Can I overide air con so it'll work at < 3 degrees?

[munkyboy]

Hi guys

Ive got a 2004 leon cupra and the other morning i tried demisting the windscreen and my air conditioning didnt work. I have read a couple of the other threads on here and they say that the air con will not switch on if it is under 3oC. I called a Seat garage up and they said they never heard of the problem and said it probably isn't accurate. So i read the manual and there it was in black and white saying the air con wont operate under a certain temperature.

Anyway to my point, is there anyway of overiding this so that it will operate in all temperatures as i have a problem with condensation and without the air con blowing onto the windscreen i cant see out of it with the normal blowers.

Cheers

Nige

 

[Bruffy66]

I hope that is true about the aircon not working below a certain temp as I have that problem with mine at the moment. I went to switch the aircon on to demist the screen and it wouldn't turn on. Outside temp gauge was showing -2.5 at the time. Fingers crossed its not a fault

 

[sheffboy]

yep. mines the same. it's normal according to the manual.

 

[NJG]

Yep, it's true.
If the outside temperature is below +5 degrees, then the Air Con will not work.

 

[GREY 225]

No its correct,it doesnt work below around 3oc.Its to do with protecting the air con system i think.Its strange cos on my fabia VRS which had the same air con components apart from the digital climate control panel the air con would work even it it fell below 0.Bit daft really cos it comes in very usefull when its cold to get rid of condensation,just when you could do with it after getting in car and it starts to mist up the bloody things turns off.

 

[keany19]

Heres a scan from the user manual, hope it solves your problem

 

[LEE69]

Have a search regarding door leaks and scuttle problems, regarding the condensation problem.

 

[munkyboy]

for the condensation problem i have bought some moisture mates which you can buy from halfords for £3. it seems to have helped a little but it has only been in there for a day.

Its a bit stupid that the air con wont come on below 5 as it gets freezing over here at this time of year and without the air con its really hard to de mist the windscreen and then the rear door windows steam up so you cant check your blindspot whilst changing lanes unless you open the window.

I called up Seat and they wanted to charge me £75 to throw it on the diagnostic machine even though the car is under warranty. How rediculous is that!!!! But then again its White Dove in Cardiff so they arent really much help anyway.

But does anyone know how to override this problem as it would be handy to know i guess.

Im glad i am not the only one with this problem

 

[LEE69]

Post in the vag com section and see if anyone local can scan it for you.

 

[munkyboy]

its not a major problem as i have a local garage who im friends with who will run it through the diagnostics free of charge. PLus i had my car serviced with him on saturday and they said there was absolutely nothing wrong with it. and they checked everything as ive only had the car for a few months

 

[LEE69]

That level of condensation is wrong.
I press the top button for the screen and in no time mine as cleared.

I'm feeling an underlying problem tbh.

 

[munkyboy]

yeh, when you press the top button, does the air con come on with it as well? necause usually that what happens with me but obviously in these temperatures the air con is coming on with it

 

[LEE69]

You got me thinking now, i recall the top pic for the screen but not the pic for the air-con.
I'll try it in the morning as now it's 2 deg.
Sod it i'll go try it now brb.

 

[LEE69]

Car is registering 0.5 deg and only the top pic comes on to demist the windscreen, the snowflake doesn't come on at all.

 

[munkyboy]

LOL, maybe i have a lot of condensation and it may be a problem but i know the air con will sort it, just need it to warm up a little lol

 

[icestorm81]

I have the same problem with the amount of condensation i been getting with the cold weather recently. If it happens when i finish work i normally drive to my petrol station and use some paper towels to get rid of all the excess water. Saying that, when i got up for work on sunday morning just gone at 7am, the temperature gauge was saying -6c outside and my car windows had frosted up in d inside aswel, 1st time that has every happened

 

[mat564]

have you tried cleaning the inside of your screen with news paper and a little fairy liquid it takes a bit of time and is a little messy but cures the inside of your screen misting up a lot of bikers use this on there helmet visors

 

[icestorm81]

No i hadn't, i will give it a go when i get sometime on my hands, cheers

 

[Muttley]

If your car is that wet inside, you've got leaks.

The air conditioner cooling matrix can't be allowed to go below freezing, moisture would freeze onto it and block the airflow. The drying action of the cooler relys on the moisture condensing as liquid and draining away; then you heat the air to get hot, dry air. If you leave it cold then it's still saturated and won't demist very well.

If the air coming in is already cold, then all you have to do to get dry air is heat it up - cold air can't hold much moisture. If it's below freezing outside then there's bugger-all moisture in the air to start with.

You need to be able to put heat into the air to dry it, so you won't get any drying effect until the engine warms up.

 

[777cupra]

if theres loadsa condensation you prob have a leak somewhere getting moisture into the car....if its normal then yeah its pain but it will take a couple minutes more to clean...the windscreen demist button will still work without aircon just give the engine time to warm up!