I just wondered. On the control panel of my Passat there is an 'Econ' mode whci overides the 'Auto' mode.
All that happens when I engage it is that the front screen steams up!
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It turns off the aircon... the system will not cool/dry the air. You'll save on the power needed to drive the compressor, but it needs to be run regularly, even in winter, to keep the seals lubricated and gas-tight.
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Thanks John.
So it effectively reverts to an old fashioned fan/blower when I press Econ?
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Yes, it's the same on the Mondeo - ECON is just the manual, non-airconditioned setting, with no thermostatic control of the temperature you have set.
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"Econ" has different functions depending on the car.On VW/Audi the A/c compressor cycle is shut off.However on current Fords, notably Focus & mondeo with climate control,even when the a/c is turned off ,the compressor will engage randomly to support demisting.
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Why not call it "Off" as Nissan/Alfa/Vauxhall and others ?
"On" = Air Con/dehumidifier = "ON"
"Off" or Air Con Light "off" = OFF ?
Seems fairly logical to me !
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My Vectra air-con / ECO switch light is the reverse of what you would normally want. Illuminated = air con OFF!
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On some cars you will still get thermostatic control - it just wont go any colder than the ambient temperature.
A few years back out of interest I conducted some tests on my then Rover Sterling to see what the effects on fuel economy were with and without the climate control on in the summer. I ran for a week with it on 18 degrees (quite chilly!), then a week with it on econ. This was done using full tanks of fuel and the economy was measured using the fuel trip computer. The surprise was that it made no difference whatsoever!
My current Range Rover is just as uneconomical with A/C off as with it on. I think the difference might be more noticeable with a much smaller engine though.
Anyone else noticed any difference in economy either way?
--
\"Nothing less than 8 cylinders will do\"
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Does the 'econ on' button stay latched on when the ignition is switched off and then on in VW/Audi models, particularly the new Golf series or does one have to engage 'econ on' to disable compressor, each time engine is started, prior to driving off?
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If it's of any interest my Passat is now 3 1/2 years old and the climate control has been set at auto all the time with the temperature at 21 deg.C I've never needed to touch it whatever the weather.
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It's always wise to occasionally operate controls, even if you prefer a fixed mode - otherwise non-use can render them inoperative.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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My Audi has the same system as the Passat - I leave it switched on all the time and still do 50 mpg - that's good enough for me. I've never ran for long periods with it off as I like non steamed windows all year round.
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On my mum's old '84 Toyota Corolla, the aircon has 3 settings
1) Off = Off
2) Econ = Limited compressor capacity but able to keep around 25c in over 30c weather
3) A/C = Full compressor capacity and able to keep below 20c in over 30c weather.
(That's in Hong Kong)
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My '97 Passat TDi I left on Auto the whole of my 113k miles in it - real 'set and forget' - I altered its setting of 21 deg slightly a few times per year, only in extremes of temperature. By contrast, the Audi A4 Avant TDi, LagunaII diesel and my current Golf 110TDi all seem(ed) incapable of holding a steady temperature - I often had/have to change the temp setting by several degrees to try to stay comfortable. Next car I will not be fussed with paying extra for 'climate control' if you keep on having to fiddle with it anyway...
I can feel when the compressor cuts in on the Golf when switching from Econ to Auto, so I guess it must use some extra fuel, but for the last year and a half I've not managed to pin down by how much. Despite doing the same 135 mile round trip, mostly on motorway, even with cruise engaged, the mpg figures vary each trip - wind, wet roads, road and air temp all play a significant part, I reckon...
JohnM
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When my mondeos air con is off (econ) it comes on automatically when you point airflow at windscreen.
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Me too Burt but I gather that it costs me around 3mpg on average (so I'm told!).
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