Heater with the A/C

[Celt88]

So i think I understand but it looks like you just push the temp slider up to turn on the heater, is that right ?

[imcquade]

Yes.... A/C does not need to be on..... It comes on if you put the control at 12 O'clock for window defroster.....

I don't want my A/C running so I put it one click to the left (11am) and make sure it is not recycling the air in the cab.

Cheers

Ian

[forestacademy]

But when It starts fogging up the AC will pull the moisture out of the air.

[imcquade]

Originally Posted by forestacademy

But when It starts fogging up the AC will pull the moisture out of the air.

True - but I have found (in all my cars) that if you have the heat on and draw the air from outside you don't fog up....

Learned this back home in the UK - where none of my cars ever had A/C

Cheers

Ian

[forestacademy]

Originally Posted by imcquade

True - but I have found (in all my cars) that if you have the heat on and draw the air from outside you don't fog up....

Learned this back home in the UK - where none of my cars ever had A/C

Cheers

Ian

Defrost doesn't keep outside air from comming in. You need to hit the recurculate button for that. I only use that in the worst of the hot summer with AC. It's not automatic when you go to defrost.

[Padawan]

Originally Posted by imcquade

Yes.... A/C does not need to be on..... It comes on if you put the control at 12 O'clock for window defroster.....

I don't want my A/C running so I put it one click to the left (11am)

Has anyone confirmed that this is indeed how the system functions? As long as the dial is not exactly at the 12 o'clock position, AC will be off unless the button is pressed? I wish smart could have have made it so the AC light was on whenever the AC was "automatically" activated by the defroster.

[jediknight36]

For defrost, my A/C does not kick on. I have felt the air, and its just as warm as when I have it on anything else. And as long as the car is pulling air from the outside, the moisture level with balance with the the air outside and there will be no fog. For a quick defrost, use the A/C.

[jimvw57]

The AC being on will not affect the air temperature. That is done by the air blend doors. it will dry out the air going through the AC condensor and will help defrost the windows with dry air that has been mixed with warm air

Most new cars are designed to get the best milage with the windows closed so running the AC and the windows closed would be the same as windows open and no AC.

[John_H]

Does the 09 (jedi's) controller work different than the 08?! Or is it an issue of "climate control?" Jedi - does yours have the temperature setting?

The 12 o'clock position will turn the AC on in the `08, at least if it's not very cold outside which would disengage the compressor if I recall correctly. The 11 o'clock position does not engage AC even though initial experiments suggested it did; further review indicates not.

Hitting the AC button should produce a difference if the AC wasn't on automatically. With the temperature setting and a little intelligence in the controller, I don't know if air temperature is a great indication (unless it's hot out).

I would pay the $2xx to get the *@$% replacement module if I could have full windshield flow with no AC.

[SuperGeek]

Originally Posted by jimvw57

The AC being on will not affect the air temperature. That is done by the air blend doors. it will dry out the air going through the AC condensor and will help defrost the windows with dry air that has been mixed with warm air

That much I can confirm and agree with.

Originally Posted by jimvw57

Most new cars are designed to get the best milage with the windows closed so running the AC and the windows closed would be the same as windows open and no AC.

This is true for larger engines. For my Smart, however... the smaller engine really is affected by the AC compressor. It sucks power, I feel a definite sag when the AC compressor kicks in - whether defrost or AC. I also notice about a 5MPG drop in economy (winter I'm getting 35 city, summer I got 30 - AC on 100% due to temp and humidity). The AC compressor cycles every 3-4 seconds when the temp slider's at 60, but less often (15 seconds?) when temp slider's right around ambient temp.

Maybe my AC compressor's screwy (I don't know what's normal) but there's a noticeable 'clunk' for the first few times it kicks on after being off overnight. I can actually feel it shake the car a bit, stronger than the little shudder you get when the little engine's idling slowly (930RPM). After it gets going, it seems to settle down a bit.