Car Ventilation/Heating Controls - Can anyone explain how to use it in simple terms

[aureol40012]

Ok, I have searched (with no luck) the forums for a nice clear concise description of how the heating/ventilatioin/climate control system is controlled in a 2003 156 JTS (facelift).

As we all know, the manual is no use whatsoever.

Has anyone done a "how to" webpage with pictures?!

Seriously, I have no idea what the hell is happening when I press the buttons on the left and right controls, apart from the fact various lights come on and off (for example on the auto button you can have 0, 1, or 2 lights on!).

I can control the temperature setting, fan speed, and directional controls, but nothing else!

[techie]

Ok here goes, press Auto twice to activate Full Auto Mode.

Then adjust the desired temp you want with the dial.

Mono button means that the driver dictates the temp for both sides.
If passenger adjusts their dial then they have their own temp on their side.

[aureol40012]

Cheers for that.

Sorry, I should have said how do I control the ventilation system in the car, i.e. the whole thing, not just the climate control. For example, what do the 2 LED lights on the right hand button mean. I know its recirculation but you can have 0, 1, or 2 lights on. And is climate control still on if you turn the air con button off?

[techie]

Originally Posted by aureol40012

Cheers for that.

Sorry, I should have said how do I control the ventilation system in the car, i.e. the whole thing, not just the climate control. For example, what do the 2 LED lights on the right hand button mean. I know its recirculation but you can have 0, 1, or 2 lights on. And is climate control still on if you turn the air con button off?

Don't worry about them, in Full Auto mode the system turns them on/off itself.

[techie]

Once you set a temp, say 18, the system keeps the car inside at that temp by adjusting the circulation, a/c etc itself.

[GTMAT]

I'll have a try and i'm assuming it's largely the same as in the GT and this is from memory and after much mucking about with it over the years:

Left Dial

Dial Turn:

Set temperature for passenger zone

Buttons:

Air Con Button (*)

Light on - Air Con on
Light off - Air Con off

Auto Button -

Both lights on = fully automatic. The temperature (including activitation of air con) and fan speed are controlled automatically to achieve chosen temperature in both zones, air is also directed to the best place to reach temperature in the quickest time (to warm the car it aims air at your feet, to cool the car it mostly aims it at your face)

Left light on = semi-automatic = temperature is controlled automatically but fan speed and air direction are controlled manually

Both lights off - not possible.

Mono Button -

Light on - the temperature in both the passenger zone and the driver zone are the same (driver zone is the master)

Light off - the passenger and driver temperatures are different

Middle Dial

Dial Turn:

Increase/decrease fan speed

Buttons:

Top button - blows air mostly at the windscreen
Middle Button - blows air mostly in your face
Bottom Button - blows air on your feet

Allowed Combinations
Feet only (bottom button light on)
Feet and face (bottom button light on, middle button light on)
Face only (middle button light on)
Face and Windscreen (middle button light on, top button light on)
Windscreen only (top button light on)

Right Dial

Dial Turn:

Set temperature for both zones in mono mode, driver zone in non-mono mode

Buttons

Top Button:

Rapid heat mode - temperature set to highest setting, rear 'screen and mirror elements on, air directed mostly to windscreen, air con on (depending on external temperature), air circulation set to vents closed. NOTE: In this mode, fan speed will remain at lowest setting until heating element reaches at least 21 degrees and then will slowly increase as the element warms up. In this mode you can turn the middle dial to increase the fan speed as required without affecting any other setting.

Middle Button: Air Circulation

Both lights off - Air circulation in manual mode, exterior vents currently open

Left Light on - Air circulation in manual mode, vents currently closed

Right Light on - Air circulation in automatic mode, vents currently open

Both lights on - Air circulation in automatic mode, vents currently closed

Bottom button: Rear Screen and R/v Mirror heaters

Light on - rear screen and mirror heaters on

Light off - rear screen and mirror heaters off


Conditions:

Auto Mode (both lights on the left dial on) will be cancelled if any of the following happens:

The fan speed (centre dial) is adjusted
The Auto button is pressed
The air direction (center dial buttons) are pressed
The Rapid Heat Mode button is pressed (although it will return to auto mode when the rapid heat button is pressed again to cancel)
The Air Con button is pressed
The Air circulation button is pressed

The air circulation can be set to automatic even when not in fully automatic mode but cannot be set to manual without disengaging the fully automatic mode. Fully automatic mode will sometimes turn both of the air circulation lights off - i have no idea why

The mono button light goes out as soon as the passenger changes the temperature in their zone

Rapid Heat Mode will be disengaged after approx 10 minutes and return to all previous settings

I think that's it. In most cases, fully automatic is great, but sometimes the car can steam up on very cold days because it directs all the heat to the footwell so with some playing about you can hopefully get a perfect setting for each circumstance.

Hope it helps!