DIY: 2013-2017 RA3/RA4 8.4" Radio Upgrade/HVAC Conversion

[Mpgrimm2]

Does anyone know if the following HVAC Modules will work with a 2013 Ram with Factory 4Speed fan.
HVAC Modules - 68183973AB, and 68268186AA

No. Those are for 14-17 1500's with 7 Speed Fan/HVAC system

 

[MDCounsel]

I'll jump on the bandwagon and give Mpgrimm2 a big thumb's up! The guy is great and very helpful. I have a 2016 Tradesman and after upgrading my Wrangler's radio and also always seeing the radio in my wife's Traverse the RA2 has been annoying me. I bought a VP3 NA (from a scrapped 2015 Cherokee), HVAC bezel, and HVAC module from E-Bay and a wiring harness from Mpgrimm2. The install was surprisingly easy BUT the hard controls on the HVAC bezel weren't working. I reached out to Mpgrimm2 who suggested a bad bezel given everything else was working. He offered to repair the bezel but I bought another salvage bezel and all is working now.

When I first installed everything the radio showed a Jeep splash screen but started playing music even though my bezel controls were not working. It then went through a reset and showed a Ram splash screen. At that point it stopped playing music. My on screen controls all worked- I could change radio and Sirius stations, operate my climate controls from the screen, but no function or illumination on the HVAC bezel. I let Mpgrimm2 know and he said that given I could control the HVAC from the screen but not the bezel then the bezel must be bad. The new bezel fixed everything but I don't know if it is a truck year issue or an actual defective bezel.

Here are the part numbers I used:
Radio- VP3 NA: 683-04624
HVAC Module: 68366552AA, from a 2017 Ram and it works with no issues
HVAC Bezel: Defective one was 1UJ96DX9AC (2013 Ram) and the one that works is 1UJ96DX9AF (2014 Ram)

Thanks and good luck. I really do like the new radio.

 

[bretthays]

So I just finished installing a UAQ and 7” cluster with 4thgenmods harness and added the HVAC module. I have the 7 speed fan.

Do you offer an add on harness so I could add the temp and humidity sensor to get ATC or would I have to completely replace the harness I just installed?

 

[670hoth]

I want to add the MTC or single zone ATC bezel but the #68268186AA is now so expensive that it makes it not worth it. Is there another module or solution?

 

[Mpgrimm2]

So I just finished installing a UAQ and 7” cluster with 4thgenmods harness and added the HVAC module. I have the 7 speed fan.

Do you offer an add on harness so I could add the temp and humidity sensor to get ATC or would I have to completely replace the harness I just installed?

Yes I can build an add-on harness set or I'd recommend you plan on replacing it with my 8.4 conversion setup with ATC. It's about $30 more to go with the full conversion harness atc setup vs universal add-on set

 

[raceghost]

Does anyone have a good write up or pictures on the 40/20/40 Jump seat tear down. Gonna do a custom media hub, and possibly if it goes wrong, will order the 2018+ tray and get the 2018 Ram Hub. Just need pictures on how to get the tub out that the media hub clips into. Thanks in advance,

Update: Thanks M2Grimm, Mike I found your YouTube Video on it. Anyone else --> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tq44VqM9Ipw

 

[Dezel2000]

Wanted to give a huge shot out to Mike MPGRIMM2 and everyone else that went in to this. I bought my truck as a work truck long ago and plans changed and now it's uses for play and to get my family around. Was definitely missing out on all the extras on the interior my truck was a tradesman. Thinking about buying a new truck but did a lot of exterior work to mine and didn't wanna start over lol. After researching and finding a bunch of threads about upgrading my interior I looked into several places and spoke to several people After speaking to Mike I made up my mind thanks for taking to me like a person to person and not a salesperson. I been completely transforming my interior and couldn't be happier. I now have 8.4 bezel 4 to 7sp ac fog lights with factory switch trailer brakes and more to come. Thanks again. M2mods4ram.com.

 

[sauce]

Converting a 2013+ (thru 2016) RA1/RA2 MTC bezel
with 4 speed blower
to a RA3/RA4 MTC bezel and Radio. ​

** POST 17 : Important note/Caution about using cheap cloned blower resistors **




It’s been quite a journey developing this harness along with Getupkid, Duneflyer, Mondo myself and several others. We now have a complete DIY solution for upgrading to the RA4 or RA3 from the RA1 and RA2 radios. The basic Radio is PNP now that we can use the 8.4 bezel and HVAC controls.

There are currently two factory setups for the hvac blower: the 7 speed and the 4 speed.

This is how I understand how the trucks were built, if they were equipped with the RA1 or RA2 radios.

2013 1500's have the 4 speed blower setup. (Fixed Displacement Compressor)
2013-2018 2500/3500's have the 4 speed blower set up. (Fixed Displacement Compressor)
2014-2018 1500's have the 7 speed blower set up (Var. Displacement Compressor)

NOTE:
The conversion for the 7 speed factory fan set up while similar is different and involves not only a different HVAC module but the pinouts for the conversion harness are also slightly different, see Post 2.​

Parts Required For MOD:

01. 8.4 Uconnect Radio (VP3/RA3 - Non-Nav) or (VP4/RA4 - Nav)
** For Compatible RA4 Radios see here. **Check car-part.com, Schram, ebay, etc.

02. SINGLE ZONE OEM 8.4" (MTC) BEZEL: 1UJ96DX9AF (AC, AD, AE, etc)
** Optional: DUAL ZONE 8.4" (ATC) BEZEL, while not preferred, will work. See POST 15

03. Base to 8.4 Radio Conversion Harness (4 speed Fan specific):
. . See below to make your own in standard or extended length
. . (or get an extended one from: M² Mods )

04. HVAC CONTROL MODULE: 68105017Ax (AA, AB, etc) (4 to 7 speed Fan specific)
. . ** If you use the wrong module (ie xxxx8186Ax = no A/C, or xxxx8187Ax = No A/C & 6 vs 7 fan speeds)

< 10/4/19 edit > 2018 2500/3500's w/UAx = 68366553AA HVAC module. See post 89.
** UAx Radio Upgrade has very high likelyhood of HVAC Blend door issues that are fixed by adding the ATC wiring mod with conversion. See links in UAQ/UAS Upgrade thread. **

05. Fan Motor Power/Resistor Harness: 68048906AA (Req's Modification)
. . (or see DeereGuy's write-up of 00R/T's notes to make your own at roll-up posts 1765-1766 or get the plug-n-play version at M² Mods ... watch out for poorly made ones elsewhere)

06. 7spd Blower Resistor: 68048901AA (same as Denso PN 499300-2121) See ebay ad and Post 51 )

07. 911 Error Fix/Cell Bypass Plug: (or SharkFin Antenna mod)
. . See note 1 (below) to make your own or get one from M² Mods.

View attachment 417864

Mpg2's Instruction Sheet References:
- 2013-2017 8.4 Conv for 4 Speed Fan Trucks 7-6-17.pdf v1 <----- RECOMMENDED READING
- 2013-2016 Ram Radio Removal 6-27-16.pdf
- 2013-2016 Ram RearView Mirror (w/mics) Upgrade & Harness install 7-8-16.pdf



Optional parts
- PLEASE SEE POST 2

NOTE 1:
You can omit the Antenna body cable, Antenna jumper cable, and shark fin antenna if you get the Bypass Plug from M² Mods

Or you can make your own using the following parts (search ebay and amazon for these)
Farka D connector/Pigtail with 2 to 6 inch lead
10k Ohm Resistor with 5% tolerance, 1/2 watt.

Just solder one end of the resistor to the center wire and the other end to the wire shielding. Tape it up with electrical tape or heat shrink it.

Connectors & Pins to Make Conversion Harness
08. 24 Pin Connector 1: 1318917-1 TE Connectivity | Mouser
09. 24 Pin Connector 1 - (F) Sockets: 1123343-1 TE Connectivity / AMP | Mouser
10. 24 Pin Connector 2: 1376103-1 TE Connectivity | Mouser
11. 24 Pin Connector 2 - (M) Pins: 1376109-1 TE Connectivity / AMP | Mouser
12. 08 Pin Female - Connector: 30700-1081 Molex | Mouser
13. 08 Pin Female - (F) Sockets: 1393366-1 TE Connectivity / AMP | Mouser

Connector/Harness Reference:
- 8 Pin Center Stack HVAC Conn 0307001081 AS-30700-000 Series Instruction Sheet.pdf
- 24 Pin HVAC TEconn 025series Instruction Sheet 411-5928_G4.pdf
- Cptwing's harness making notes at Post 9
- Mpgrimm2 Harness Soldering Notes at Post 13

14. Wire 22 gauge 50.0 inches long QTY of 20
15. Wire 22 gauge 18.0 inches long QTY of 5
16. Electrical tape one roll should be enough
17. Wire ties
18. Heat Shrink
19. Solder/Soldering Iron
20. Split Wire loom or Nylon Braided Sleeving

Along with this you will need the following:
21. Wire strippers..
22. Crimpers double roll type recommend ratchet type
.... See post 12 for some notes on possible crimpers.
23. Heat gun
24. Small awl or similar tool to de pin connector

Here is a shot of everything needed except that some tools are not shown.
dscn0418 - 4spd parts layout.jpg
View attachment 417865

The diagram shown below details the conversion harness and pinouts of the various connectors, what is not shown and will be addressed later is how part 1 above ties into it, at pin 17 on the module side.

CptWing RA4 Conversion Harness layout - 4spd w/Mpg2 Edits 4-16-17.jpg


And after a bit of work and eye strain your harness should look something like this...

dscn0425 - Complete Extended 4spd Conversion harness.jpg
View attachment 417866

Just wanted to give a huge thank you to the guys who helped get my 8.4 conversion working! Everything went smoothly and everything made sense. I highly recommend this product if you plan on updating to the 8.4 radio. Wire harnesses were very high quality along with the modules i was sent. I will be purchasing the seat harness from these guys as well. 10/10

 

[littlebiscuit]

Wanted to give a huge shot out to Mike MPGRIMM2 and everyone else that went in to this. After researching and finding a bunch of threads about upgrading my my 3.0 ra1 uconnect to 8.4 uconnect w nav I looked into several places and spoke to several people After speaking to Mike I made up my mind thanks. I own a 2018 ram 3500 6.4 L dually. For the life of me can't understand ram thinking putting backup camera in mirror on 3500 dually but they did with cheapest radio possible with no possible way to display on radio. So with help from Mike he helped me with all the cable builds required and shipped them pretty fast to upgrade my 3.0 radio with all plug and play cables. Also did the backup up camera from mirror to 8.4 radio display. This required a new single zone radio bezel, Radio, 4 to seven spd climate control module and resister. In which Mike helped me the hole way. All the links he provided were excellent. Mike Thanks Again!

 

[UnaPachanga]

MPGRIMM2 is the man! I too just upgraded my 2500 to the 8.4 and he was extremely timely with his response and shipping my needed parts to make it happen. If anyone is here is on the fence about doing it yourself, don’t be afraid! It really is not that difficult with all the legwork and support these fine folks have been providing.