AC Recirculation flap not working. Should i keep it as recirculation mode or fresh air?

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

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dexter895
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AC Recirculation flap not working. Should i keep it as recirculation mode or fresh air?

Post by dexter895 »

I have 406 with L6A 1.8 engine. I noticed that my air recirculation flap is no longer working. I have removed the glove box and checked seems the motor is no longer working.
But i can manually close or open the flap. I don't have immediate plan to fix it.
So, untill then should I keep it as recirculation mode all the time or fresh air mode? I'm thinking to close the flap and keep it in recirculation mode. Should it be okay?
GingerMagic
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Re: AC Recirculation flap not working. Should i keep it as recirculation mode or fresh air?

Post by GingerMagic »

When I got one of my earlier 406s, the recirculation flap was broken and the previous owner kept it closed.

Please bear in mind that the car was used as a taxi in Birmingham, possibly for food deliveries too - the smell inside the car was potent to say the least...

I shortly after buying the car decided to keep this flap open as I much prefer fresh air. This in my mind was the better option, with the only drawback being unable to close the flap when driving behind a bin lorry... :(

I think the A/C needs the flap closed to work too, but I don't use it personally so I wasn't bothered.
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dexter895
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Re: AC Recirculation flap not working. Should i keep it as recirculation mode or fresh air?

Post by dexter895 »

GingerMagic wrote: Sat Jul 17, 2021 5:28 pm When I got one of my earlier 406s, the recirculation flap was broken and the previous owner kept it closed.

Please bear in mind that the car was used as a taxi in Birmingham, possibly for food deliveries too - the smell inside the car was potent to say the least...

I shortly after buying the car decided to keep this flap open as I much prefer fresh air. This in my mind was the better option, with the only drawback being unable to close the flap when driving behind a bin lorry... :(

I think the A/C needs the flap closed to work too, but I don't use it personally so I wasn't bothered.
I also kept it in fresh air mode. But in hot days fresh air mode doesn't seems cooling enough.
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Doggy
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Re: AC Recirculation flap not working. Should i keep it as recirculation mode or fresh air?

Post by Doggy »

+1 I would always choose fresh air over recirculated.

I think the A/C is fine without it, climate control will use recirculate/max fan speed to get the interior temperature down quicker, but will reopen the recirc flap again after a few minutes.

(Stopping the fan more or less works for bin lorries or those delightful bulk tippers full of abattoir waste).
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PeterN
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Re: AC Recirculation flap not working. Should i keep it as recirculation mode or fresh air?

Post by PeterN »

Leave it open or you will find that the windscreen steams up especially in the winter, it helps keep the car dry. I don't think I ever had occasion to close mine.

Peter
dexter895
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Re: AC Recirculation flap not working. Should i keep it as recirculation mode or fresh air?

Post by dexter895 »

PeterN wrote: Sun Jul 18, 2021 8:58 am Leave it open or you will find that the windscreen steams up especially in the winter, it helps keep the car dry. I don't think I ever had occasion to close mine.

Peter
I'm in the country with no Winter. Anyway keeping in fresh air mode seems to be the better idea then.
Thanks.
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