Cimate Control - Cabin Temperature Sensors

[richmarsh]

Hi all,

Anybody know where the cabin temperature sensors are for the climate control? Can I see what values they're reading [i don't have the bluetooth MFD]?

The last few motorway trips have been a bit chilly and I've had to set the temp settings quite high before I could convince it to blow warm air.

For both trips it was night time and cold outside. After an hour or so the vents started blowing cold air until the setting was 24 or 25 degrees. It certainly didn't feel that hot in the cabin!

It was set to AUTO with both sides set with the same temps.

Cheers

Rich
Leon 2.0 TFSI DSG

 

[Rampage]

I've noticed this on mine recently.
The air feels cold untill 26 degree's. It's only happened a couple of times though. Normally on a cold morning when it's warmed up it's only set to 20-22.

Sorry, can't really awnser your question though!

 

[chrisboyle999]

have it on manual so it only pumps in hot air.

 

[richmarsh]

It's possibly because it thinks it is warmer than the set temperature, hence me wanting to know what temperature it thinks it is.

But I've also noticed it never really turns off the air vents, air comes out of the side ones even with the system set to OFF. Maybe when it gets to temperature it would like to not blow any air into the cabin, but outside air is still allowed in.

It's not really climate control if I have to keep tweaking the temperature settings!

 

[DanGB]

The sensors are in the plastic grill bit thats sits behind the interior lights on the ceiling at the front.

 

[flakmunky]

Its not jus tthe Leon climate control that does this - my Golf did too... Same system, different knobs, same problems.

 

[RS4Barry]

so whats the sensor for between the fan speed buttons then?

 

[flakmunky]

I never thought that was a sensor as they are inbetween other buttons as well - I thought they were to help you find them in the dark, a bit like those little raised bits on the F and J keys of a computer keyboard or the 5 button on a telephone keypad?

 

[DanGB]

erm.. doubt thats a sensor, looks like a peice of plastic to me...

 

[thebears]

its a sunlight sensor, one on the dash top as well. I think!

 

[flakmunky]

Are you sure? For what reason?! There is a sensor on the top of the dash in the centre right near the windscreen which I always thought was part of the Climate Control system. Why would it need to sense sunlight?

 

[RS4Barry]

its a sunlight sensor, one on the dash top as well. I think!

Thats what i thought it would be- the mk5 has a sensor on the top of the dash and one at the controls as well.

 

[DanGB]

for auto lights?

 

[flakmunky]

So covering it should switch the lights on?

 

[RS4Barry]

Nah auto lights is that thingumyjig up at the top left of the screen which also does the autowipers. Part of the convienience kit.

 

[Who. Me?]

The black 'nipple' thingy on the dashboard is there to sense the incidence of sunlight coming through the windscreen.

That's one of the main differences between true climate-control and simple chililng that car manufacturers normally (and incorrectly) call 'air-conditioning'.

CC systems need straightforward ambient air temperature sensors inside and outside the car (and in the ventilation system) and solar irradiance sensors to balance the system.

UV light (sunlight) shining in through the windows passes some of its energy to whatever it hits (the dashboard, you, etc). The dashboard etc absorbs that energy and heats up. In doing so, it re-radiates the heat as infra-red radiation that you can feel (like sitting under one of those radiant patio-heaters).

I get freezing air from the vents in strong sunlight on very cold days.

That is probably due to the solar irradiance sensor on the dash telling the system that it needs to negate or pre-empt the radiant heating effect of the sunlight falling on the dash, by adding more cold air. If the sunlight is really strong, that sensor must override the ambient air sensor.

If the problem happens only on sunny days; try covering the black sensor. In theory, the system should think it's an overcast day (or night time) and will base the demand for heat on the readings from the air-temperature sensors after a few minutes.

There should be a note somewhere in the handbook telling you not to cover the black thingy on the dashboard, for that reason.

If it was serious climate control (or genunie 'air-conditioning'), it would have humidity sensors as well, to account for the difference in perception of heat and cold that humidity causes.

Edit:-must remember to use the preview option before posting!

 

[chrisboyle999]

^

centre of dash is daylight sensor for convenience pack. (still there if you dont have convenience as its cheaper to make a standard dash than make on with and one without a hole)

sensor for wipers is in the top left corner of the windscreen.

climate contol has various sensors, none of which can be seen without removing trim.

 

[flakmunky]

Lets make sure we are all talking about the same thing here - there is some kind of plastic nipple between the fan speed buttons. I thought it was the same as the other nipples between the buttons on the CC unit but I noticed this morning that it is significantly different - its larger with a shiny black finish.

There is a second sensor in the middle of the dash right near the windscreen... This would make more sense to me if it were a sunlight sensor as the one on the dash is mounted almost vertical and relatively far back therefore prone to being in shade whereas the one on the dash near the windscreen is horzontal and not prone to being in the shade.

Now I think about it my Golf MkV had both these sensors as well... in pretty much exactly the same places.

 

[agplant]

I was told that the sensor between the buttons ia an infra red IR sensor. Not being technical i'm not sure what this tells the system. I would like to know wher the sensors in the footwells are too!?

 

[Who. Me?]

There is a second sensor in the middle of the dash right near the windscreen...

That was the one I was referring to. Apologies for any confusion.

I thought the dot between the fan speed buttons just looked like part of the body of the unit.