Is my climate control knackered?

[wedge69]

Situation

Climate control set to 18deg, climate control shows outside temp as 20deg.

First ten minutes or so of journey air con comes on and it's a nice pleasant driving experience, but then the all of a sudden it will blast out hot (not warm, hot air) like it's trying to over compensate for something.

I have seen on here that you can access the diagnostics of the climate control, but the explanaiton of what the codes mean was incomplete.

anyone shed any light on this?

[ScoobyChris]

Definitely doesn't sound right - I'd get a VAG-COM plugged in to see if any climate-related code have been written. May just be a sensor which is faulty

Chris

[bk1]

Can you access the climate control values,etc, through the climate control panel in the car?
In my A3 I could press a combination of buttons and cycle through the values of things like revs, speed, temperature readings in various parts of the system, etc.
I have a feeling it might also report fault codes with the cc unit, but I'm not sure.

[wedge69]

Yeah, there's a guide on here that says how to access the diagnostics, but it's not complete (at least the one I found wasn't) in so far as it doesn't tell you what display relates to what sensor etc.

Infact, I found this when searching the forum, but take for example code 03 - what is an acceptable sun exposure index?:

00 = total placing value, 0=max. cool, 255 max. heat
01 = interior temperature sensors (at the operating sector of the Climatronic)
02 = average sun exposure index
03 = sun exposure index in mW/cm²
04 = outside temperature bumper (averaged)
05 = current value: Outside temperature bumper
06 = temperature fresh air suction port (?)
07 = temperature Fussaustroemer
08 = temperature, but no feeler attached
09 = blower regulation (one can with +/- blower engine regulate)
10 = blower strength
11 = temperature flap (0 = max. warmly, 255 = max. coldly), (+/)
12 = flap torso (+/)
13 = flap circulating air (+/)
14 = flap for windshield (+/)
15 = time since engine start in seconds of
16 = speed (Digitaltacho) (kmh = metric, mph = imperial)
17 =?
18 = mostly is 0. Sporadically I had there 65, 68 and 69 (wenn's very, very hot). No idea, which means it.
19 =?
20 =?
21 =?
22 =?
23 =? Temperature identification with #7?!
24 = act. Temperature heat flap od.: one over +/- adjustable temperature. I take to it am the maximally permitted temperature for NR. 23 and/or NR. 7, thereby the feet does not anbrennen
25 =?
26 = actual value of temperature flap
27 =?
28 =?
29 = actual value floor space?
30 =?
31 =?
32 = actual value of circulating air flap
33 =?
34 =?
35 = actual value of window nozzle (Defroster nozzle or as **** yourself calls)

36 =?
37 =?

starting from 38 stand firm worth:
38 = 10
39 = 0
40 = -51°C
41 = 0
42 = 3
43 = 2
44 = 0

info provided by member jeanluc.

[DGW]

The Climatronic system has its own controller which needs to be scanned with VAG-COM (or a dealer's diagnostic equipment) to check for error codes. If you have access to or can borrow VAG-COM, the relevant address is 08 - AUTO-HVAC. The controller goes by the long-winded description of Display and operating unit with control unit for electronic regulation air conditioner. When I thought my Climatronic was faulty, the dealer put it through a diagnostic routine which proved all was working as it should. A new controller is circa £370 if that is where the fault is.

[wedge69]

Thanks for the info.

Unfortunately I don't have VAG-COM (anyone close to Evesham?)

I have been using the onboard diagnosis of the unit itself, and you can see by examining the values of the temperature sensors that the car begins to cool nicely, and then all of a sudden the temperature starts to rocket.

What I think is happening is that at the point that the system needs to intruduce some warm air it is opening a flap somewhere that is getting stuck.

I am just trying to gauge some more information before going to the dealers (can't really just turn up and say "My Climate doesn't work"). I am under warrenty, so hopefulyl it would be free anyway?

[Dr Zoidberg]

This morning my climate control suddenly decided it wanted to work as a flame thrower rather than a source of cold air.

I was driving along when it started to cook my legs so I stopped , turned the engine off and on again and it cleared itself and after a minute or so was blowing cold air again.

After just a one off I'm not going back to the dealer as they'll just say it's fine but I will be keeping an eye on it.

Sounds like it might be the same problem as yours.

[wedge69]

Okay, well I'll keep you informed of anything I find out then!