of assistance as well. Good luck!

 

Hey Joe I have! Thanks for looking into that; I appreciate it. Crutchfield spits out stereos that fit in the higher-level trim bezels. But you can see none of those would fit in my bezel. They sell a dash kit bezel, but - like all the others - it only fits the other climate control units. not mine.

 

Actually Joe, that bezel probably would fit my current climate control unit .. so you just pointed out the simple (and probably sensible) solution. Unfortunately, I like an absurd challenge and went with the autotec 14.4" tesla-style screen. All this extra fiddling and investigation is to try to use that, and maybe upgrade my climate controls

 

Well, all-rightey then. Knock yourself out! Post up the results when you finish, or better yet create a thread with pictures during the install (could help others if they decide to do the same as you).

 

absolutely will do! ... if someone has the answer to this final predicament I'll be all set!

 

I was just thinking about another thread that I read a while back, where they were upgrading to a larger touchscreen display, and they ended up using the bezel from an Expedition, and not another truck. The reason being is that the Expedition still used analog ***** for the climate controls. Similar to your predicament, I believe. If I get a few minutes after my meeting I'll see if I can't find it.

Edit: Found it - https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l-upgrade.html

 

Good memory! Thanks! ...

The fact that so much on these trucks is hot swappable (even between other ford models, evidently?) gives me hope. But again, unless you have my weirdo setup. :/ The autotec screen comes with the entire climate control UI and I can change all my climate settings on the screen except the analog *****, so upgrading to the auto climate control would be pretty fantastic.