Since these few days of Snow and Ice I have noticed that there isn't much difference in temperature above 32 on the old A/C unit. It takes about 50 minutes to get to work and I can honestly say that the air doesn't really get that hot. Infact my shitty 416 rover gets twice as hot.

 

Now, as this is the first car that I have had with A/C on it, I am not too offey in its mechanics.

 

Am I right in saying that the gas that is put in is to help blow colder than atmospheric temperature air or does it help with heating aswell.

 

I have also noticed that the "rec" button does not work now either. Should I be gripping my wallet or isn't it as bad as it sounds?

 

One thing to note, whilst on my way to work yesterday, had a bit of a scary moment. Had A/C set to full(40) and after 30 minutes of driving with the engine temperature gauge at the usual half way mark, if fell down to a quater. Dropped A/C to 30 and engine temperature came back up to normal within 5 minutes. Whats going on? I need more heat!!!

You need more water in your radiator m8 If the temperature is dropping on the needle then it would indicate quite a low level so get it checked ASAP

 

BTW the temp shown on the AC unit is the temp at which the cabin is held, not the temperature of the air coming from the vents Once the displayed temperature is reached the blower will stop.....

 

CheerZ,

 

Andy

Or..

 

Since the weather is *really* cold..

 

Your heater sucks heat out of the engine coolant, just like the radiator does.. Now think about this - when the coolant temperature drops below 'normal' the thermostat shuts the radiator off, to maintain coolant temp..

 

Well, your heater is a radiator (albeit a little smaller).. You stick the a/c up to 40C, and it's blowing cold air over this radiator, trying to heat it up, sucking more and more heat out of the coolant..

Well, if your heater is really good, and the air really cold, it is possible to suck so much heat out of the coolant that the engine actually gets cold - the thermostat to the radiator will shut, but you still have your 'second radiator' set on full, cooling the engine....

 

I can do it quite readily in my Renault at the moment! Bit of a pain (thats in my case, because my thermostat is stuck partly open.. - perhaps yours is too..)

Oh shit I think that the A/C has packed up completely. The usual give away of the unit starting was by the revs rising when the Auto button was pressed without "econ". Now it dont. It still heats up but the "rec" button does not work either. Could this be a fuse and does the A/C unit have a test that can be done to check for this?

 

 

I think that the temperature that comes out hot is the same, it just mixes some old with it too on cooler settings.

If I have it on 40, all the air blows on the windscreen and in the footwells. If I have it on say 32, then the hot still comes out of the windows and foot wells, but cold comes out of the doors and the centre pannel

 

Stuart

Kind of related, but how the hell do you get hot/cold air to blow out of the dash and doors ? My car just seems to blow air up the screen and into the footwells........

I dont know. As far as I know that is all it does, hot goes on the screen and feet and the cold comes out the doors. I cant see any other way of changing it.

Bit arse really

The centre heater vents come on when the temperature indicated on the unit reaches close to the temperature in the car.... While the ac is trying to heat the car the most effective method is to use the windscreen and floor vents so this is what it does Try setting the temperature lower and the centre vents will come on when you reach the temperature inside the cabin....

 

CheerZ,

 

Andy