| Author | Message | ||
     PETER DIXON Frequent User Username: petenlinid Post Number: 68 Registered: 8-2003 |
Being blessed to live on the edge of a desert I rarely drive SRH 4025 in cold conditions for more than the mandatory fortnightly 15 minute test drive to check that nothing has died during idle times. As part of this practice I run the climate control on both hot and cold. It has always performed well. Yesterday I drove her to a Club function which took approximately 35 minutes 30 of which was at a continuous speed of 100 kph. The air temperature was 3 to 4 degrees. Needless to say the heater was employed and did its job well, needing to be lowered for comfort. On arrival at my destination I parked up and shortly thereafter noticed what Bill Coburn describes as “that embarrassing trickle” of water beneath the car. A quick check confirmed the source was the evaporation pipe from the air conditioner. In summer with the air conditioner running cold the thawing of accumulated ice from the refrigeration unit occurs. I have never experienced it as a consequence of using the heater but as I said its usage under those conditions was extremely short lived. I am assuming what is occurring is not a normal function and would greatly appreciate any advice and comments from the combined wisdom of this forum. Thanks Peter | ||
| Omar M. Shams Prolific User Username: omar Post Number: 271 Registered: 4-2009 |
The clue to the mystery is in your statement : "needing to be lowered for comfort". By lowering the setting, you are asking for the heater and the aircon to both work in order regulate the temperature to a desired point. When the AC is on, the moisture in the air condenses on the evaporator and then drains in the usual manner. You will therefore get a pool of water under the car when you park it. Thanks Omar | ||
| PETER DIXON Frequent User Username: petenlinid Post Number: 69 Registered: 8-2003 |
Many thanks Omar. I suspected that what you have stated could be the case. I need to read further and gain a better understanding of how the system actually works. Regards Peter | ||
| Jan Forrest Grand Master Username: got_one Post Number: 372 Registered: 1-2008 |
Was the heater set to 'defrost' on any part of the journey? The air con will always come on under those conditions in an effort to pre-dry the warm air so as to clear the windscreen faster. | ||
| PETER DIXON Frequent User Username: petenlinid Post Number: 70 Registered: 8-2003 |
Jan, thanks for your response. No, the only adjustment made was to the rotational dials/switches whilst the unit was set on auto. I think the real problem was my not understanding that the air conditioner heating - cooling functions work in unison unlike many other cars where the cooling is independent and has to be switched on or off, the heating having a separate temperature control managing inducted vehicle generated heat and ambient temperature. I assumed the rotational dial/switch performed the same function once they were turned to and from the blue sector. Cheers Peter | ||
| James Feller Prolific User Username: james_feller Post Number: 207 Registered: 5-2008 |
the refrigerant compressor will come on in all conditions regardless of where you have the thumbwheels positioned. (unless its below 0 outside or you set the system to OFF or ECON modes- your SSII though will not have an ECON mode)the system is so easy to use, the thumbwheels control cabin temp and either OFF, ECON,LOW, AUTO, HIGH or DEF knob controls fans speed. Its explained comprehensively in the tech library. A very good system it is too! its quite normal for the compressor to cycle in and out or on and off as the requested by the thermistors for cooled refrigent. The job of the compressor is to supply the cooler matrix with super chilled refrigerant and in turn the HVAC system has blend flaps and fan blowers that then "blend' both dried warm air and dried cool air to the vents in the cabin dependant on thumbwheel selection. That is why you should not ever have any fogging of the inside windows in a Rolls or Bentley. Top thumbwheel for top part of the car and bottom thumbwheel for floor. It was a complex system in its day (designed for Camargue then fitted to 77' model year cars from then on) but its very simple to operate. In the main it works very well if cared for and looked after. I would recommend leaving the system on all the time, on either AUTO or LOW and just adjust the thumbwheels to desired temps. It was designed to operate this way and to remain on when the car is running, turning it off and on is pointless unless there is something wrong with the system. In my cars I have never turned the system to off, its actually not good for any 'climate control system' to be either not used or turned ON and OFF....it defeats the purpose for which it was designed and thus installed. In fact there is no real fuel economy gains by not using it and frankly nobody would ever notice any decernable power loss while the engine runs the compressor either so I cannot understand why you wouldn't use it all the time. As for the pool of water under the car, well thats totally normal regardless of the time of year ie hot or cold outside....If you are not getting water condensating and running out the drains the compressor is in all likelyhood not fully charged. You wait to you see the water draining out in warmer more humid months....my cars leave virtual lakes on my garage floors in FEB MARCH.... happy motoring Peter. J | ||
| PETER DIXON Frequent User Username: petenlinid Post Number: 73 Registered: 8-2003 |
James, many thanks for your comprehensive explanation. Peter |
