[Mk2] [Turbo] aircon always on (a bit) ?

[kingsley]

With the "ECON" button pressed (as opposed to the "AC" one), I had thought that with the temperature slider on full left and the air recirc off, the air coming out of the vents would never be colder than the ambient outside temperature. Yet on my car that doesn't seem to be the case.

Driving home tonight, even with ECON pressed (the green light was on this button too), with the temperature slider across to the far left, the air coming out of the vents was definitely a few degrees colder than the air outside when I shoved my hand out of the window.

If I pressed the AC button, it got even colder, so that definitely does something, but why would it be cooling the air in ECON mode?

I've also noticed, even in ECON mode, what seems to be the aircon pump kicking in every so often (a click followed by a change in tickover revs and a reduction in tickover engine vacuum).

So, in AC mode it does get colder than in ECON mode, but in ECON mode it still seems to be doing some cooling.

Is this normal?

Cheers,
Kingsley.

[Ren0W]

You know what ECON-mode stands for ?

[kingsley]

I had assumed that it was a slightly sales and marketing way of saying the aircon was switched off.

Doesn't it actually mean that?

Cheers,
Kingsley.

[Ren0W]

It's economy mode.

So your airco will still be running, only on a slower pace.

To save fuel, I think.



... errrrr...

The ECON button will turn off the air con system. The climate control will still work when in auto mode however without the use of conditioned (cold) air, that means that it’ll be harder and sometimes impossible for the climate control alone to reach lower temperatures if the outside temperature is too warm.

When in ECON mode the air con compressor is not being used. The compressor takes its drive from the engine via a belt and therefore takes some power from the engine and uses extra fuel.

whatever , lol .


I Don"T KNoW

[kingsley]

Seems that it running slower would be consistent with my findings, though it seems odd that it can't be turned off altogether. Or maybe it can for some people

It's a mystery ...

I suppose one advantage of having it always there, albeit running slowly, is that the pump seals should never suffer due to long periods of non-use, which is what has happened in my other car.

Cheers,
Kingsley.

[dazzz]

I think when in econ mode the system kicks in if the ambient temp is different to the desired temp.

So if you set it to full cold, (20 deg) and the ambient temp in the car is warmer ( 30 deg ) than the systems set to it will try and cool the car.

I just made up them numbers.

[DeusMR2]

econ allows a larger tolerance of temperature before engaging the clutch on the compressors.

So if you set your car to 20 it will allow the air temp to get to say 25 before kicking in, wheras on AC mode it will kick in at a lower temp e.g. 22. The figures are guesswork but you get the principle.

At absolute minimum (I think its 18?) with AC button on, the compressor will always be engaged. I'm not sure it would turn off if the cabin temperature did actually get to 18 degrees.

[kingsley]

Thanks people, perfect explanations and now all is clear

Cheers,
Kingsley.

[dansREV2turbo]

it should turn off (no lights on either button), try pressing econ again, or press aircon twice if that doesnt work

[raptor95GTS]

it should turn off (no lights on either button), try pressing econ again, or press aircon twice if that doesnt work

qhwn I had air con I used to press either button just enough to click the other one off then release the one I pressed. No lights on either button and air con was off. Or you can press them both at once and I think that also turns the air con off.

[kingsley]

Now why didn't I think of that

It never occurred to me that you could press the selected button again to switch it off without switching the other one on.

Doing that seemed to do the trick - brilliant

Cheers,
Kingsley.