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Technical 500S 2013 Climate control issue

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Technical 500S 2013 Climate control issue

DBunX

DBunX

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Joined
Sep 22, 2013
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Location
Portsmouth
Hi, I've got a 2013 TA which I've had from new (29k on it), and a few days ago I noticed that the light for recycled air was on when I started the car up, even though the air con was off.
Didn't think much of it, but today on taking my daughter to college I noticed the same thing again so turned it off. As we got faster (joining motorway) it was obvious that there was air blowing out of the vents, and with the air con being completely off wasn't something I expected and not something I'd experienced with this car since owning it.

Hitting the recycled air button stopped the air coming out of the vents, but I noted later after parking the area above the vents was warm to the touch.
Once I got home I tried all of the settings and found that almost everything seemed to be working as normal air con wise except for the recycled air button apparently doing the reverse, and the fact that the button for blowing air at your feet did nothing when active unless the button was blowing air up was also on. This might be normal though as I virtually never use those 2.

I'm in a 500 group on FB and I mentioned this issue and someone said it was the actuator flap and its a known issue. Now I've just spent about an hour on the net looking it up and can't find mention of it anywhere, and haven't heard of it before anywhere else or on here that I recollect.

Could he be right? It had an MOT and a full service a month ago which it passed, but since then I've had 2 flat tires and now this. The car has gone from being very reliable to making me worried every time I get in it.
 
So normally you'd almost never use recirculation, however with the AC off fan off you will get air into the cabin at speed due to the normal air flow, this is normal.
Does the car have climate control? And in auto does the car maintain the correct temp? It's assumed that in auto the AC is always on, without it on proper control of temperature is much harder for the car. The air direction control is not the same as the temperature control likewise the recirculation is a separate "system"
Closing the individual vents maybe a better option if you really want to stop air into the cabin.
Try leaving in auto with the AC on the system will select recirculation only if it really needs it as in very high cabin temp to bring it down as fast as possible when hot outside too once so far down it wi automatically turn it off possibly without you noticing it, but only in auto.
 
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I only ever use re-circulation when I'm behind some tin can and its pumping out black smoke or the smelly sea or country air is coming in, otherwise its off 99% of the time.

I've had the car since Sept 2013 and I can say with 100% certainty that until today when the climate control is off completely, and the re-circulation is off, there is absolutely no air blowing out through the vents like I've had today. It might have been broken the entire time but until today that's how it worked. I was out at the weekend both days and it wasn't doing it then.

The car does have climate control and that appears to be working OK from the testing I've done on it, however it's off most of the time unless its really hot/cold inside.
 
DBunX said:
I'm in a 500 group on FB and I mentioned this issue and someone said it was the actuator flap and its a known issue. Now I've just spent about an hour on the net looking it up and can't find mention of it anywhere, and haven't heard of it before anywhere else or on here that I recollect.
Click to expand...

Actuator flap failure on models with climate is a known issue and has been reported here quite a few times before.

The official fix is to replace the heater box complete; a major job involving the removal of both doors and much of the interior - a franchised dealer will likely charge north of £2000 for this.

Fortunately the chaps at smallcarservices have come up with a workaround and will fix these for £160. There's a paragraph about this on their home page; just click the link & scroll down.

I've no idea from what you've posted if your car actually has this issue, but the good news is that, if you do, they're only just up the road from Portsmouth. If you're concerned, I'd start by giving them a call.
 
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If you rarely use climate control probably means you need it re gassing, which should make it simpler to check everything working as it should be. Expect Small Car Services may do as my mechanic did and sell me the volume of refrigerant it needs rather than charge a flat fee. I paid £7.50 as part of service and MOT.
 
Thanks, they are relatively close and that's a great price. Not sure I've got that exact issue but it might be close or the start of it so it's comforting to know I've got experts on my doorstep.
Unfortunately our kid got a text today saying someone from her college class has tested positive for covid, so it might have to wait a bit as we are now all in isolation!
 
DBunX said:
Hi, I've got a 2013 TA which I've had from new (29k on it), and a few days ago I noticed that the light for recycled air was on when I started the car up, even though the air con was off.
Didn't think much of it, but today on taking my daughter to college I noticed the same thing again so turned it off. As we got faster (joining motorway) it was obvious that there was air blowing out of the vents, and with the air con being completely off wasn't something I expected and not something I'd experienced with this car since owning it.

Hitting the recycled air button stopped the air coming out of the vents, but I noted later after parking the area above the vents was warm to the touch.
Once I got home I tried all of the settings and found that almost everything seemed to be working as normal air con wise except for the recycled air button apparently doing the reverse, and the fact that the button for blowing air at your feet did nothing when active unless the button was blowing air up was also on. This might be normal though as I virtually never use those 2.

I'm in a 500 group on FB and I mentioned this issue and someone said it was the actuator flap and its a known issue. Now I've just spent about an hour on the net looking it up and can't find mention of it anywhere, and haven't heard of it before anywhere else or on here that I recollect.

Could he be right? It had an MOT and a full service a month ago which it passed, but since then I've had 2 flat tires and now this. The car has gone from being very reliable to making me worried every time I get in it.
Click to expand...
I feel your pain! & your not alone!! im always wondering ok "what next" most of my engine..exhaust has been re built then gearbox & clutch ...all suspension and probably stuff ive forgotten! only had the car a year :eek:
but she is 10 next year!


anyway have you tried plugging in MES? mine diagnosed flap issues on my auto climate fortunately mes allows you to re learn the flaps and that solved my issue.
 
Picking up on Al Ds comment above, I've been told by several a/c specialists over the years that leaving the a/c on permanently reduces the chance of leaks.

Funny how punctures often come in batches! I wouldn't mark down the car reliability for them, though.

Hope your isolation period passes quickly and everyone is OK.
 
I do love it (it was on PCP originally and we couldn't bear to part with it) but I am well aware I've not had any door handles fall off, my top mounts go or the rear wiring loom fail yet (at the very least) so was sure I was due something actually going wrong soon.

1st puncture was a complete unknown, 2nd had a very obvious slice on the inside track but to not ever have a tire go in all my years of driving and then have 2 go in 4 days spooked me something rotten. I've since had the rest changed just in case I was about to have failure of the others (all just over a year old, Bridgestone Turanza T005). I had a spin on an A road about a week after they were fitted, and although I had them checked out and passed at the time I do wonder if I took a big chuck of life out of them.

Not heard of the MES thing but will look into that. The other problem I have is that when it had its service the curtesy car they gave me was an Abarth Essesse lol
Gosh that was nice, and I think a little part of me wants the 500 to fail so I can retire it until the kid needs it and get the Abarth...
 
DBunX said:
1st puncture was a complete unknown, 2nd had a very obvious slice on the inside track but to not ever have a tire go in all my years of driving and then have 2 go in 4 days spooked me something rotten. I've since had the rest changed just in case I was about to have failure of the others (all just over a year old, Bridgestone Turanza T005). I had a spin on an A road about a week after they were fitted, and although I had them checked out and passed at the time I do wonder if I took a big chuck of life out of them.
Click to expand...

We've had 8 or 10(can't remember) tyres in 5 years and 40k due to wear punctures manufacturing fault and odd makes on the car.
 
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