A/C in winter

Talk about the 406's electrical system, what wires do what, how to add extra functionality, etc.

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CHRISHDI110
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A/C in winter

Post by CHRISHDI110 »

Ever since ive had the 406 there is one thing that frustrates me, during the winter months, if the outside temp drops to 3 degrees or less the A/C stops and the windows start to mist up. the car has climate control and is always set to 21 degrees. Is it normal for the aircon to stop if its 3 degrees or less?
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Doggy
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Re: A/C in winter

Post by Doggy »

Yes. I believe it's to stop icing
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CHRISHDI110
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Re: A/C in winter

Post by CHRISHDI110 »

thats a shame cos its the only thing thats wrong with the system. i know on really cold nights i get to the car after work and its all iced up outside and steamed up inside, even with the screen defrost butto pressed, i can be nearly home (10 miles) before the windows are fully cleared. with my old focus in those conditions, within minuites it was all clear cos the air con was manual and kept the windows clear.
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Welly
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Re: A/C in winter

Post by Welly »

The a/c is disabled below a certain low ambient temp on all cars - on my volvo it's disabled below -7 deg C to prevent hydrostatic lock and blowing the safety valve.

You should try a new tactic in winter.....do not use the a/c!

In winter the air outside is dry and more than capable of defrosting a misted windscreen, sure not as fast as the a/c but bear with me.

In winter if you run the a/c and then park the car you'll get a misted windscreen on the inside after a while - this is because you've got a wet 'tray' of water sat in the climate control box not far from the bottom of the windscreen, effectively the same as having wet carpets/seats...the water will condense out on the cold glazing...then get absorbed by the a/c....then condense out again....remember although there's a drain tube for condense water you'll still have a very wet evaporator and catch tray - nothing will dry that in winter.

The 406 used to annoy me in a different way and switch ON the a/c by itself in the Summer.
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CHRISHDI110
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Re: A/C in winter

Post by CHRISHDI110 »

fair point welly. i do find the air in the south west a lot damper even in winter. i will have to put up with it. I remember growing up in Coalville, leicestershire and dad saying the winters used to be very "dry" now i know what he means!!
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406, better late than never.
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Re: A/C in winter

Post by trufflehunt »

I only live 30 miles up the road from Taunton, and certainly in the last 2 years icing up has not been a problem.
Barely a couple of days last winter when I woke to find screens with a light frost on them.

The a/c never worked on my 406. However, on the frozen days of yore, my finger headed for that full blast button
where the decibels doubled, and all systems were directed towards de-icing the screen.
As I recall, job done in under half a mile.
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CHRISHDI110
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Re: A/C in winter

Post by CHRISHDI110 »

I must say it does clear the windows of frost within a couple of mins running, its just the inside misting up that its not good at, even with the defrost button on and you cant hear yourself think for the fans, it only clears the bottom half of the screen and only where the mirrors are on the side windows. i checked the scuttle area drain holes and they are clear. i do remember cutting one of the wires to the outside temp sensor on the ns mirror and that made it better but not good enough.
1986 Lotus Excel SE
2002 406 hdi 110

406, better late than never.
dirtydirtydiesel
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Re: A/C in winter

Post by dirtydirtydiesel »

Sounds to me like you have a bit of damp inside,

As Welly say's stear clear of the aircon in the winter or if you do use it (which is a good idea once a month)
Only when going for a good run when you get the cabin up to 18° + then run it for ten minutes & shut off the
aircon but leave the fan running for another ten minutes to 'dry out' the condenser.

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Re: A/C in winter

Post by CHRISHDI110 »

Oh, nowt rong with co ville me duck :lol:
[/quote]

ahhhh, co ville duck!! still visit when i can but didnt realise how much has been knocked down near the ford garage!!! wise place chip shop gone :shock: still got Rubys in Thringstone tho!!
1986 Lotus Excel SE
2002 406 hdi 110

406, better late than never.
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