Thread: Air con

Originally Posted by airfireman1

Now with all this hot weather in Perth it is very noticeable that there is a big difference in temps coming from the drivers side vents to the passengers. Even thought they are set to the same temp. Seems like the heater flap is still open and allowing warm air thru. Is there any quick fix so I dont have to pull half the interior out. I wouldnt care if it was the wifes side but its my side thats warm.
Cheers Dave

Dave could be two things. I have just had resolved a long term issue with my centre console frying my left leg.

1) it could be that the blend motors on your side are stuffed (this sounds more likely, maybe??? As you haven't mentioned if you're getting hot air out of the 'face level" vents on your side??).

I thought this was the issue with my HVAC but...

2) a hot driver's-side console/hot air around the legs is also a symptom of a common and much cheaper to fix problem.

The heater matrix slots into the assembly from the driver's side. There is a foam surround that isolates it - either with removal, from having a new matrix installed etc, or deterioration with age - the foam disappears and allows air to circulate past the matrix no matter how you set your HVAC.

This turned out to be the case for me - and I can't tell you how briliant it is not to have my leg char-grilled in summer.

Hope this helps...
Cheers
Mike

Hi 2Rocks,
I to suffer from the hot leg.
How did you go about fixing this.
Cheers,
biggin

Originally Posted by biggin

Hi 2Rocks,
I to suffer from the hot leg.
How did you go about fixing this.
Cheers,
biggin

Hi Biggin
To be honest I suffered this for probably two years, laboring - as it turned out - under the misapprehension that my blend mototrs had gone.

Bearing in mind I'm a lazy sod and diodn't do this myself...
If you have a RAVE cd look at page 1361 - it has a pic of the heater assembly and the part numbered 10 is the heater matrix.

This slots into the heater/vent assembly from the driver's side and where it fits in, it has a foam "seal" (this brings back horrible P-plate memories of Fiats & Triumphs...). A couple of things can happen, with age the foam degrades and crumbles away or if your car's had a the heater matrix out for some reason it may not have been put back properly or not at all.

Also, apparently, some replacement heater matrices are not quite the same size as the originals .

So, air comes in through the inlet, through the heater assembly and even if you've got the aircon on for a hot day, blows through the gap where the foam should be, nicely heating up the console and frying your leg.

Arm yourself with some foam (preferably from a trimmer) out with the centre console and knee panel and have a look at the assembly, seal the bugger up and soon the hairs'll be growing back on your shin!

Good luck & hope that helps, cheers
Mike

Thanks Mike,
I'm getting cdl internals installed next week and have been reluntant to install the actuator due to cost and the need to remove the centre console. However if I need to remove it anyway...

No probs!
I feel your pain...getting the CDL hooked up was another job done during the same visit to the workshop... lol!
Cheers
Mike

Hi It just seems to be my upper face vents that is the problem. Even with just external air entering it is a lot warmer than I think it should be. i will have to get hold of a Rave CD and see if it is easy to close of the heater side of things. Passenger side face vents are nice and cold.
Cheers Dave

Originally Posted by airfireman1

Hi It just seems to be my upper face vents that is the problem. Even with just external air entering it is a lot warmer than I think it should be. i will have to get hold of a Rave CD and see if it is easy to close of the heater side of things. Passenger side face vents are nice and cold.
Cheers Dave

Sounds like blend motors mate

The big difference in the temps from the central vents (face) is 99% of the time due to low gas pressure. When was it last charged ?

Don't ask me why coz I still have not worked out why, but its VERY common on the D2, if you have a re-gas / service Im pretty sure it will be fine again (subject to leaks).

I bet the drivers side is warmer ? yes ?

My mrs used say "can we turn it up a bit", I 'd say what ? its not cold, till I felt her vent, BIG difference. After a regass (and leak fix) its the same both sides now