Technical Air Con, always comes on!

[Gobezza]

Hi all, new to the 500L world and have an annoying issue with Freddie.

When we start it up or change the heating direction, the AC light comes on automatically.

So every time we start the engine, the Air Con's on and we have to turn it off.

Is there anyway to disable this fuel using feature?

Thanks

Bezza

 

[MJG]

This seems to be the default position in my experience. I am not sure about the actual difference between air con off or air con on fuel consumption figures but on a modern car I guess the difference will be negligible so I don't fret about it..

 

[Gobezza]

Is it a belt driven or electric driven compressor?

It must use more fuel surely?????

 

[fused]

I have this with defrost... They use the AC to heat up and defrost the windshield. Smart actually as AC is kind of acting like a heat pump thus much quicker defrost even when the engine isn't yet warmed up.

I LOVE IT! GOOD JOB FIAT!
Finally using their brains...

Wish my mini would do this by default...

 

[MJG]

Is it a belt driven or electric driven compressor?

It must use more fuel surely?????

As I say it possibly/prbably does, but not sufficient enough for me to be concerned about it.

Looking in the manual it says this -

Selecting the footwell/windscreen or only windscreen
distribution activates the climate control system
compressor (LED on A/C button on) and the air
recirculation is set to "outside air" (LED on button B
off). This logic guarantees optimum visibility at the
windows. The user can always set air recirculation
and climate control system compressor

So it would seem it is dependent upon the setting of the distribution button (I haven't tried mine but this seems logical to me)

 

[MJG]

OK I have had a play with mine (manual A/C) today and it works pretty much as described in the manual.

If the A/C is on when you turn the ignition off it comes back on when you turn the ignition on irrespective of the position of the distribution switch.

If the A/C is off when you turn the ignition off AND the distribution switch is in any position other than the two which direct air to the screen it stays off when you turn the ignition back on.

However - if you turn the ignition on with the distribution switch set to either of the positions that do direct air to the screen the A/C comes on, even if you have previously turned it off.

It does therefore as has been suggested appear to be set up to assist with the effective de-misting of the screen.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Can't see an issue myself, always normally have AC on, and after testing 6 months with it off most of the time and always on I've never noticed a noticeable difference in MPG.

 

[varesecrazy]

It must use more fuel surely?????

maybe less than leaving the car idling on the drive..defrosting / misting
the "old-fashioned way..!!",

Charlie

 

[Dino500]

Hi all,

Had a play with my manual a/c Pop Star too and I have found that if I leave my car on re-circ all the time then when I start my car up with the air direction either already on Screen or Feet/Screen OR change it to one of those two straight away the a/c does NOT come on. I however never use recirc so I just have to turn a/c off like the OP.

M