The air-con/heater controls are a different design in my KW compared to my KH and I've decided I don't like them as much.

The KH has a small LCD display screen that shows the status of the fan and controls with a graphic display showing the driver sitting in the car with air-flow arrows. It has a single push button "auto" knob to start the climate control system. Ths knob is positioned well and doubles as the rotary control for the temp as well. There are other push buttons for the vent controls. For example to demist the windscreen you just press that button and it works automatically to configure all the vents and air-con and fan speed.

It's always worked very well, although I hated that the recirculate mode would reset whenever I pushed auto. There's even a button to display the outside temp which is handy when deciding what mode I want. Really a very swish unit IMO.

The KW did away with that and has three rotary knobs. I hate it. For climate control I have to rotate the mode knob to ensure its on "auto" and then rotate the fan knob to "auto" with a separate knob for temp. So whenever I change the controls I have to reset them the next time. They're fiddly and require me to lean a little and look at them to set them, which is a dangerous distraction when driving. And no display of system status and no feature to see the outside temp.

I wonder if anyone has tried swapping the unit and center dash out for the earlier one? Whether they would be compatible and fit?

There are other differences between the models too, for instance the KH allows me to direct external cool air into the cabin at face level while still heating the floor or screen. An additional vent control in the central vents is provided for that. I didnt really use that much though.

The KH has a button on the dash to instantly dim or brighten the instrument lights, which is separate to the rotary dimmer control. Very useful on overcast days when I can dim the instruments, or on bright days where I could increase them, all without altering the setting for night driving.

The other big control difference is the trip computer display, which is integrated into the centre clock display on the KH, but part of the instrument cluster on the KW. I guess they felt it was safer like that, but it means the clock display area is kinda wasted space in the KW.

Check out onkytonks ride, he retrofitted one in, looks factory.

The controls are a direct plug and play.

Check out onkytonks ride, he retrofitted one in, looks factory.

Onkytonk has a KH and he fitted a TL/TW climate control system. He ended up getting annoyed with the auto fan speed, and reverted BACK to the original KH climate control system, which he retrofitted to the TL centre console dash piece.

OP - you might have to check with Mal on the specifics.
From personal experience, I know that it is possible to properly run a TL+ climate control system in a previous model as I've done in my TJS2. It did "plug in and play" but I had to wire in the external air temp sensor as the TJ or earlier models have the air temp sensor in the actual climate ecu. In the TL+ models, the air temp sensor is external and located on the lhs behind the holes/grille. This could be a problem for you as the wiring may not allow to disconnect the TL/TW external sensor. I do know that the TL/TW (KL/KW) dash loom is very different to earlier models. Many connections for a TL+ harness will not hook up into a pre-TL car so I figure you may not be able to run the KJ climate ecu.

It's plug annd play. Wire for wire it's the same, each wire on the TH-TJ runs to the same place as it would in the TL+. The TL+ unit's have an additional two wires for the external cabin temp sensor.

E to J series also have ext temp sensor.....

And the while the system is plug and play, when converting from KH to KL/W there is a difference in a 'Mid' fan relay which stuffs around with the auto logic of the system.

The change from the KH style cluster to the TJ2 onwards style was simple. The KH Blackout clusters came from Japan and were very expensive. Mitsubishi rejigged the TJ2 to have a combined cluster and trip computer as 2 units cost more than 1 and the Verada scored this mod as all clusters were from the same supplier this time. So they lessened the tint and applied some brighter backlights and different needles and presto.....

To answer the main question,

Yes it is possible for sure! You will have some hurdles, (5 speed tippy light, ext temp sensor, some wiring and relay requirements, and the general way the plugs changed over time between the KH & KW) but with all the parts and being crafty, you can do it.

Mike

Mal:
"E to J series also have ext temp sensor..... " We have a TF Advance which is very basic. I certainly have not seen any hint of an external temp sensor. Do they have it and if so, where is it, and how can I activate it?

Mal:
"E to J series also have ext temp sensor..... " We have a TF Advance which is very basic. I certainly have not seen any hint of an external temp sensor. Do they have it and if so, where is it, and how can I activate it?

It is only in cars with climate control.

It lives at the front to the passenger side just visible through the bumper grill next the numberplate. It is on a brown mount to the radiator frame. However, you wont have one as you don't have climate control.

Heh, some good info here, thanks to all, but I'm left still wondering what's involved since some of the comments seem to indicate you can just swap them over and away u go, but others saying there will be some work required due to different wiring looms, connectors, relays and such.
I'm also wondering about the physical fit given the slightly different layouts. For instance the radio sits higher in the KW and the air-con controls lower.

It's also pretty annoying to hear the system was degraded to save a few $... I mean this was a $50k car when new for goodness sake and I woulda paid an extra few bucks for the better controls... Lol

Also, if I was going to do ths, I think I'd also swap the wood grain finish for silver, or even chrome... Heh
That would include the matching center console... I just kinda got tired of the faux wood grain look.
Actually the KW has more of a woody wood grain look than the KH does.

Was not just the $$ but also the car had a face lift and was time to change several things within the car design internally

The dash itself is the same, they added floor vents at the back and resdesigned the centre section

I have a KL complete woodgrain set here which will go straight into a KH or KJ with the nice colour grain, this also included the airvent section

The reason I feel that the cold air selection was removed as in the E to J series it was more trouble than it was worth as often was not working, the L and W airvent still has the hole where the shaft for the flap assy came out lol

It is really up to personal taste, I perfer the screen not to be there as the dials still show where the air is going thus I get the audio higher up

It is really up to personal taste, I perfer the screen not to be there as the dials still show where the air is going thus I get the audio higher up
I think it must have been a safety consideration. People having to reach low for the radio all the time would have compromised safety when attention is drawn away from the road.
One thing I have noticed now is that I "fiddle" less with the controls.
Tend to just leave it all on auto cos it's a pain to reach lol

Personally, I like the earlier climate. I like the screen, I like the little man picture in there and having 1 control to adjust temp and auto is brilliant! I also have steering wheel controls and voice activation for audio so it does not worry me much having the audio slightly lower. And let us not forget how awesome ECO mode is on the highway.

Mike.