What wiring do I need to replace? .. VN --> VP Calais interior

[savage1987]

I'm collecting VP Calais bits and pieces for my VN, since they are a lovely blue colour and look very classy. I will be doing a power windows setup, already have power mirrors, however I'm not sure how much work's involved with the climate control and whether or not I want to get into that...

How much wiring from a VP Calais do I need in order to get all the little green lights throughout the interior to work, as well as the windows, L3 dash cluster, etc etc?? And should I just bite the bullet and have a crack at the climate control, i.e. would it be too hard without it??

edit:
STUFF I WILL NEED:Aircon/Climate unit including heater core and all direction vents
Climate control front panel
Level 3 BCM
Level 3 Dash and Trip computer block
Entire front end CABIN wiring harness
Central locking mechs
Power window mechs
Power window switches
Door looms


Please help me complete this list so I know exactly what I'm getting myself into!

Regards,
Sam

[accentstencil]

Installing climate control is a major job requiring many additional parts. It's not as simple as changing the control panel, you need to change the heater box, add sensors and other stuff I can't remember right now.
The L3 cluster should only be a matter of getting it re-calibrated to suit your car.

[88GreenVN]

The climate setup is a bit of work - but if you have half the car apart - not that long. I cheated abit and stuck the complete loom in when I put climate control in. Anyone that has climate control wont go back. So is it worth the effort - yes. The lights inside the car - roof/doors are not that hard to do if you have wiring diagrams. Orange, white & black wires. A climate install has been done for the VN - so should be similar for the VP.

The switchblocks are different - but you'll get them with the VP Calais L3 & inside bits

I like my Executive with climate control and all the inside lights.

[1991_Vn2nV]

Why not just do a loom swap? It will be much easier and neater.

[1991_Vn2nV]

Installing climate control is a major job requiring many additional parts. It's not as simple as changing the control panel, you need to change the heater box, add sensors and other stuff I can't remember right now.
The L3 cluster should only be a matter of getting it re-calibrated to suit your car.

I've seen you say this a few times now.. Nothing needs re-calibration mate. The level 3 cluster needs to be wired into the vehicle if it didn't have it from factory. You need the 4th plug also.

[88GreenVN]

Installing climate control is a major job requiring many additional parts. It's not as simple as changing the control panel, you need to change the heater box, add sensors and other stuff I can't remember right now.
The L3 cluster should only be a matter of getting it re-calibrated to suit your car.

The L3 dash will require the 4th plug and trip computer switch block wires to be grafted in.

Best to get all the bits for the climate control in 1 hit - from the same car.

[savage1987]

VN2NV: Loom swap .. um not being the king of wiring systems just yet, are we talking about just the interior wiring or the entire car's wiring??

I am going to end up with the VP Calais interior in this car. I have to commit to it, or it'll just stay half done forever! I'm adding in to post #1 which parts I know I need, please help me make up a complete list so I know exactly what I'm getting into!!

Sam

[accentstencil]

I've seen you say this a few times now.. Nothing needs re-calibration mate. The level 3 cluster needs to be wired into the vehicle if it didn't have it from factory. You need the 4th plug also.

Sorry, I'm confusing it with the VT clusters. I'll try to remember that in future, or better still, I will shut up.

[been there]

I have just done the full calais/statesman electrics install into a vr, I had a donor car. But the bits used were: Aircon/Climate unit including heater core and all direction vents. Climate control front panel, Level 3 BCM, Entire front end CABIN wiring harness, Level 3 Dash and Trip computer block. The sensors all came with the wiring harness, although, they are; Daylight sensor which lives in the centre of the dash and the ambient air sensor which lives under the bonet on the front reo bar. the rest of the sensors are made into the climate box.

This was what i needed for a VR/VS, there may be some slight differences but i hope it helps.

I would also agree that climate and the little lights are well worth it! (you will need to de-gass the aircon and drop your coolant too)
Change the heater core when you get it out too.
It all in all took me a FULL weekend, and I had never done it before.
Ohh, Get a wiring diagram incase you get into trouble, but you shouldnt if you dont rush.
good luck

[1991_Vn2nV]

I never dropped my coolant, did have a little leakage when I pulled the HVAC box out though..

[been there]

ahh yeah, sorry, I was doing the full system flush at the same time, just forged all the work into one weekend, your right, there will be a little lost but not heaps.

[1991_Vn2nV]

Its a good point though as I forgot about it, you'd want to mindful of it atleast when pulling the hoses off the heater box.

[needwork2-4fillhabbit]

When you take say the front interior loom where do you cut it? (Silly question?) Im thinking of nabbing the interior wiring from a vn calais to do on my vp (opposite of this thread lol)

[1991_Vn2nV]

When you take say the front interior loom where do you cut it? (Silly question?) Im thinking of nabbing the interior wiring from a vn calais to do on my vp (opposite of this thread lol)

You don't cut it. It runs the whole way from the ECU side of the dash (passenger side kick panel), across to the drivers side and through the firewall down to the fusebox (includes all fuse box wiring) and keeps going around the engine bay to the front passenger side headlight, with a bit more wiring continuing on for cruise control module.

Door looms plug/unplug from it as does the centre console wiring (power window switches etc.).

[stockies]

I'm thinking of whacking a VQ loom in my VN. I want to do the climate control setup and all the little lights. I already have a level 3 cluster from a VP. So i know how to do that. I'm just scared if i wreck my air con setup. Also do VQ's have the little lights under the dash and centre console? Also do VQ's have a BCM? and will i need that as well?

Sorry for all the questions guys, but this is a big step for me, and i don't want to stuff it up.

[savage1987]

Haha I know how you feel stockies, let's blunder through it all together lol

I think the list is getting there, I updated it just now (thanks been there)

Dropping gas and coolant isn't a problem, I'll do the gas drop and re-gas at work, and it's due for a coolant flush anyway.

I'm trying to do this without a donor car, is it possible? Also I'm no good at reading wiring diagrams! Do know my way around a VN dash though, I've swapped mine over once before.

[1991_Vn2nV]

Haha I know how you feel stockies, let's blunder through it all together lol

I think the list is getting there, I updated it just now (thanks been there)

Dropping gas and coolant isn't a problem, I'll do the gas drop and re-gas at work, and it's due for a coolant flush anyway.

I'm trying to do this without a donor car, is it possible? Also I'm no good at reading wiring diagrams! Do know my way around a VN dash though, I've swapped mine over once before.

The gas needs to be done by a qualified professional, it is against the law to do it yourself.

[stockies]

Haha I know how you feel stockies, let's blunder through it all together lol

I reakon that might the way to go. Help each other out. I'm just wondering what else i should do if i'm going to pull out he dash and replace the loom. I will be chucking a set of VR calais seats in it. So mabye rip the carpet out as well?? Fully strip the interior and clean it up!

Also i was looking at the loom that runs down the drivers side of the car, Will this need to be replaced as well?? I hope not cos it kinda goes to the fuel pump, and i don't wanna play with those wires.

Also one to add to your list is cruise control. (if you don't already have it)

[savage1987]

Mate with how long things tend to take me to get around to, and given that I don't even have most of the parts I need, and a few other reasons too, I wouldn't wait for me!

oh and VN2NV, I work at a wrecker and I am qualified to do it. It is illegal if I'm not, but I do it for a living, it's part of the job. Thanks for highlighting that though.

Sam

[stockies]

Yeah i got to find a statesman loom now. Are they all the same? are the V6 and V8 different in any way?

[1991_Vn2nV]

Make sure you get a loom AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE in build date to your car.

[stockies]

Make sure you get a loom AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE in build date to your car.

I didn't even think of build dates. This is becoming harder then expected. Anyways i think i might whack a VP calais loom in my car. Far easier to find and probably closer to my build date. (July 1991) Also would i be able to use my current alarm and central locking setup?

Anyone want to swap VN calais switchblocks for VP ones??

[1991_Vn2nV]

You just have to wire the alarm into the new loom mate, pretty easy (I had to do with my remote start and alarm).

I got a 1991 model loom, which is what I would suggest you do..Otherwise if you go VP some things may have changed in the loom such as plugs, and satellite/switchblock button locations.

[electro cruiser]

ive done a calais conversion to my vn s-pac!! took 2 onths and at the end of it all, my car is rattlier and creaky.. lol..worth it though..especially the climate control... someone on this site said with the climate control.. set and forget!!!

[1991_Vn2nV]

If done properly there shouldnt be any bad rattles.

I no longer have any rattles from the dash area what so ever, the only issue I had was the bloody centre console (it dropped a bit where it connects to the cd/climate surround area) but thats fixable if you fiddle around for a while. Also, I knocked a hose off last time which gave me a vaccuum leak which is just a matter of hooking it back up.