db Posted November 24, 2004 Report Share Posted November 24, 2004 Does the air conditioning still work when you have the temperature dial to hot? On my reckoning it should as when it's on the warm setting it should de humidify the air and still come out hot. For example when i got back to my car this evening (temp outside was 11c) the inside of the windscreen was condensated so i thought that i would whack the air conditioning on whilst the dial was turned to warm and it should clear it really quick. However i turned off a minute or so after as i had that moment of hesitation where i thought perhaps i shouldnt be doing it and i was gonna break it. I checked the manual and it's useless and tells me nothing!Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bossjohnc Posted November 24, 2004 Report Share Posted November 24, 2004 I do beleive the pump still works, but I can't be certain.I'm sure you won't hurt it by having it on/hot though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db Posted November 24, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2004 Thats what i thought, you can do it on dads bmw - infact it recommends it, but just thought id check it before i broke it style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":lol:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigz™ Posted November 24, 2004 Report Share Posted November 24, 2004 But isnt the air con compressor like a fridge compressor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bossjohnc Posted November 24, 2004 Report Share Posted November 24, 2004 Yes......? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigz™ Posted November 24, 2004 Report Share Posted November 24, 2004 I always thought air con is only used if your after cold air? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bossjohnc Posted November 24, 2004 Report Share Posted November 24, 2004 Well, in a car with climate control, you set the temperature and the car decides if it needs to cool the air or not (it switches the compressor on/off).In the loop, you've got the temperature controller, which when set to cold takes air in from outside, and hot takes in air from around the engine bay. If you have air con, I beleive the cold air fins from the compressor are placed by the cold air intake, so if you have it set to cold, the air will be cooled, however if you have it set to hot, the air will come from the engine bay regardless of whether the A/C button is on or off. (On means the compressor is operating).That's my theory anyway!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db Posted November 24, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2004 Well i always thought that the air conditioning system took out side ambient air, cooled it, dried it (de humidify) and reheated it to the chosen temperature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bossjohnc Posted November 24, 2004 Report Share Posted November 24, 2004 If the air is cooled it's naturally dehumidified... thinking about it, I use the air con to make sure the windows don't mist up on recirc.A good test would be to whack the heating up full, put recirc and air con on, and see if the windows steam up! If they don't, then it does exactly as you suggest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db Posted November 24, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2004 I'll give it a whirl tomorrow then and see what happens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bossjohnc Posted November 24, 2004 Report Share Posted November 24, 2004 I'll give it a go too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db Posted November 24, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2004 Right ok, haha. I'll report my findings tomorrow evening Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulbin Posted November 24, 2004 Report Share Posted November 24, 2004 the recirculating button doesnt work on the windscreen though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db Posted November 24, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2004 True, well done that man well, i'll put it on face and feet and see what happens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy Posted November 25, 2004 Report Share Posted November 25, 2004 Yes, it works no problem. The air conditioning unit both dehumidifies and chills the air. All your doing is pumping that chilled air through the heating system before introducing it to the car. So yes, you will get warm, dry air, instead of hot, moist air. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db Posted November 25, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2004 I didnt get round to checking, but it looks like snoop has confirmed what i thought. Cheers mate :wink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynsey Posted November 26, 2004 Report Share Posted November 26, 2004 Talking of air conditioning...what's the deal with getting it serviced and the like?I've never recalled seeing anything mentioned re. the air conditioning on my previous service bits of paper.Is it something separate that you have to organise yourself? Or do people wait for it to go worng first? style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":lol:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" /> Just a thought, as my dads car is in for his to be fixed today as its buggered (blows in hot air when its on cold or just don't work at all). So before mine has a style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":wacko:" border="0" alt="wacko.gif" /> moment, I'll ask all you chaps who are experts style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusoe Posted November 26, 2004 Report Share Posted November 26, 2004 should be in the service shedule, every 30K miles or 2 years it probably needs the gas refilled or somethign along those lines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy Posted November 26, 2004 Report Share Posted November 26, 2004 I don't think a regas is part of the service schedule. You can ask them to do it, but they'll source it out to an aircon specialist, so it's probably worth looking in the yellow pages and phoning a specialist directly - will cost less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliveski Posted November 26, 2004 Report Share Posted November 26, 2004 The `air-con` is 'CFC Free' so is the '`re-gas`' for something other than CFC? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bossjohnc Posted November 26, 2004 Report Share Posted November 26, 2004 Yes, HFCs are used instead nowadays I beleive... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabo Posted November 26, 2004 Report Share Posted November 26, 2004 There's only one instance when car `air-con` needs any serious fiddling with - when there's a leak and refrigerant charge dimishes = thermal load capacity gets smaller. It happens on crappier systems due to expansion/compression movements of certain parts because of rapid temp changes.If you go on switching compressor on/off/on/off/on/off etc. you're increasing the chances of seal failure.The other thing in belt powered units is belt tensioning, if it gets slack it won't give compressor nuff rpm to work properly.In other words, 'If ain't broke, don't fix it' style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy Posted November 26, 2004 Report Share Posted November 26, 2004 Apparently they do `de-gas` quite easily - a lot of the Mk4 Golf boys get it regassed every three years or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
`arosa-beeftex` Posted November 27, 2004 Report Share Posted November 27, 2004 Hello, new member, 1998 Arosa 1.0 driver (since July 2003) - the best value for money car I have bought to date!!!!!!Those lucky enough to have AC - yes, you can use it to heat the car up quickly during the winter, as well as maintain cold air during the hot (and hotter?) summers we have.The best way to demist is to switch on the recirc button, switch the dial to screen or even between screen/feet , and full on the speed control with the a/c switched on. Trust me, I have left home many an early morning during the winter in my Arosa, as well as a variety of company cars from different manufacturers. By the way, once the car has warmed up, put the air back to fresh, and reduce the fan speed to your preffered level - practice makes perfect.TIP: do make sure your Pollen filter is regularly changed, as it reduces fresh air intake into the car, and can also make you nauseous if it is REALLY caked with rubbish etc.With regards A/C recharging - the rule is more you use the A/C, the better it is for the compressor, the gas etc. In fact, most manufacturers recommend you turn it up to full blast at least once a month for at least half an hour. This keeps the seals in good nick. Best practice is to get the gas checked by a reliable gas man if you notice the A/C isn't heating / cooling efficiently. Some gas men recommend inserting dye for about £15 plus especially once a car gets a bit older - useful, as it shows up any leaks.Pleased to be part of the Lupo/Arosa forum, and for those of you who have skimmed to the end of this post - sorry for the !!!!yawn!!!! reply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db Posted November 27, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2004 `Thank-you` for your very useful reply and welcome to the club :wink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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