How to activate de ON/OFF center switch on the CLIMATRONIC

Turbo_Boss · 06-10-2006, 22:04

Hello guys, I found this info on a Skoda forum from Spain and want to share it with you.

If any of you have saw the Jetta/GTi CLIMATRONIC buttons you will see that the one on the center says OFF. This mean that you can turn ON/OFF the AC just pressing it regarding of the fan speed you have.

In contary the Skoda one does not say nothing and is inoperative. You cant press it and you need to turn on and off the CLIMATRONIC turning the fan speed control

Well its look like the feature is hidden on the Skoda Control. Its look like on that button on the rear part it has a plastic part that does not allow you to press it but if you remove that plastic part you can press the botton and turn ON/OFF your AC

Check this PDF, is in spanish but the pictures explain by itself

http://www.losarchivos.net/vagclub.c...tronic_203.pdf

Good luck,

Isaac

cheezemonkhai · 06-10-2006, 23:00

you have to ask why in f**ks name they do this as it must cost more to make the extra buttons than they save

andrei · 07-10-2006, 06:37

So is there any clear way of activating these functions?

dstev2000 · 07-10-2006, 09:18

Doesnt it do the same job as turning the fan speeed **** to zero buy turning it anti-clock??

Who would ever turn the climatronic off anyway?

IIRC the VW units do not have this button either.

Maybe it's just a new feature that will filter down through the ranks over time.

**VRStu** · 07-10-2006, 09:52

Thanks Issac.

a-rai · 07-10-2006, 12:58

I can picture the headlines now:-

Police baffled by theft of climate control buttons from VW's

Alan

Fabia 12v · 07-10-2006, 13:01

So in effect.. the switch is there just they have put a blanking button over it, how odd.

dstev2000 · 07-10-2006, 14:01

I've taken the blanks off both the top and bottom and there doesn't appear to be a switch of any kind.

There are some blank soldered bits right inside the unit where a switch would most probably go but that's it.

The little black thingy in the middle of the fan speed dial has a little PCB behind it so it serves a purpose but what that purpose is I dont know.

Organist · 07-10-2006, 15:11

I think you'll find that there is a temp. sensor behind there - be careful not to damage it in your eagerness to boldly go where no-one has been before!

The Climate control system takes info from this sensor, the one in the roof lining, the one on the middle of the dashboard and the outside temp.

dstev2000 · 07-10-2006, 15:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Organist

I think you'll find that there is a temp. sensor behind there - be careful not to damage it in your eagerness to boldly go where no-one has been before!

The Climate control system takes info from this sensor, the one in the roof lining, the one on the middle of the dashboard and the outside temp.

I used the precision and finesse of a brain surgeon.........using a Leatherman

Joking apart, the covers do pop out quite easily.

Turbo_Boss · 07-10-2006, 16:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by dstev2000

I've taken the blanks off both the top and bottom and there doesn't appear to be a switch of any kind.
There are some blank soldered bits right inside the unit where a switch would most probably go but that's it.
The little black thingy in the middle of the fan speed dial has a little PCB behind it so it serves a purpose but what that purpose is I dont know.

I going to write about what you have found on that Skoda Spain Forum to see what they say. But I have read the post and its look like several people have do this mod and its work. But is there is no switch on the PCB electronic board, how the hell this thing work

This is were I took the info. This forum is in spanish:
VAGclub.com :: Habilitar boton On/off en climatronic

Isaac

dstev2000 · 07-10-2006, 16:53

You've got me on that one, but as you can see in the picture, there is no switch, just a space where a switch COULD go.

Could it be a different version of the climatronic unit with the switches fitted but blanked off.

remove the switches and save money

I have a high res picture of the unit attached.

Turbo_Boss · 07-10-2006, 17:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by dstev2000

You've got me on that one, but as you can see in the picture, there is no switch, just a space where a switch COULD go.

Could it be a different version of the climatronic unit with the switches fitted but blanked off.

remove the switches and save money

I have a high res picture of the unit attached.

Could it be possible that you remove the buttons from the left or right round switch to see exactly what they have there???

Isaac

dstev2000 · 07-10-2006, 17:24

Yeah I can do as long as it doesnt wreck my climatronic

dstev2000 · 07-10-2006, 17:40

More pics as requested....

The scratches on the bottom dummy button did come out btw.........

The thing that looks like a switch is in fact the LED that illuminates the switch so it makes sense there isn't one in the middle as there is no need for the illumination.

I've just removed the little black plastic tab and guess what? IT WORKS!!!!!!

both the top and bottom tabs come off and the bottom button does something to the dual mode but I havent figured it out yet

The top button kills the climatronic instantly as well but puts the fan on the lowest setting when you press it again.

So thanks for the tip on that one

**VRStu** · 07-10-2006, 18:03

Whats the tip for getting the button out then?

dstev2000 · 07-10-2006, 18:09

A small sharp blade in the horizontal gap between the buttons to the left and right of the chrome divider and a gentle prising action.

**mannyo** · 07-10-2006, 18:16

I wonder if its possible to buy the plastic buttons, so you can get the VW one with "Off" printed on it.

**VRStu** · 07-10-2006, 18:24

Already looked manny - afraid not.

dstev2000 · 07-10-2006, 18:25

Looks like its letraset then

bosnjo · 07-10-2006, 21:38

Please help me to understand something here:
My Octy hasn't arrived yet but dealer says it should at 9th or 10th of October (in two days so...)
It's 2.0 TDI Sport with Climatronic.
I was suprised reading this thread that you can't switch the AC off. So, did I understand well? You can't switch it off? It's always on?
So, with that little modification on the button you can now switch it off. When you turn the ignition off and then back on does it stay off or it's back on again? Is there now any indication so you know if it's on or off?
Many questions, I know, but thanks for informations.

jcase · 07-10-2006, 22:52

If I understand it correctly this OFF-button switches the fan unit off. The A/C is switched off by using the ECON-button.

Because the cooler-unit would freeze without the fan sucking warm air through it, it will also stop when the fan stops. This also happens when the outside air isn't warm (in winter time). Talking about winter, the ECON-button also deactivates the PTC-heater in the diesel cars. Thus saving energy in both summer and winter times. And that's why the button is called ECONomy.

By the way, could the other "unmarked" button in the centre be the DUAL-button, which sets the both sides of the car to the same temperature as the driver's side? With the dual-mode, you only need to turn one dial to change both sides' temperature setting.

dstev2000 · 07-10-2006, 23:45

When you rotate the middle fan speed selector all the way round in an anti clockwise position it will eventually turn the whole thing off, thats fan and air conditioner. There is no real reason to do this as the car will steam up pretty quickly. The blank "off" button kills the whole thing with a single push instead of turning the fan dial all the way round.

The you can achieve the same setting as this "dual" button by holding auto down for a few seconds, this resets both sides to the drivers temperature. I have fiddled with this blank "dual" button and i'm not convinced.

Maybe VW/Skoda thought this would complicate things and decided to keep the buttons and dials to a minimum as both "dual" and "off" functions can be found elsewhere.

Just for reference:

ECON light on = Air conditioning compressor OFF, fan running
ECON light off = Air conditioning compressor ON, fan running
NO lights and "off" in the temp displays = Air conditioning compressor and fan OFF

I know this has been mentioned before but thats as clear as you can get.

jcase · 07-10-2006, 23:53

Quote:

I have fiddled with this blank "dual" button and i'm not convinced.

So it doesn't do the same as pressing 2 secs of AUTO? Maybe that button's functionality is disabled in the programming of the climatronic. Or does it do something else instead?

You summed the ECON function up pretty neatly.

06-10-2006, 22:04	#1
Turbo_Boss Briskodian Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Panama Republic of Panama Posts: 338 Members Car: Skoda Octavia L&K 1.8T Thanks: 7 Thanked 12 Times in 3 Posts	How to activate de ON/OFF center switch on the CLIMATRONIC Hello guys, I found this info on a Skoda forum from Spain and want to share it with you. If any of you have saw the Jetta/GTi CLIMATRONIC buttons you will see that the one on the center says OFF. This mean that you can turn ON/OFF the AC just pressing it regarding of the fan speed you have. In contary the Skoda one does not say nothing and is inoperative. You cant press it and you need to turn on and off the CLIMATRONIC turning the fan speed control Well its look like the feature is hidden on the Skoda Control. Its look like on that button on the rear part it has a plastic part that does not allow you to press it but if you remove that plastic part you can press the botton and turn ON/OFF your AC Check this PDF, is in spanish but the pictures explain by itself http://www.losarchivos.net/vagclub.c...tronic_203.pdf Good luck, Isaac __________________ The speed of light is greater than the speed of sound. That's why some people seem very bright until you hear them speak. Last edited by Turbo_Boss; 07-10-2006 at 01:05.

06-10-2006, 23:00	#2
cheezemonkhai Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 15,632 Members Car: Thanks: 113 Thanked 518 Times in 481 Posts	Re: How to activate de ON/OFF center switch on the CLIMATRONIC you have to ask why in fks name they do this as it must cost more to make the extra buttons than they save __________________ Cars make CO2 and trees absorb CO2. By driving your car you're feeding a tree and helping the environment.**

07-10-2006, 06:37	#3
andrei Briskodian Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 19 Members Car: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: How to activate de ON/OFF center switch on the CLIMATRONIC So is there any clear way of activating these functions?

07-10-2006, 09:18	#4
dstev2000 Briskodian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Back in the Green Posts: 4,036 Members Car: 2 Octavia II's, an L&K combi and a vRS hatch. Thanks: 48 Thanked 168 Times in 153 Posts	Re: How to activate de ON/OFF center switch on the CLIMATRONIC Doesnt it do the same job as turning the fan speeed **** to zero buy turning it anti-clock?? Who would ever turn the climatronic off anyway? IIRC the VW units do not have this button either. Maybe it's just a new feature that will filter down through the ranks over time. __________________ MY08 L&K: Black-Estate-Diesel-Sunset Glass-MFD2-W8 Interior light-Colour coded door strips-LED sidelights and Puddle lights-VAG-COM fettled-Lovely! SWMBO's: MY08 vRS TDI - Standard

07-10-2006, 09:52	#5
VRStu Txt Spk Police Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hampshire Posts: 20,848 Members Car: Audi S3 Thanks: 145 Thanked 1,000 Times in 896 Posts	Re: How to activate de ON/OFF center switch on the CLIMATRONIC Thanks Issac. __________________ Stu Stu's Websites - http://www.fabia-vrs.com & http://www.octavia-vrs.com Stu's Car - 2008 Audi S3 - Ibis White, Black Optics Pack, Privacy Glass, Auto Bi Xenon Headlights, Rain Sensing Wipers, Bose Sound System, Ipod Prep, GSM Phone Prep, Flat Bottom Multi Function Steering Wheel, Electric Folding Mirrors, Acoustic Parking, Cruise Control, Interior Light Pack, Non Smokers Pack. SWMBO's Car - 2008 Seat LEON TDi Stylance, Black Magic, Sports Pack, Rear Parking Sensors. Something for Weekend - A Patio

07-10-2006, 12:58	#6
a-rai Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cornwall Posts: 13 Members Car: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: How to activate de ON/OFF center switch on the CLIMATRONIC I can picture the headlines now:- Police baffled by theft of climate control buttons from VW's Alan

07-10-2006, 13:01	#7
Fabia 12v RICHARD Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Twickenham - Middlesex Posts: 5,026 Members Car: Skoda Fabia >> VW Golf >> Seat Ibiza >> VW Polo Thanks: 11 Thanked 26 Times in 23 Posts	Re: How to activate de ON/OFF center switch on the CLIMATRONIC So in effect.. the switch is there just they have put a blanking button over it, how odd. __________________ First Car: Skoda Fabia MK1 1.2 12v Comfort Replaced with: Volkswagen Golf MK4 GT 1.9TDI Replaced with: Seat Ibiza MK4 Sport 1.9TDI Replaced with: Volkswagen Polo MK6 Ltd. Edition Sport 1.4 16v

07-10-2006, 15:11	#9
Organist Briskodian Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southampton, England Posts: 706 Members Car: Skoda Fabia VRS and Skoda Octavia II 1.9 Tdi Thanks: 9 Thanked 16 Times in 15 Posts	Re: How to activate de ON/OFF center switch on the CLIMATRONIC I think you'll find that there is a temp. sensor behind there - be careful not to damage it in your eagerness to boldly go where no-one has been before! The Climate control system takes info from this sensor, the one in the roof lining, the one on the middle of the dashboard and the outside temp.

07-10-2006, 17:24	#14
dstev2000 Briskodian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Back in the Green Posts: 4,036 Members Car: 2 Octavia II's, an L&K combi and a vRS hatch. Thanks: 48 Thanked 168 Times in 153 Posts	Re: How to activate de ON/OFF center switch on the CLIMATRONIC Yeah I can do as long as it doesnt wreck my climatronic __________________ MY08 L&K: Black-Estate-Diesel-Sunset Glass-MFD2-W8 Interior light-Colour coded door strips-LED sidelights and Puddle lights-VAG-COM fettled-Lovely! SWMBO's: MY08 vRS TDI - Standard

07-10-2006, 18:03	#16
VRStu Txt Spk Police Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hampshire Posts: 20,848 Members Car: Audi S3 Thanks: 145 Thanked 1,000 Times in 896 Posts	Re: How to activate de ON/OFF center switch on the CLIMATRONIC Whats the tip for getting the button out then? __________________ Stu Stu's Websites - http://www.fabia-vrs.com & http://www.octavia-vrs.com Stu's Car - 2008 Audi S3 - Ibis White, Black Optics Pack, Privacy Glass, Auto Bi Xenon Headlights, Rain Sensing Wipers, Bose Sound System, Ipod Prep, GSM Phone Prep, Flat Bottom Multi Function Steering Wheel, Electric Folding Mirrors, Acoustic Parking, Cruise Control, Interior Light Pack, Non Smokers Pack. SWMBO's Car - 2008 Seat LEON TDi Stylance, Black Magic, Sports Pack, Rear Parking Sensors. Something for Weekend - A Patio

07-10-2006, 18:09	#17
dstev2000 Briskodian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Back in the Green Posts: 4,036 Members Car: 2 Octavia II's, an L&K combi and a vRS hatch. Thanks: 48 Thanked 168 Times in 153 Posts	Re: How to activate de ON/OFF center switch on the CLIMATRONIC A small sharp blade in the horizontal gap between the buttons to the left and right of the chrome divider and a gentle prising action. __________________ MY08 L&K: Black-Estate-Diesel-Sunset Glass-MFD2-W8 Interior light-Colour coded door strips-LED sidelights and Puddle lights-VAG-COM fettled-Lovely! SWMBO's: MY08 vRS TDI - Standard

07-10-2006, 18:16	#18
mannyo BRISKODA Staff Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Stevenage Herts. Posts: 11,469 Members Car: Octavia 2.0 TDi Elegance Thanks: 58 Thanked 360 Times in 331 Posts	Re: How to activate de ON/OFF center switch on the CLIMATRONIC I wonder if its possible to buy the plastic buttons, so you can get the VW one with "Off" printed on it. __________________ Manny 2005 Octavia 2.0TDi Elegance combi my skoda website http://www.octaviars.co.uk Join the briskoda.net folding team click Here for more info

07-10-2006, 18:24	#19
VRStu Txt Spk Police Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hampshire Posts: 20,848 Members Car: Audi S3 Thanks: 145 Thanked 1,000 Times in 896 Posts	Re: How to activate de ON/OFF center switch on the CLIMATRONIC Already looked manny - afraid not. __________________ Stu Stu's Websites - http://www.fabia-vrs.com & http://www.octavia-vrs.com Stu's Car - 2008 Audi S3 - Ibis White, Black Optics Pack, Privacy Glass, Auto Bi Xenon Headlights, Rain Sensing Wipers, Bose Sound System, Ipod Prep, GSM Phone Prep, Flat Bottom Multi Function Steering Wheel, Electric Folding Mirrors, Acoustic Parking, Cruise Control, Interior Light Pack, Non Smokers Pack. SWMBO's Car - 2008 Seat LEON TDi Stylance, Black Magic, Sports Pack, Rear Parking Sensors. Something for Weekend - A Patio

07-10-2006, 18:25	#20
dstev2000 Briskodian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Back in the Green Posts: 4,036 Members Car: 2 Octavia II's, an L&K combi and a vRS hatch. Thanks: 48 Thanked 168 Times in 153 Posts	Re: How to activate de ON/OFF center switch on the CLIMATRONIC Looks like its letraset then __________________ MY08 L&K: Black-Estate-Diesel-Sunset Glass-MFD2-W8 Interior light-Colour coded door strips-LED sidelights and Puddle lights-VAG-COM fettled-Lovely! SWMBO's: MY08 vRS TDI - Standard

07-10-2006, 21:38	#21
bosnjo Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Portugal Posts: 596 Members Car: Octavia 2.0 TDi Sport 2006 Thanks: 3 Thanked 41 Times in 38 Posts	Re: How to activate de ON/OFF center switch on the CLIMATRONIC Please help me to understand something here: My Octy hasn't arrived yet but dealer says it should at 9th or 10th of October (in two days so...) It's 2.0 TDI Sport with Climatronic. I was suprised reading this thread that you can't switch the AC off. So, did I understand well? You can't switch it off? It's always on? So, with that little modification on the button you can now switch it off. When you turn the ignition off and then back on does it stay off or it's back on again? Is there now any indication so you know if it's on or off? Many questions, I know, but thanks for informations.

07-10-2006, 22:52	#22
jcase Briskodian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Tampere, Finland Posts: 30 Members Car: 1.9 TDI DSG Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: How to activate de ON/OFF center switch on the CLIMATRONIC If I understand it correctly this OFF-button switches the fan unit off. The A/C is switched off by using the ECON-button. Because the cooler-unit would freeze without the fan sucking warm air through it, it will also stop when the fan stops. This also happens when the outside air isn't warm (in winter time). Talking about winter, the ECON-button also deactivates the PTC-heater in the diesel cars. Thus saving energy in both summer and winter times. And that's why the button is called ECONomy. By the way, could the other "unmarked" button in the centre be the DUAL-button, which sets the both sides of the car to the same temperature as the driver's side? With the dual-mode, you only need to turn one dial to change both sides' temperature setting. __________________ :: When in doubt - hesitate. Last edited by jcase; 07-10-2006 at 23:00. Reason: Typo corrections

07-10-2006, 23:45	#23
dstev2000 Briskodian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Back in the Green Posts: 4,036 Members Car: 2 Octavia II's, an L&K combi and a vRS hatch. Thanks: 48 Thanked 168 Times in 153 Posts	Re: How to activate de ON/OFF center switch on the CLIMATRONIC When you rotate the middle fan speed selector all the way round in an anti clockwise position it will eventually turn the whole thing off, thats fan and air conditioner. There is no real reason to do this as the car will steam up pretty quickly. The blank "off" button kills the whole thing with a single push instead of turning the fan dial all the way round. The you can achieve the same setting as this "dual" button by holding auto down for a few seconds, this resets both sides to the drivers temperature. I have fiddled with this blank "dual" button and i'm not convinced. Maybe VW/Skoda thought this would complicate things and decided to keep the buttons and dials to a minimum as both "dual" and "off" functions can be found elsewhere. Just for reference: ECON light on = Air conditioning compressor OFF, fan running ECON light off = Air conditioning compressor ON, fan running NO lights and "off" in the temp displays = Air conditioning compressor and fan OFF I know this has been mentioned before but thats as clear as you can get. __________________ MY08 L&K: Black-Estate-Diesel-Sunset Glass-MFD2-W8 Interior light-Colour coded door strips-LED sidelights and Puddle lights-VAG-COM fettled-Lovely! SWMBO's: MY08 vRS TDI - Standard