Climate Control Too Damned Fiddly

[seatkid]

Yes, the compressor is driven from the engine via the auxilliary drive belt (the one that drives the alternator and power steering pump too). The compressor is fiited with an electromagnitc clutch. When electrical power is applied to this clutch, the compressor is physically connected to the belt drive, otherwise it is switched off.

 

Ford engines are fitted with a fixed displacement pump, which means the faster the engine revs, the more it pumps and the more the a/c system cools. Temperature control is acheived by switching the compressor on or off either by the cc unit or a thermostat on non cc units.

 

VW engines have a more sophisticated variable displacement pump, the output of this depends not only on engine revs but also the position of what is known as a swash plate which is located within the pump. this allows it to compensate for revs, pumping a constant rate despite a variation in revs.

[Another?Maybe!]

What's this 18 degrees/20 degrees stuff? My temp is set to 70!

 

Also, on topic of fuel economy I think more fuel is used when aircon is on as makes more demand on the engine to drive the compressor.

 

Also, when I was a kid being driven by my Dad, whenever we came to a downhill stretch he would knock the gearbox into neutral, Scotsman's petrol we are using, he would say! Guess that would be a racist remark these days?

 

PeteR

 

:lol: <_<

[Guest MATT]

...It does say in the Manual, that when air con is being used, it does use more fuel, have not tested out this theory yet though, Sir.

 

SIR - ive found a revision site!

 

MATT <_<

[Guest V6 Owner (George)]

In my car, it is set to centigrade, if yours is displaying, it is set to farenhite, there is the option to have it changed, but don't ask how, i had the garage do it for me. Greorge

[Guest Paulus1978]

I must be lucky too, my duel zone CC ( Being a 1.9 TDi Ghia ) is more than happy to sit on Auto all day every day, with the only irritation being the occasional time i need to press the heated front screen button. This has got to be one of the easiest CC systems i've used, and a real leap forward from the usual single zone CC on less fortunate cars

[Neily]

George,

I'm not familiar eith the cc controls / dash layout on facelift models (which is what you appear to have, looking at your avatar), but on my mk1 Gal the cc unit fascia has a tiny hole, just wide enough to gently insert the tip of a biro or pin or toothpick etc. Behind this hole is a tact switch (little button) which toggles the outside temp display between Cetigrade and Fahrenheit. There may be something similar in your car - the owner's manual should explain this.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Neil

[iainkirk]

IIRC you press two of the buttons on the aircon unit. Don't ask me which ones, but a reply will surely be along soon...

 

Doing this also changes the outside temperature reading from F to C on the trip computer at the same time.

[Scorpiorefugee]

I agree with all adverse comments about the CC.

 

I now have two Gals, one S reg and one 52 Ghia. The old air con is great - 3 knobs and you can feel where everything is. The new 'User interface' (God save us from lunatic expressions!) is a total waste of space. It's badly positioned, seems to have been designed by an overactive 2 year old and, apart from the steady temperature control, doesnt do what it says on the tin. In fact, it doesn't do much at all apart from prove to be a dangerous distraction for the driver when trying to get more than a trckle of air from the vents.

 

What is wrong with knobs? Or has the world forgotten about practical simplicity in the chase for more flashing LEDs and other whizz bang gimmicks?

 

Incidentally, I bought the second Galaxy because I was so imressed with my newly aquired much abused 'company van'

 

I think I prefer the old one - it's more comfortable and a good deal more economical and easier to drive.

 

One improvement has been to return to a proper headlamp dip switch so maybe, when the designers grow out of nappies, we can go back to knobs and safe driving!

 

Ron,

 

Yes, I am an old codger. 60+ with nearly 2 million miles under my belt.

[johnb80]

Well I'll have to disagree with you, the positioning of the controls could have been better BUT I find I hardly ever have to touch mine, generally set to 19 in summer, 21 in winter and it looks after itself. Automatically switches on the front screen heater and demister first thing in a morning, keeps the cabing very comfortable, superb.

 

You can keep your three knobs and the constant fiddling needed to keep the temperature right, Ill have CC any day of the week.

 

Regards - JB

[Guest vr6galaxy]

I do the same but I have the three knobs, set the temp, adjust the flow direction, set the fan speed and leave it :angry: my T5's heater controls hasnt been adjusted since I got it over 14months ago B) the reason for that is the controls dont work so I dont bother with them :D it's stuck on luke warm, set to floor/screen and dash vents, the only adjustment I have control over is fan speed which is left on one and isnt touched :) one day when I have the time I'll get it fixed :D

[Scorpiorefugee]

JB is absolutely right. My throwaway comment coutesy of Ronseal was a little OTT but the fact remains that it would be easy to connect the CC to three, or maybe four knobs and it would work exactly the same as the dozen or so fiddly little buttons and cause a lot less accidents. One knob is a good physical and visual indicator and a totally reliable memory device for favourite settings - even if the battery fails.

 

Fair do's about not needing to adjust it much but some people do like fiddling.

 

Just out of interest, the level of electronic complexity for the CC is barely knee high to that found in the cheapest 20 quid personal CD player so why isn't CC standard. :ph34r:

 

Finally, a question. Why is it difficult to get much air flow from the vents with the CC unit?