Technical Automatic Climate Control

[Mick F]

Hi guys,
Very much of a newbie to anything Fiat, and certainly to our Fiat 500 TA Lounge.

It has a heated rear window, and I suppose it has heated door mirrors too.

When the ACC is set to Auto, if you touch any of the heater controls, it drops off Auto, ditto the heated rear window switch.

Therefore, am I right in stating that when in Auto, the rear window heater and the door mirror heaters are continually on? No problem with this, it seems - to me at least - a sensible thing to do, but there's nothing in the handbook to tell us anything about it specifically that I can see.

Thanks and regards to all,
Mick.

 

[Mercky]

Hi guys,

Very much of a newbie to anything Fiat, and certainly to our Fiat 500 TA Lounge.



It has a heated rear window, and I suppose it has heated door mirrors too.



When the ACC is set to Auto, if you touch any of the heater controls, it drops off Auto, ditto the heated rear window switch.



Therefore, am I right in stating that when in Auto, the rear window heater and the door mirror heaters are continually on? No problem with this, it seems - to me at least - a sensible thing to do, but there's nothing in the handbook to tell us anything about it specifically that I can see.



Thanks and regards to all,

Mick.

Pretty sure rear window & mirrors are only on when you press the demist button on the right, it will put fan on high, direct air to screen, turn on rear window & mirrors. Obviously you can manually switch on rear window only by using switch over gear stick, not 100% if this switches on mirrors too but that should be in the manual I think. They would not be on continually in auto for sure.

 

[scout]

The heated rear window is a small switch below the main heater controls, the larger switch within the controls is the demist function and turns on the rear screen heater, heated mirrors and blowers on full at he front. The heated screen and mirrors can be switched on independently without affecting the auto function.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

The heated rear window is a small switch below the main heater controls, the larger switch within the controls is the demist function and turns on the rear screen heater, heated mirrors and blowers on full at he front. The heated screen and mirrors can be switched on independently without affecting the auto function.

:yeahthat:

 

[wellfan]

Hi guys,
Very much of a newbie to anything Fiat, and certainly to our Fiat 500 TA Lounge.

It has a heated rear window, and I suppose it has heated door mirrors too.

When the ACC is set to Auto, if you touch any of the heater controls, it drops off Auto, ditto the heated rear window switch.

Therefore, am I right in stating that when in Auto, the rear window heater and the door mirror heaters are continually on? No problem with this, it seems - to me at least - a sensible thing to do, but there's nothing in the handbook to tell us anything about it specifically that I can see.

Thanks and regards to all,
Mick.

In our car. When on Auto, everything comes on, including blower at full blast. rear window heater, etc. However, after a short period of time it returns to its previous settings. As you say, if you adjust anything during auto mode, it turns it off. Saying that, our climate control has a fecking life of its own. Suddenly blasting cold air at you when at 25 degree setting and conversely blasting hot air when at a cooler setting. This problem only occurred after the eejits at Parks Motor Group decided to feck our car during a routine repair. Given up with any further repair attempts after their fourth bodged attempt. Sorry for digressing.

 

[Mick F]

The heated rear window is a small switch below the main heater controls, the larger switch within the controls is the demist function and turns on the rear screen heater, heated mirrors and blowers on full at he front. The heated screen and mirrors can be switched on independently without affecting the auto function.

Thanks for that, but it's still not clear to me.

If I touch any control, the Auto function is disabled. I can switch the heated rear window on without affecting anything, but how do I demist the front window and/or door mirrors in Auto?

Sorry if it's obvious, but it isn't obvious to me.

Regards,
Mick.

 

[Mercky]

Thanks for that, but it's still not clear to me.



If I touch any control, the Auto function is disabled. I can switch the heated rear window on without affecting anything, but how do I demist the front window and/or door mirrors in Auto?



Sorry if it's obvious, but it isn't obvious to me.



Regards,

Mick.

You can't! Auto means that it automatically adjusts temp, airflow in terms of vents, fan speed and recirc %. In other words you set desired temp and it does the rest. If you press say one of the switches on the right to direct air to screen for example then it overrides auto mode in terms of the vent control and directs air at the set temp to the screen. If you want to demist you press the demist button on the right and it blows air at full speed at the screen at high temp and also turns on rear demist & mirrors. Don't mean to be smart but if you sit in the car with the manual and play around it should all make sense. Let us know how you get on.

 

[Mick F]

Tried that!
The manual we have is written in a strange style - sort of "type writer" and small and dim too. Quiet difficult for my tired old eyes.

We bought the 500 second hand from a private dealer, and I reckon we haven't got all the original manual supplements, just the main booklet. I think there's something missing.

Also, there are statements like:
NOTE: AUTOMATIC climate Control manages the Start&Stop function to gaurantee a suitably comfortable climate in the passenger compartment by deactivating this function when necessary.

What has ACC to do with the Start&Stop function?

Yes, we're on a steep learning curve with this car!

Thanks,
Mick.

 

[scout]

OK I'll try again,

1. The mirrors and heated rear window are controlled by the switch above the stop start on/off switch and do not affect the Auto operation.
2. The de-mist switch overrides the auto and heated rear screen switches.
3. If the heated rear screen is on it may inhibit the stop start operation due to the current draw.
4. If after the car is warmed up the screen is misting up then there may be something wrong with the system. Personally I've never needed to use the demist function in nearly two years of ownership, although the car is kept in a garage so is rarely frosted over.

In summary:

The auto should sort out the temperature within your cars cabin, the heated rear screen and heated mirrors are on the same switch and does not affect the auto operation. Using the de-mist button will turn off the auto and turn on the heated rear screen/mirrors and blower on full.

 

[Mercky]

Tried that!
The manual we have is written in a strange style - sort of "type writer" and small and dim too. Quiet difficult for my tired old eyes.

We bought the 500 second hand from a private dealer, and I reckon we haven't got all the original manual supplements, just the main booklet. I think there's something missing.

Also, there are statements like:
NOTE: AUTOMATIC climate Control manages the Start&Stop function to gaurantee a suitably comfortable climate in the passenger compartment by deactivating this function when necessary.

What has ACC to do with the Start&Stop function?

Yes, we're on a steep learning curve with this car!

Thanks,
Mick.

Climate uses a fair bit of power from battery so if SS and climate are activated then SS may not switch off engine depending on state of battery charge at that time, typically SS won't activate for example if car is cold and climate is set to a high temp, it's all about the battery! I think you should be able to download an up to date manual online from the fiat site

 

[Mick F]

Excellent!
All makes sense now.
Thank you. I mean it, thank you.

I've downloaded manuals, but they seem to be US versions.
Any links to UK manuals please?

Regards,
Mick.

 

[scout]

Excellent!
All makes sense now.
Thank you. I mean it, thank you.

Regards,
Mick.

Glad we could be of help (It's easy once you get used to it )

 

[scout]

I've downloaded manuals, but they seem to be US versions.
Any links to UK manuals please?

There is a manual in the 500 section under downloads its labelled 500 Handbook 10/07 and although its for the 07 500 its still relevant.

 

[wellfan]

Please ignore my earlier post regarding the 'auto' button, I was talking rubbish. I was actually talking about the opposite large button, the rapid demist button, this turns heated rear window, etc. on.
Hope I did not add to your confusion. Another 'senior' moment for me.

 

[Mick F]

WOW !!!!
Thank you.

I'll be reading this over a glass of wine this evening.

Regards,
Mick.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Climate uses a fair bit of power from battery so if SS and climate are activated then SS may not switch off engine depending on state of battery charge at that time, typically SS won't activate for example if car is cold and climate is set to a high temp, it's all about the battery! I think you should be able to download an up to date manual online from the fiat site

Actually in the examples you give it's nothing to do with the battery. It's the fact for heat the engine needs to be running to generate the heat, and if the AC on the engine needs to be running to enable the compressor to work. The ventilation systems current draw will be no more than headlights being on at night

 

[JTD_Liam]

The Climate Control also affects Start/Stop operation by not allowing the engine to stop if there's more than something like 3 degrees celcius difference between the cabin air temperature and the temperature selected on the climate control display.

I tried it on my Parents 500. Pull up in traffic, engine cuts out. Press the temp up button on the climate control, after a few presses, engines starts up, because it realises it needs the engine heat to get the cabin to the desired temperature.

It's clever stuff!

 

[Mick F]

Excellent info!
Thank you everybody for your advice and explanations.

Experimentation is now on the cards.

Regards to all,
Mick

 

[santa]

You can find all Fiat handbooks here (weel, at least back 10-15 years):
http://aftersales.fiat.com/elum/Home.aspx?id_language=12

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

Excellent info!
Thank you everybody for your advice and explanations.

Experimentation is now on the cards.

Regards to all,
Mick

I was at first rather doubtful about the climate control system but having used it for a year now I think it's great. My only gripe is that it's fiddly to get just a fresh air fan at face level (without heating or cooling). It can be done, but the fan often needs to be readjusted when the car's started.