XC70: General Heater controls /air con

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by ferg55

Interesting post. I never use the auto function, I tried it few times but in every case the fan ramped up to maximum (i.e. too loud!) even though I had the fan speed on minimum in the driver's menu, and blew in my face when I wanted it on my screen (or vice versa). I added it it to my list of "automatic things that don't really work" and forgot about it. But everyone else seems to rave about it, am I missing something?

The auto function keeps the temperature in the cabin to what you set it to itself. So if you set it to say 20 degrees, the fan will adjust itself up and down to control the temperature.

If the fan ramps up speed, it’s probably because you’ve set a temperature that’s either way higher than the internal temperature of the car or way below. For example, if you sit in the car on a hot day, set the temperature to minimum & then select auto, the fan will ramp up speed to try & cool the car as fast as possible.

If you don’t want air on your face using the auto function, then you can close the vents & then it’ll blow air to other areas like the windscreen or the footwell.

Originally Posted by yostumpy

ok, so with a/c running, should the air intake be set to recirculate, or in from outside. I was under impression the former, otherwise its like leaving a freezer door open, then complaining the ice cream is soft.

I think your car has an auto function, as well as manually setting outside or recirculated air. Set it to auto & let the climate control decide.

[yostumpy]

I know every one is different, but what temp have folks got on their cabin temp, say , today. Had mine on 21 deg auto, and felt a bit chilly.

[Thorium]

Set it to whatever temperature feels comfortable for you. When I had my XC70 i think it was set to about 22 degrees, and left in full auto mode. That way it would cool or heat when needed, and the a/c was dehumidifying the air, so no musty smells, foggy windows, etc.

In my experience, the climate controls systems in Volvos work pretty well when left in full automatic and set at a sensible temperature. The only criticism I have of my current car (XC90) is that it takes a while for warm air to arrive on cold days.

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by yostumpy

I know every one is different, but what temp have folks got on their cabin temp, say , today. Had mine on 21 deg auto, and felt a bit chilly.

I usually set it to 22 degrees in auto mode in autumn.

On a colder winter day, I’d set it at 24 degrees.

In the peak of summer, I’d have it on max cool & then adjust it to 19 degrees when the car started to feel chilly.

Each to their own I suppose. What I find comfortable temperature wise may not suit you.

[Tatsfield]

What I have never understood with climate control is why I find the need to adjust the set temperature at all. In theory, once I find the temperature at which I am most comfortable in the cabin, it ought to stay untouched forever heating or cooling to achieve that temperature no matter what the outside conditions might be. However this doesn't seem to happen and on cold days I find I am adjusting the temperature setting above my optimum and on hot days below it.

[yostumpy]

Originally Posted by Tatsfield

What I have never understood with climate control is why I find the need to adjust the set temperature at all. In theory, once I find the temperature at which I am most comfortable in the cabin, it ought to stay untouched forever heating or cooling to achieve that temperature no matter what the outside conditions might be. However this doesn't seem to happen and on cold days I find I am adjusting the temperature setting above my optimum and on hot days below it.

Ah! this goes back to my point about air from outside , or recirculate. If its 10degrees outside and you are doing 60mph, the temp of the air entering the car is?? so if its set to A/C but recirculate, or auto-non a/c-recirculate, the air has to be warmer. I've been playing with mine, and find it warms up very quickly in the car, but then after 1/2 hour it feels a bit chilly. If I turn to recirculating, it gets a bit warmer without touching the temp dial. ?

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by Tatsfield

What I have never understood with climate control is why I find the need to adjust the set temperature at all. In theory, once I find the temperature at which I am most comfortable in the cabin, it ought to stay untouched forever heating or cooling to achieve that temperature no matter what the outside conditions might be. However this doesn't seem to happen and on cold days I find I am adjusting the temperature setting above my optimum and on hot days below it.

I have to do the same.

Its due to varying outside temperatures, I imagine. If the temperature outside was constantly the same, then there’s no need to adjust it. Obviously, this won’t happen.

[apersson850]

I find the climate control in the two XC70's we have work very well when set to Auto.
I may need to increase the temperature slightly in the summer, and reduce in the winter, since I tend to wear thicker clothes in the winter.

But there are a few things to understand:

• All vents must be open on the dashboard, so the system has a chance to work.
• Direct the vents to the ceiling, away from yourself, to avoid feeling the air passing by.
• Set the temperature you want at the end. Don't fiddle with it at the beginning of your ride.
• Let the system maintain all things automatically. Don't set fan speed or something else manually.
• Keep the windows closed, except on very hot days to vent out the worst the first 30-60 seconds.
• It's possible to set the fan speed selection preference in the menu system. I've found the medium setting to be the best compromise between comfort and quick reaction.
• If you have a diesel with separate engine heater, use it when it's cold outside, to let the engine reach working temperature quickly.

[Tatsfield]

Originally Posted by Kev0607

I have to do the same.

Its due to varying outside temperatures, I imagine. If the temperature outside was constantly the same, then there’s no need to adjust it. Obviously, this won’t happen.

I don't understand that. If the system works to bring the cabin temperature to that set by the driver, it should do that regardless of the outside temperature. It is working on the temperature in the cabin and even if the temperature of the in drawn air changes, the system has the ability to adjust its operation to continue to work towards the selected cabin temperature regardless of the temperature outside the car. The fact that it doesn't seem to do that is a source of irritation to me having paid for a car which claims to have climate control in the cabin.

[apersson850]

I'd say it does just that. The only time this doesn't happen is if the sunshine sensor is blocked. Since sun shining directly at you will heat you up, without heating the air up much, so the system has to compensate for the radiation as well. It does this by modifying your setup "behind the screen" by up to 3°.

Then of course if you start the car at -20°C, it will take a while before everything in the car heats up and the warmth feels even and cosy. Before that, it's warm air being blown over cold surfaces.

But you should also be aware that the system tries to bring the perceived temperature to what you set it at. Due to sun radiation, fan speed, humidity etc., the actualy temperature measured by a thermometer may show something else.