Just How Does The Climate Control Work ?

[pj_andrew]

I'm still having hassle with the climate control. The handbook makes it seem easy but I'm not convinced.

 

The one main question is if its on AUTO then cooled air comes out of the vents but it seems to just keep coming and the fan stays on at least 3 bars or above. Surely after a while the car should be cool enough. I have the temp at 22.

Usually I have to press ECON and the fan calms down to 2 or 1 bars and the cooled air stops.

 

Shouldn't AUTO calm down once the car is cooled to the right temp? (or perhaps it never cools down enough in the car - too much hot air from the occupants!)

[Guest SA Intruder]

Mine never seems to drop below 3 bars on Auto.

 

On ECON it sometimes drops, but only when it seems to be coping well!

 

I think Auto by definition keeps a fairly high level of airflow going to enable max comfort and control?

[grifjl]

I think the fan has to keep going to stop the fins in the a/c unit from freezing. What happens is that the air needs to flow at that rate to stop the freezing and then heat is added to the cabin as well to maintain the temp at your 22C.

 

Inefficient I guess, but that was the stiry I had on my last car.

 

We have the dual air conditioning unit and it does seem to perform exceptionally well. The kids like the fact they can control the temperature a bit better in the back.

[Guest CCCTech]

I've noticed this too and is the reason I never use auto tbh.

It seems to be common across all makes of car, and I guess both explanations above are probably likely as to why it does it.

[pj_andrew]

All replies seem to make sense.

 

After an hour or two of the fan on 3 bars and above, it gets a bit annoying having the air blowing all the time. I tend to switch to ECON for some time and reduce the blower - that gives me a rest from the air flow, then switch back to AUTO. Really, unless its above 16 or so outside ECON is good enough - taking the air from outside.

 

AUTO is great if the sun is streaming in as all the glass means the car heats up really quickly and AUTO does a good job of cooling the car down.

 

I have noticed if I try and force the fan on in the back, while AUTO is on, after a few moments the unit reduces the fan in the back to nothing. I presume this is due to the restriction is available cold air, so it all goes to the front.

[Nick]

Just my 2 cents:

Auto will only stay in 'auto' for fan position 3,4 & 5. Anything outside and 'auto' gets knocked off.

Auto enables the air con compressor to cut in and hence all the air con circuits engage.

Econ keeps the air con off and saves fuel.

For Auto Temp Control to work there has to be sufficient air movement in the cabin in order for the ATC sensor to hold control.

You may want to clean/blow out the ATC sensor. It's on the LHS of the console behind small fins.

[malcolm.dobell]

Hope you've solved your problems. However my hints are: don't agonise over what it's doing. If the display doesn't flash when you switch on and on hot days in AUTO plenty of cold air comes out, then it's probably OK.

 

In general I've never had to do anything to the fan speed. It sorts itself out without changing the display. A degree or two change on the temperature usually deals with anyone complaining about being hot ot cold. Leave on auto all the time unless really worried about fuel consumption. If you read the manual several times, it eventually makes sense. My SEAT version is not as clear as the previous Ford one as it has managed to be translated from Spanish. Heaven knows what language it started as!