With the warmer weather coming I expect to be using the aircon for the first time on my Fabia Elegance. I know this isn't full climate control but it does have a temperature control. I'd like to know how it works when you set a particular temperature with the aircon on. Does it (a) switch the aircon on/off at varied intervals according to the set temperature, or ( switch the aircon on permanently and mix in some hot air to adjust the output temp? From my brief tests so far it doesn't seem to cycle on and off, but it does seem wasteful burning fuel to cool the air and then warm it up again.

Sal

Aircon isn't just to cool air, it can be used to heat air too.

Answer: B (although the compressor isn't running 100% of the time, the air is cooled to the preset temperature and then mixed with warm according to the dial).

You say you're about to use the air con for the first time: have you read the part of your handbook which recommends regular use (even during winter months) to prolong the life of the system?

Aircon isn't just to cool air, it can be used to heat air too.

The setup in all Skodas, afaik, is to reduce the temperature and humidity of the air taken in, never to heat it.

Answer: B (although the compressor isn't running 100% of the time' date=' the air is cooled to the preset temperature and then mixed with warm according to the dial).

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Simon, I'm not sure I understand that. If the air is cooled only to the preset temperature on the dial, why is any hot air needed?

Say the temperature in the car is 30C, and the aircon if left running is capable of cooling it to 10C, but I want it to stop at 20C. I switch on the aircon and set the dial to 20. The compressor comes on and cools the internal temp down to 20C. What happens then? Is there a thermostat that detects 20C and stops the compressor? If so I would call that climate control. Or is there some hot air mixed in to balance it out to 20C? I'd just like to know how it works so I can use it as efficiently as possible.

And yes I do give a blast about once a month but in cold weather that doesn't really tell me much about how it works.

Sal

It doesnt stop the compressor when it gets to 20C it mearly adjusts the temp flap towards hot to control the temp which its why the climatic system isnt as acturate as climatronic.

Sorry to have confused things. I simply meant that the compressor doesn't run a 100% duty cycle: when the refrigerant is cooled to a particular temp it switches off for a bit. It still maintains this temperature, though, even if the temperature inside the cabin falls.

Sorry to have confused things. I simply meant that the compressor doesn't run a 100% duty cycle: when the refrigerant is cooled to a particular temp it switches off for a bit. It still maintains this temperature, though, even if the temperature inside the cabin falls.

Right, thanks. So it is cooling air with the compressor and then mixing it with hot air to bring it back up to the required temp. Not exactly efficient but I suppose that's the way it has to be.

I wonder whether if it would be possible to turn this into climate control by connecting an ordinary house central heating thermostat across the aircon switch? That would be so much more efficient.

Sal

The climatic is a thermostat and adjusts the temperature "flap" based on whether the air reaching it is too hot or too cold so there's always hot/cold air to draw on. I'm assuming that it therefore just adjusts the ratio of hot/cold air to maintain the temperature? I believe the compressor runs all the time (as it is a "wobble board") as it is clutchless so I don't know how it's engaged/disengaged....... one of the enlightened ones, could explain

Chris

If its like the mondeo, when you run the A/C (not climate in this) you set the temp on the dial. Setting it to the full anticlock position gives just airconditioned air. As you turn the control clockwise the flap then passes the cooled air through the heater matrix and introduces heat. The mondeo's A/C is on all the time (even through winter) as you can heat the cooled air, one advantage of this is that because all the moisture is removed from the air, even when raining and damp outside the windows inside dont steam up. Also in slow traffic where the engine temp starts to rise (it goes quiet high in the mondeo) turning on the A/C brings it down because the cool air passing over the heater matrix helps to cool the engine.