Climate Control System Network Communication

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2014 Lincoln MKX and 2014 Ford Edge. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The controls for the climate control system are in one or more locations depending on vehicle option content.

Front Controls Interface Module (FCIM)
Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) (if equipped with steering wheel controls, Dual Automatic Temperature Control (DATC) only)
Front Display Interface Module (FDIM) (if equipped with touchscreen controls, DATC only)

For DATC systems equipped with touchscreen or steering wheel controls, when the FDIM touchscreen or IPC steering wheel controls are used, they send a function request message over the Infotainment Controller Area Network (I-CAN) to the FCIM .

The FCIM reads the climate control selections and sends the requests to the HVAC module in the following message path:

The FCIM sends the requests over the I-CAN to the IPC module.
The IPC module then relays the requests to Body Control Module (BCM) over the High Speed Controller Area Network (HS-CAN).
Lastly, the BCM then sends the requests to the HVAC module over the Medium Speed Controller Area Network (MS-CAN).

For Electronic Manual Temperature Control (EMTC) systems, the messaging path is followed in reverse for any status updates that need to be sent from the HVAC module to the FCIM and Front Control/Display Interface Module (FCDIM).

For DATC systems, the messaging path is followed in reverse for any status updates that need to be sent from the HVAC module to the FCIM , FCDIM (non-touchscreen), FDIM (touchscreen) and IPC message center.