central vents and air conditioning

[scowlsandgrowls]

Hi

I have climatronic air conditioning.

When the air conditioning is on (auto mode) and its hot outside, cold air in blown through the central vents. However if its cold outside, no hot air in blown through the central vents though hot air does appear to come through the side vents and the windscreen vent.

If in econ mode then hot air is blown through the central vents.

Is the above correct - ie air con on no hot air in central vents?

Also what is the purpose of the, what looks like window demisting vents, adjacent to the windows, where there is a thin grill like vents in the black housing on the door i.e where the window meets the door inside of the door mirror. However no air in whatever mode appears to come through the grills.

Thanks

[geoff_halpin]

Hello,

I'm not entirely sure as the system sometimes seems to have a mind of it's own but I'll try and answer some of your questions based on my own experiences. I think your climate control is working normally!

The system adjusts itself according to several factors including the temperature and humidity inside and outside the car.

If it's hotter outside than your chosen temp setting inside, then cooler air will be blown through the central vents to cool you down. This cooler air sinks down in the car so the whole interior gets cooler. If you hit the ECON button then the air won't get cooled or dehumidified and the fan may have to increase power to keep you cool.

If it's colder outside than you want it inside then normally the car will blow the warmed air through the floor vents and the heat rises so the interior gets warm.

BUT in AUTO mode the car can dehumidify the air which normally helps you feel more comfortable and keeps the windows demisted more easily. If you switch the compressor off by selecting ECON then the car cannot dehumidify the fresh air coming in. This means that in cold weather the car is bringing in warmed damp air so the windows may start to mist up and it may start to feel stuffy. The car counteracts this by blowing more air to the windows to demist and more to your face to keep you comfortable and to help circulate the air (the air to your face should be cooler than that to your feet).

As to the window 'vents' I don't know. I thought they were demisters and were fed from the main vents through a hole in the door you can see when you have the door open. I'll have to look more closely!

[fredw]

Originally Posted by geoff_halpin

Hello,

I'm not entirely sure as the system sometimes seems to have a mind of it's own

Geoff's explanation sounds about right. I fully agree with the system having a mind of its own.

Compared to the MK1 climatronic it needs far more Tender Loving Care (translation: far more fiddling wit the controls) to maintain a comfortable interior. On the MK1 i lust set a temperature and for most of the time forgot all about the system as I was almost always comfortable. I occasionally had to increase the temperature for a few minutes in really cold weather.

[mannyo]

Geoff is right I think, although I find the dual zone far better in the MK2 than the climatronic in the MK1. Currently I have the temp set to 19c, with the system on auto and have no problems.

[scowlsandgrowls]

Originally Posted by geoff_halpin

Hello,

As to the window 'vents' I don't know. I thought they were demisters and were fed from the main vents through a hole in the door you can see when you have the door open. I'll have to look more closely!

I've put my hand against these vents in various modes and can't feel any air coming through - having said that the side windows (touch wood) so far haven't misted up whereas the windscreen does seem prone to a bit of misting up now and then