...........what does it actually do?. When should you use it?.

I've trawled the manual and it doesn't really make sense.

...........what does it actually do?. When should you use it?.

I've trawled the manual and it doesn't really make sense.

Takes engines power down 90% and temporarily runs on diesel to make it more economical..

but seriously its like air con but doesn't use as much fuel and (I think) uses fresh air instead of conditioned air by disengaging the a/c compressor. you will probably notice the engine revs fluctuate more on idle with the ECON on.

better explanation here : http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/1873-econ-button-at-the-climate-control/

Edited 17 November, 201015 yr by Lew_VRS

I was told it was for use if you have windows/sunroof open. As I understand it, the aircon cannot function properly with constant fresh air entering the car?

Operates an electrically actuated clutch that disengages the air con compressor from its drive belt pulley. Hence reducing the load on the engine at the expense of not having air con cooling and dehumidifying, but giving better fuel economy as more of the engine power output goes to the wheels. Non heated air is blown through the air vents at ambient temperature instead of chilled air from the air con unit.

Use it driving with the windows down or when you don't want air con. However air con helps with demisting the car and if you leave it in econ all winter it will stagnate and get smelly when you switch it back on.

The Octavia 2 doesn't have a clutch on the A/C compressor, there is a control valve inside it which regulates the amount of refrigerant being pushed around the system, this means there is always a tiny amount of 134a circulating which also means the compressor shaft seal is always lubricated so it won't leak as much, my A/C was fine for 146,000 miles and never needed topping up.

Econ ON = something like 2-5% gas flow (technically it means no air conditioning)

Econ OFF = A/C compressor running allowing cooler and/or dehumidified hair to enter the cabin, good for cooling in the summer, good for demisting in the winter.

Even if the A/C is running in the winter the climatic/climatronic will add heat to trim the temperature in the cabin as required. The compressor is disabled at ambient temperatures below 5 degrees C IIRC.

On very hot days the recirc function is recommended to maximise the cooling coil's performance as it isn't dragging in hot humid air from outside, the car won't steam up as the A/C gets shot of the moisture but the air will become stale over time so it should only be used for 20 minutes tops. Once the cabin is down to the correct temperature it is fine to run with recirc off, the cooling coil is able to cool the outside air sufficiently.

The FL climatronic unit has an 'AC' button rather than 'ECON' for sake of clarity.

Good explanation above. I tend to run with ECON off most of the time, but do turn it on if I have the windows open, as it's pointless having the car cool the air, if it's then going to escape out of an open window

The Octavia 2 doesn't have a clutch on the A/C compressor, there is a control valve inside it which regulates the amount of refrigerant being pushed around the system, this means there is always a tiny amount of 134a circulating which also means the compressor shaft seal is always lubricated so it won't leak as much, my A/C was fine for 146,000 miles and never needed topping up.

Econ ON = something like 2-5% gas flow (technically it means no air conditioning)

Econ OFF = A/C compressor running allowing cooler and/or dehumidified hair to enter the cabin, good for cooling in the summer, good for demisting in the winter.

Even if the A/C is running in the winter the climatic/climatronic will add heat to trim the temperature in the cabin as required. The compressor is disabled at ambient temperatures below 5 degrees C IIRC.

On very hot days the recirc function is recommended to maximise the cooling coil's performance as it isn't dragging in hot humid air from outside, the car won't steam up as the A/C gets shot of the moisture but the air will become stale over time so it should only be used for 20 minutes tops. Once the cabin is down to the correct temperature it is fine to run with recirc off, the cooling coil is able to cool the outside air sufficiently.

The FL climatronic unit has an 'AC' button rather than 'ECON' for sake of clarity.

On FL models the "Auto" button is equivalent to "Econ" and AC is full "AC"

On FL models the "Auto" button is equivalent to "Econ" and AC is full "AC"

Is it????

I have the same system on my Superb and I can have it set in Auto with or without the AC running.

All the ECON button does is enable/disable the air con compressor. The AC button does the same thing on the FL Octy/Yeti/Superb climatronic system.

When you press the Auto button it will enable the AC by default but pressing the AC/ECON button will turn it off.

Makes chuff all difference to mpg IMHO

On FL models the "Auto" button is equivalent to "Econ" and AC is full "AC"

No the auto button is what it says "automatic" - it means that the car will adapt the settings i.e. fan speed, temperature etc to ensure a comfortable temperature in the cabin vs the temperature outside

Makes chuff all difference to mpg IMHO

Not sure about on the road mpg but it affects tickover mpg. I was playing with my maxidot the other day and switched the units from UK imperial to metric. This gives the fuel consumption on the maxidot in units of litres per 100km when driving and in litres per hour when stationary on tickover.

At tickover with a warm engine the fuel consumption was 0.8-0.9 litres per hour. Switched on the AC and it went up to 1.1-1.2 litres per hour. Switched on everything I could - full beam headlights, foglights, hazard flashers, brake lights, heated seats, heated mirrors, heated rear window and it went to 1.3-1.4 litres per hour.

Edited 19 November, 201015 yr by eccleshill

On FL models the "Auto" button is equivalent to "Econ" and AC is full "AC"

No - that's not right.

The Econ button is simply an "AC" on-off button that for some reason best known to VAG is illuminated when the the AC is Off.

They have now reverted to the conventional setup

"Auto" button is same function as "auto" button on pre-FL

"Econ" button is replaced with an "AC" button - that illuminates when AC is on.

Edited 19 November, 201015 yr by eccleshill

Extract from FL manual for climatronic(no ECON button) ,below, on the effect of switching AC off:-

switching cooling on and off

– Press the button ⇒ page 116, fig. 141. The warning light lights up

in the button.

– When you again press the switch , the cooling system is switched

off. The warning light in the button goes out. Only the function of the

ventilation remains active when no lower temperature than the

outside temperature can be reached.

Edited 19 November, 201015 yr by gregoir

My non FL was set to ECON for 9mths of year and AUTO for 3 mths when AC was required. This seemed to be the most economical and controlled way to operate.

Having had my FL model for 3 days, this is my interpretation of the system:

Currently, if I want to use climatronic without compressor induced AC cooling ie old ECON mode, I have the temp set at 20deg, and AUTO (normal 37 mpg ) on (Low mode).....The fan controls (speed 1 or 2) the interior temp at 20deg....

If, in summer, i want to introduce cooling ie AC (poor mpg), then I press the AC button and it increases fan speed and blows chilled air in until temp is reached.

From manual:

"The Climatronic maintains fully automatically a convenience temperature. This is

achieved by automatically varying the temperature of the outflowing air, the blower

stages and the air distribution. The system also takes into account sunlight which eliminates

the need to alter the settings manually. The automatic mode AUTO ensures maximum wellbeing of the occupants at all times of the year.

The cooling operates only if the following conditions are met:

• outside temperature above approx. +2°C,

• AC switched on.

If the cooling system is switched on, the temperature and air humidity drops in the

vehicle. The wellbeing of the occupants of the car is enhanced as a result of this particularly

at high outside temperatures and a high air humidity. The system prevents the

windows misting up during the cold season of the year."

Is this correct, or am I misinterpreting the system?

On the old Climatronic system you could have it set to auto with or without cooling, if the system is set to auto and econ at the same time it will distribute air, modulate the fan speed and temperature to maintain the setpoint as indicated on the small LCD displays.

If the outside temperature is higher than the desired setpoint it will not be able to reduce the cabin temperature as the cooling is disabled (econ = on). Turning econ off will enable the compressor and allow the cabin to cool down to the setpoint.

Its pretty much the same principle with the new climatronic system, there are two auto modes - on the Superb and Yeti at least - one is a lower fan speed auto if there are one or two people in the front of the car, the high fan auto is used when the car has 3 or 4 people in it.

I always run the system in max screen defrost or auto (personal preference!) and only select cooling via the AC button (or econ OFF on my old car) when the car is steamed up or when the outside ambient temperature exceeds the desired climatronic setpoint. As you say, it saves a considerable amount of fuel keeping it off until needed.