Missing pins on HVAC control - normal?

[TeeJayHoward]

It appears as though all the pins in these two plug areas are missing on this HVAC controller. Do the cheapest and most expensive control units use different plugs? Is the plug area without a securing mechanism just probe pads for diagnostics? (Sorry, not an embedded systems guy, don’t know the right term.)

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[Buyer2021]

FWIW my experience is that connectors (both harness and module-side), even of the same shape, are often only populated with pins (and associated harness wiring) according to need of the VIN-specific OE features on the vehicle.

Many connectors are not 'fully populated' even when 100% of the possible features are supported.

And often modules use common plastic castings with 'rough' provisions for connectors that are not used at all in that module's VIN-specific application.

Perusing the electrical diagrams and particularly the connector detail diagrams in the Workshop / Service Manual can be enlightening in this regard.

Not sure if that's responsive to your question?