Technical Automatic Climate Control

[ahmett]

In the summer, my fuel economy goes up from 7.8 l/100 km to 9.0 l/100 km when its 40 c. The reason? AC always on in traffic!

So, jrkitching that comes out to about 13%, very close to your claim of about 15% = )

I agree UFI, the AC of the fiat is good to about 25, max 30 c. Any more than that and it simply cannot cope, especially if you have the 'microwave glass roof' with the more than useless roof shade cover = ), with more heat coming in the car due to the sun than heat being cleared from the car with AC!

 

[ahmett]

The conglomeration of actuators, flaps, ducting and various other bits of flimsy plastic have been known (though it's not that common) to misbehave.

If they do, it's a pig's ear of a job to even get at it - to work on many of the critical parts of the system, it appears most of the front interior, including at least one of the doors, has to come out, making it a difficult and expensive fix. Individual parts may be very difficult to source, and the complete unit costs a kings ransom, so if you're unfortunate enough to have problems outside of warranty, I'd say you'd likely be griping.

my motto is simple = ) replace the pollen filter yearly, and get the ac serviced when i see a noticable drop in performance. My mom's old Polo's ac was perfectly good at 8 years old without any service at time of getting rid of the car.

 

[cockerhoop]

right i am off on 140 mile round trip tonight
i will set off on Auto and see what consumption i get and if heat stays warm after intial warm up
and on way back will run it on manual
lety you know tomorrow what happens

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

right i am off on 140 mile round trip tonight
i will set off on Auto and see what consumption i get and if heat stays warm after intial warm up
and on way back will run it on manual
lety you know tomorrow what happens

Set temp to about 23-24.5 in Auto, this is what I do, and never have to adjust the temp

 

[UFI]

I see the word 'can' not 'does' - all depends upon circumstances which prevail

No one's claiming you'll get a 40% hit the moment you press that button.

I had an MB that averaged 12.19l/100km (lifetime). The first really hot week 40*C+ we had saw that jump to an incredible 17.97l/100km. That's a whopping 48% Probably needless to say I mostly kept the windows down after that. Glad I only had it for one summer. Oddly, I measured the compressor using 0.3l/hr which is pretty typical for all cars I've tested.

But if you're not seeing any measurable hit, that's only because your A/C doesn't have a whole lot to do.

 

[cockerhoop]

well had a nice toasty warm drive last night
but still have a query
if i hit auto the air direction lights go out, where is auto sending the warm air?
and if i hit the up and down arrows the snowflake type symbol above the auto button comes on and auto goes off
thats how i left it set for my trip.
my assumption is if i want heat for a long journey i hit the snow flake button

 

[Mercky]

well had a nice toasty warm drive last night
but still have a query
if i hit auto the air direction lights go out, where is auto sending the warm air?
and if i hit the up and down arrows the snowflake type symbol above the auto button comes on and auto goes off
thats how i left it set for my trip.
my assumption is if i want heat for a long journey i hit the snow flake button

eh not really but your getting there, not being a smart arse but if you sit in your car with the manual and play around for a while it should all make sense. Auto decides everything - temp, fan speed, direction, ie, which vents the air comes out. If you press a directional arrow it turns off auto and sends the air to where you want it but maintains auto control of fan speed and temp. Snowflake button is the compressor. You can press it to turn it off and still have traditional manual control of all settings with no AC. The off button turns everything off.

 

[Squadrone Rosso]

It's easy to use?? Auto, adjust temp as needed, press the rapid clear button if the screen starts to steam.

If you won't to disable the compressor, push the snowflake.

Alternatively, RTFM.....

 

[cockerhoop]

then manual says next to nothing except "press auto"
like the manual does not even tell you the sport switch gives you the full 105bhp power and that without it you use 97bhp in eco mode.
the latest manual is useless, half of it is wasted on a 50bhp model not even on sale in the UK!
Back the heating
will the auto not use the compressor for heating? and will it not make the car steam up?
i dont want to be pressing the hurricane switch every 10 minutes

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

like the manual does not even tell you the sport switch gives you the full 105bhp power and that without it you use 97bhp in eco mode.

Where have you read that?

Yes auto will activate the compressor to engage when required, this will prevent steaming up

 

[cockerhoop]

googled it and it was in the first road test that came up
think i typed in fiat 500 sport switch uk

 

[cockerhoop]

Weirdly, you’ll have to press the dash-mounted Sport button to get 104bhp, though, otherwise you’ll be in 97bhp ‘eco’ mode. That’s a slightly odd name for the less powerful state of tune, since Fiat claims economy and CO2 emissions for both modes are identical. We say leave it in Sport – the car will remember your selection and always start up in that mode, and it makes no difference to the steering or the suspension.



Read more: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/fiat/500/88252/fiat-500-twinair-review#ixzz3KwEe4ju2

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Weirdly, you’ll have to press the dash-mounted Sport button to get 104bhp, though, otherwise you’ll be in 97bhp ‘eco’ mode. That’s a slightly odd name for the less powerful state of tune, since Fiat claims economy and CO2 emissions for both modes are identical. We say leave it in Sport – the car will remember your selection and always start up in that mode, and it makes no difference to the steering or the suspension.



Read more: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/fiat/500/88252/fiat-500-twinair-review#ixzz3KwEe4ju2

I wouldn't believe much to read in AutoExpress

 

[Sweetsixteen]

In hot climes, sometimes when you fire your motor with the air con engaged it stalls. Do it again with compressor disengaged - no problem.
With my 1.3Multi, the difference when pulling away from a particular uphill junction on a cold engine with/without aircon is very noticeable. As this junction is a black spot, I now make sure the air con is off before I pull out.
Conclusion - air con compressor saps power, thus more fuel is needed to maintain normal performance. So it costs when you run your air con compressor.
Just my penn'orth.

 

[scout]

Don't understand why people buy cars with all the mod cons then deliberately not use them. Why don't they just go and buy a Panda from the 80's (and that's not a bad thing, I've got one).

 

[gazz_bee]

I know this is a Fiat forum but our Bavarian friends have an instrument display setting that gives you information on fuel used by auxiliary items. Below is drl's on, aircon on, temperature min and fan speed 2, make of it what you wish.

 

[scout]

I know this is a Fiat forum but our Bavarian friends have an instrument display setting that gives you information on fuel used by auxiliary items. Below is drl's on, aircon on, temperature min and fan speed 2, make of it what you wish.



View attachment 146882

Perfect function for the terminally paranoid

 

[gazz_bee]

Perfect function for the terminally paranoid

Does explain why audi drivers don't use their indicators though . . . . .

 

[ahmett]

Does explain why audi drivers don't use their indicators though . . . . .

hahaha i rented an Audi A4 2014 in UK about a month ago. I loved the LED's although when i was flashing ppl to move out of the way they probably thought, OH NO NOT ANOTHER AUDI LOSER WITH HIS STUPID LED'S WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS = )

 

[scout]

hahaha i rented an Audi A4 2014 in UK about a month ago. I loved the LED's although when i was flashing ppl to move out of the way they probably thought, OH NO NOT ANOTHER AUDI LOSER WITH HIS STUPID LED'S WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS = )

No it would have been "OH LOOK, ANOTHER RICHARD CRANIUM IN AN AUDI", yes with actions like that you qualify as an Audi driver.