Upgraded from my 1.2 to twin air lounge last summer.

Driving a couple of hours in London this evening I noticed the car seemed to be getting very hot. Climate was set to 16 degrees auto as normal. It seemed much much hotter than 16. Pushed down to hit the Lo setting and got massive blasts of warm, frankly hot air. Played around for a bit - pushing the temp hotter and then back down but never felt the regulation of temperature I'm used to.

Granted it was -2 outside, but I would still expect the lo to be noticeably chilly.

What is likely to be wrong and why? I know I can take her back for warranty work, but it is always useful to have an idea.

Many thanks

Robin

rdejones said:

Upgraded from my 1.2 to twin air lounge last summer.

Driving a couple of hours in London this evening I noticed the car seemed to be getting very hot. Climate was set to 16 degrees auto as normal. It seemed much much hotter than 16. Pushed down to hit the Lo setting and got massive blasts of warm, frankly hot air. Played around for a bit - pushing the temp hotter and then back down but never felt the regulation of temperature I'm used to.

Granted it was -2 outside, but I would still expect the lo to be noticeably chilly.

What is likely to be wrong and why? I know I can take her back for warranty work, but it is always useful to have an idea.

Many thanks

Robin

Click to expand...

Wont it go all out until it reaches 16? this seems normal from AUTO ac since it must have been like 8c in the car.

Put it on recirc if you want the a/c compressor to start when the outside air temp is below 4 degrees - as the frost sensor on the a/c evaporator will be inhibiting the a/c. By using recirc, the air temperature in front of the evaporator will be greater than 4 degrees C.

It'll only throw out cold air if the temp inside the car is above 16C

16 degrees will 'feel' cold. 23 is what's considered a comfortable room temp.

23 was cool (for me) in september and the balmy october heatwave we had, but it blasts the heat out at me now it's freezing cold weather. I just assumed it's down to the outside temp and it adjusts hot/cold accordingly. I'll have a play and see what the lowest temp settings do in my car tomorrow or when I'm next out and about and let you know!

Iv'e had a play round an can get nothing to work. I am very familiar with the car (having had manual air conditioning before) and my parents have the same climate control unity on their panda.

The outside temp was 6 degrees today, so that should have removed frost sensors on the compressor. I ran the system up, dialling in 25 degrees in auto which it did fine. Fifteen minutes later I turned the auto and air con button off and put the heat down to 16 degrees. As usual the temperature gage flashed, indicating that it is unable to deal with this without the air con. I then pressed auto again. Normally you would feel cooler air push in and the temperature reduce. The system commanded the fan to increase speed about four times, each pushing out really hot air. I suspect it thought itself to be commanding the cooler air. I then tried it on the Lo setting, and again got a massive rush of very hot air and no cool air.

I admit I immediately rang the dealer who are happy to have her in on Thursday, but could not think of anything off the top.

I had a quick poke under the bonnet and note the coolant was at minimum, or just under but don't think this is likely to be the issue.

Any further ideas out there?

Robin

Do you hear the click of the A/C compressor clutch cutting in and out periodically when the engine is idling with the temp set at 'lo' (or a temp below the ambient, so the a/c is being called for)?