i may be an idiot but i cant figure out what activating the auto button does on the climate control system

if i set a temperature setting on the digital readout the the temperature charges accordingly - so i cant figure out what activating the auto button does

thanks

The automatic mode is used in order to maintain a constant temperature and to demist the windows in the interior of the car.

Also, the position of all the flaps is controlled automatically.

In "AUTO" mode, automatically is switched on the air recirculation mode, if reversing or washing the windscreen.

In auto mode it will heat and cool as required ( air con switched on),in econ mode it can not cool below the outside air temperature ( air con is switched off).Personally I leave mine in auto all the time.

thanks for your replies - but chriskite can i ask you this

i understand that if the econ light is on - then there is no air cooling. And if the auto light is on there is air cooling - but what if neither light is on

is it just as chavdarlk says and the flaps are controlled automatically when the auto button is pressed

I just missed to mention, that fan speed is automatically controlled too.

I think, if "AUTO" is Off, both infrared sensors are disabled (first in center of fan speed knob, and second in the middle of windscreen demist output).

Just to clarify - if I'm not wrong, with "AUTO" Off, Climatronic becomes more like Climatic.

Pretty much, yes.

In Auto it choosed by itself which flaps to output air through, what fan speed, etc, in order to get to that temp asap. Also, econ being on as well means it's trying to accomplish the same thing but without using the aircon compressor, which means it can only cool using outside air, but it can heat and filter as previously mentioned.

Turning Auto off (i.e.) engaging any of the controls manually will force it to stick to whatever temp, fan setting and flaps you selected on the panel.

Turning Auto off (i.e.) engaging any of the controls manually will force it to stick to whatever temp, fan setting and flaps you selected on the panel.

I think it is more complex than that. If it is a cold day, you have the temperature set for 22deg, you are on Auto and the fan speed is say on 4. If you reduce the fan speed by 1 notch to 3 then the auto light goes out but the fan speed does not stay constant at your "manual" setting of 3. As the interior warms up the fan speed reduces. Also, even with the auto light off it still auto controls the flaps.

So like the original poster I'm really not sure what "Auto" means! Maybe it would be more accurately defined as "default" where the computer makes what it thinks are the best settings for current conditions but you go ahead and make adjustments and it will continue to control as best it can within the different parameters that you have set.

I think that in auto mode the compressor is running at 100% regulating the temp as required, in ECON it reduces the compressor to 50% (guess) to save fuel, Here is Spain I only set auto in the really hot weather and for the winter ECON is sufficient.

I think that in auto mode the compressor is running at 100% regulating the temp as required, in ECON it reduces the compressor to 50% (guess) to save fuel, Here is Spain I only set auto in the really hot weather and for the winter ECON is sufficient.

In "Econ" compressor is fully stopped.

Using "Econ" for the winter is nearly useless for fuel saving, partly loosing demisting capabilities at the same time.

Real economy effects of "Econ" could be reached only with hot weather.

In "Econ" compressor is fully stopped.

Using "Econ" for the winter is nearly useless for fuel saving, partly loosing demisting capabilities at the same time.

Real economy effects of "Econ" could be reached only with hot weather.

I dont get it, I have never had demisting problems in winter with Econ (maybe because it is always sunny here!) and surely if the compressor is stopped then it helps fuel, when I have the fuel economy up on the trip comuter it changes considerably (lower) when I switch from Auto to Econ. Oh well.