Cabin Heat Issue

[kashkash]

Hi Guys,

I am new to the forum and Volvo in General. I recently purchased a XC90 66 Reg. I am facing one issue that I am trying to understand and decide on the best course of action.

The temperature in the cabin seems to be very low when I set to Auto and select temperatures like 23 or 23.5. Previously I have owned Mercedes, BMW and Lexus and was almost never set the temperature above 21.5 or 22 as max. However, when I set the temp in the Volvo to 23 or 23.5 it seems to be blowing cold air into the cabin almost making it freezing.

Its a Disel, I understand that it can take time for the engine to heat up but this I almost after 40-50 mins of Motorway driving. I also have Volvo on Call where I start the car a full 15 mins before getting into the car and it will still be very cold.

However, when I do crank the temperature up to "HI" I can feel hot air blowing into the cabin. So, if I set the temperature to 25-26, I actually get decent temperature but not at 23 which is what I would expect.

Is this a common issue with XC90s or should I be doing something to fix the problem?

Thanks for your patience.

[DriverDen]

Within the Auto Climate setting there are different max speeds for the fan, if yours is too low the fan will take time to fill the cabin with warm air.

Press the autoclimate text at the bottom middle of the display and check that the fan is at max? That would mean it could get noisy, but should warm up quickly, when the fan will get slower and quieter.

[kashkash]

Originally Posted by DriverDen

Within the Auto Climate setting there are different max speeds for the fan, if yours is too low the fan will take time to fill the cabin with warm air.

Press the autoclimate text at the bottom middle of the display and check that the fan is at max? That would mean it could get noisy, but should warm up quickly, when the fan will get slower and quieter.

Thanks for your reply.

When I press Auto most of the time the fan is full but it only vents through the windscreen and closes the other vents out.

The problem is less with the speed of the fan but to do with the temperature of the air coming out.

Like I said, even after running on motorway for after 30mins, it blows cold air when set to 23.5.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by kashkash

Thanks for your reply.

When I press Auto most of the time the fan is full but it only vents through the windscreen and closes the other vents out.

The problem is less with the speed of the fan but to do with the temperature of the air coming out.

Like I said, even after running on motorway for after 30mins, it blows cold air when set to 23.5.

You need to verify the air coming out of the dash and footwell vents and also the ambient air in the car with a thermometer . ... the dash vents will be a little warmer than the ambient air ...

[kashkash]

Originally Posted by Clan

You need to verify the air coming out of the dash and footwell vents and also the ambient air in the car with a thermometer . ... the dash vents will be a little warmer than the ambient air ...

Good idea, is there a particular thermometer (from Amazon) that would work best for measuring the air temperature quickly?

[Clan]

Originally Posted by kashkash

Good idea, is there a particular thermometer (from Amazon) that would work best for measuring the air temperature quickly?

The good old clinical glass nurses thermometer does the job ..

[vxf]

Originally Posted by kashkash

Hi Guys,

I am new to the forum and Volvo in General. I recently purchased a XC90 66 Reg. I am facing one issue that I am trying to understand and decide on the best course of action.

The temperature in the cabin seems to be very low when I set to Auto and select temperatures like 23 or 23.5. Previously I have owned Mercedes, BMW and Lexus and was almost never set the temperature above 21.5 or 22 as max. However, when I set the temp in the Volvo to 23 or 23.5 it seems to be blowing cold air into the cabin almost making it freezing.

Its a Disel, I understand that it can take time for the engine to heat up but this I almost after 40-50 mins of Motorway driving. I also have Volvo on Call where I start the car a full 15 mins before getting into the car and it will still be very cold.

However, when I do crank the temperature up to "HI" I can feel hot air blowing into the cabin. So, if I set the temperature to 25-26, I actually get decent temperature but not at 23 which is what I would expect.

Is this a common issue with XC90s or should I be doing something to fix the problem?

Thanks for your patience.

Early SPA cars, in 2016 and 2017, had a lot of issues with thermostats failing. I had both the AC not cooling, on one car, and the heating not working on another.

In both cases, it required replacement of the same thermostat. It was all done under warranty.... so, to be honest, I did not pay much attention. But maybe that could be your problem. I have not heard of it on newer models, to be honest.

[Director76]

Originally Posted by vxf

Early SPA cars, in 2016 and 2017, had a lot of issues with thermostats failing. I had both the AC not cooling, on one car, and the heating not working on another.

In both cases, it required replacement of the same thermostat. It was all done under warranty.... so, to be honest, I did not pay much attention. But maybe that could be your problem. I have not heard of it on newer models, to be honest.

I remember helping my dad frequently to replace the thermostats on a string of Austin Minis and Maxis as a child - lack of cabin heat was always the telltale!

[Wizzpop]

The first thing I would check would be the temperature of the radiator or connecting hoses. After your journey lift the bonnet and feel whether the top hoses are hot. If they are not very hot then it could be the thermostat.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Wizzpop

The first thing I would check would be the temperature of the radiator or connecting hoses. After your journey lift the bonnet and feel whether the top hoses are hot. If they are not very hot then it could be the thermostat.

or a very cold day :-)