406oc.co.uk

I used to own a Seat Leon that was pretty terrible. It had A/C and the manual said the A/C wouldn't turn on unless the outside air temperature was above something like 8 degrees C.

In my 406 with climate control, I can have had the climate control set to say 25 degrees and be running without the A/C on and the fan on two "bars".
The next day if I get in the car and the temperature is cold, say 3 degrees outside, when I start the car the climate control automatically turns the A/C on and puts the fan on auto.

I wouldn't have thought the A/C would work at such low temps so is it running in reverse as it were, and heating the air its pumping into the cabin, or is it just switching the A/C on as the air is more humid and it will clear the screen better?

If there's a big difference between what the inside temp is set to and what it's like outside it'll turn the air con on auto, whether it's hot or cold outside. If it's heating then the air con is acting as a dehumidifier so it will defog the screen a lot quicker, plus it'll stop condensation forming on your BSI, which can only be a good thing.

Btw how's the people's car going?

The CC in the 406 is fantastic but it does have the habit of turning the a/c on by itself

The 406's a/c will not run below 0deg C and that's certain, this is to protect the compressor you don't really need a/c below 10 deg's as all the moisture in the air has condensed out on the ground around you so humidity is very low anyway.

Best bet is to run in Auto with the a/c off in winter but if it's over 10 deg's say then run the a/c once a week etc to keep the refrigerant oil around everywhere.

My a/c has crapped out but I'm having no trouble with condensation on windows etc.

Cool, glad thats cleared that up then. I usually switch the a/c off if the car has decided to turn it on automatically anyway so glad thats a good option.

Regarding the peoples car - its kinda not going. Its sat in my mums garage minus a carburettor and manifold with a number of body parts needing to be welded to it. It seems time and money are not in abundance at the minute to allow me to completely restore it. Unless I win a small fortune somewhere I doubt those two things will ever be available!

One day maybe.....


Taken a few years ago, with my old 405 in the background too!

I used to love my 405 it was a G reg 1.9GR in light Gold

Welton wrote:I used to love my 405 it was a G reg 1.9GR in light Gold

Me too! My 405 was the best car I've ever had (after the bug!). It just went and went and went. Even when the differential decieded to "move" when it shouldn't and lose some metal parts somewhere, dropping all the gear box oil out of the car, it still drove for a 5 oir 6 months whilst I got around to selling it - albeit with a good whine! Last I saw of it, it was driving off to staines with a happy new owner.

Welton wrote:The CC in the 406 is fantastic but it does have the habit of turning the a/c on by itself

That's a GOOD thing! Nothing worse than excessive humidity. I used to try turning it off when I was Extreme Grandad Driving, but quickly discovered the car misting up

I can't say I've ever noticed it refusing to work under 0c though, it still makes the expected noise and puts the engine under load, although the CC is reluctant to engage it at those temperatures. My morning routine in the cold is to whack the blower to full blast manual with a/c and close the dashboard vents so it's all directed up at the screen

Under some conditions using the a/c actually adds to the humidity in the car where moisure hangs around the evaporator box and steams up the windscreen when the car stands still but then gets cleared, then condenses back again etc etc.

If you let the system dry out on its own then it stays dry mostly without the a/c.

That's what I do but then again I have no choice

What, the transverse torsion bars and single inside linked swing arms on the back, handles like a tea trolley on ice, all the accelleration of a slug on downers beetle?

Me and a mate of mine rebuit a 1966 1200 6v for his mum, this was about 20 years ago so yours is 15 years older, comparativly speaking. I'd imagine you can still get heaps of spares for it. How are the jacking points?

There's still loads floating around here and a couple of months back I saw a convertible Injection parked up, I thought about taking a picture but I didn't think anyone would care

steve_earwig wrote:Me and a mate of mine rebuit a 1966 1200 6v for his mum,

I don't believe it, according to DVLA it still exists! LYN 247D, taxed up to next October, now 1300 (I didn't think the lump would last) and it's now PINK!! (yuk!)

steve_earwig wrote:

steve_earwig wrote:Me and a mate of mine rebuit a 1966 1200 6v for his mum,

I don't believe it, according to DVLA it still exists! LYN 247D, taxed up to next October, now 1300 (I didn't think the lump would last) and it's now PINK!! (yuk!)

You'd be surprised! Here is your car, from one of my other forums I peruse:
http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/showthread ... ht=LYN247D
Small world eh!

My 406 is playing silly buggers. The A/C on my 406 does not operate for some reason below 6 degrees is that right? never really noticed before. Its a D9 some mornings going to work it steams up. Like this morning went out it was reading 5 degrees no a/c to clear windows quickly. Not long got home outside temperature is 8 degrees a/c engages no problem all the time it is pressed on. Had my a/c guy look at it yesterday there is plenty of gas in the system pressure is good on the high side and low side has a new pressure switch fitted also. Plus a host of new parts fitted ove the last 5 years. HELP PLEASE

I've no idea myself (never noticed ) but Welton says it doesn't work below zero, the question is how does it know The other thing is it should have some sort of electric heater for those cold mornings (viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3663&p=36834&hilit= ... hdi#p36834), I seem to remember my HDi being pretty good at clearing the screen all through last winter, maybe this is your problem

djheath wrote:You'd be surprised! Here is your car, from one of my other forums I peruse:
http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/showthread ... ht=LYN247D
Small world eh!

I found that but there's no pics. I also tried checking out Hert VW Ace Cafe meets as it suggests but the pics are hosted on MSN Gropes and I could feel myself ageing while waiting for the pages to load so I gave up.

A quick google on LYN247D yields this:

Gurgle wrote:VW Beetle 1966 Pink 1776cc Engine RELISTED FOR 3 DAYS en venta en ... - [ Translate this page ]

I also had the number plate valued at £1495 (LYN 247D) a year or so ago. The engine was built by myself and a friend who is an air-cooled mechanic, ...

but it doesn't go anywhere (and why eBay Italy??)
1776cc? I presume that's type 2 barrels and pistons. I remember the two kids that came to buy it, they said they were going to customize it, I looked at them and thought "yeah, right..."

Rappy, I determined that the 406 a/c cycles on/off when the outside temp is below 10 deg C but runs flat out above 10deg.

At 6 deg you can get quite long "off" periods in the cycle (especially if your gas is all good) so maybe watch it run and see how often it goes on/off.

As I said before my interior is really dry even though the car currently lives outdoors and all the rain we've had and I'm not running the a/c at all (there's nothing wrong with my a/c honest)

Thanks guys for your help as usual Welly and steve. Everyday is a school So my 406 is running normal. Thank god