Mysterious Vent in D3 Dashboard

[BSM]

I've always been puzzled by the function of this vent in the dashboard of my D3 directly below the windscreen. The button seems to do nothing. Can anyone shed some light?
70728

[jonesy63]

The grill is the cover for the centre speaker (if you have a Logic 7 stereo) and the "knob" is a light sensor.

[Ean Austral]

I always thought it was a speaker.

Cheers Ean

[BSM]

The grill is the cover for the centre speaker (if you have a Logic 7 stereo) and the "knob" is a light sensor.

Ahh Thanks. I just have the low-line stereo so that'd explain why no sound comes out of mine. Does the light sensor control the Auto headlight function?

[Rich84]

Possibly... I think first and foremost it is the sun sensor for the climate control.

[oldsalt]

I've got my dash covered with a dash-mat - my "sun sensor" (if that's what it is) must think I'm driving around on a very cloudy day... :p

[101RRS]

I've got my dash covered with a dash-mat - my "sun sensor" (if that's what it is) must think I'm driving around on a very cloudy day... :p

The correct dash mates have a hole in them for the climate control sun sensor. The sun sensor makes the inside temp a tad warmer than set when overcast and a tad colder when in full sunlight.

Garry

[BSM]

The sun sensor makes the inside temp a tad warmer than set when overcast and a tad colder when in full sunlight.

Pretty clever these LR engineers I reckon.

[oldsalt]

FULL SUNLIGHT in the U.K. - they start dropping like flies when the temp hits the mid 20's...:D

[SuperMono]

Pretty clever these LR engineers I reckon.

Sun load sensors as feedback into A/C has been a standard feature in many cars since the 90s.
First I recall (in a car I owned) was a 94 Mitsubishi Verada.