Regarding the '09 Clubman S air vents - how does one set them so they bring in outside air into the vehicle?

Thanks...

 

I believe the default setting allows outside air to come in. There is a "circulate air button" to close off outside air sources.

 

Yes the default is to allow outside air in the front vents but it does go thru the heating/cooling system. Unlike some other cars that will allow fresh un-conditioned air thru by bypassing the heater/cooling cores.

If you need to set it to recirculate then there is a button for that on the heating/AC controls.

 

The button with the little car symbol. Green light indicates recirculated air, no green light indicates outside air.

 

Thanks for the answers guys!

I guess the fan needs to run too since everything I push that allows air to go thru the vents turns on the fan.

 

I have the Climate Control system and I seem to have a third option: Auto Recirculate (the recirculate arrow with a little A by it). What does that mean?

Second Question: When the system is set to recirculate, does the interior air go through, or bypass, the system air filter? Just Curious.....

 

I have the same. In a nutshell it jumps between fresh air and recirculate if the conditions require it (bad smells, bad air, etc)

 

Trust me. There is nothing in the system that can detect a "bad smell" and switch between outside air and recirculated air. You have to make that decision for yourself.

 

 

Does anyone know how the auto recirc actually works? I read the manual (not much help), and pressed buttons on the HVAC control panel until it went into the mode, and I still have no idea what it might be using as a control point. In "green" buildings they use CO2 sensors. That doesn't seem likely in a car. I'm confused.

 

No I will not trust you because one of the chemicals that is sensed is Hydrocarbons and Hydrocarbons have definite smells. Se paragraph 3 of this web page or research it your self Hydrocarbons do smell.

This is straight out of the MINI Wiring Diagrams and Maintenance Manual.

Open Quote:
WDS Wiring Diagram SystemThe AUC function is activated via the recirculated-air button. The operating mode is shown in the display. Pressing the recirculated-air button once activates the automatic recirculated-air control mode. Pressing the recirculated-air button again activates the recirculated air mode.
Sensor for automatic recirculated air control

The AUC sensor is fitted on the micro-filter compartment. The AUC sensor detects the following pollutant emissions:

•  
  • Hydrocarbons (CH)
  • Carbon monoxide (CO)
  • Nitrogen oxides (nitrogen monoxide NO, nitrogen dioxide NO2)

The junction box supplies the AUC sensor with voltage. The junction box electronics evaluate the data of the AUC sensor. This evaluated data is sent via the K-CAN to the IHKA control module.
Microfilter

A microfilter with activated carbon is built into the IHKA. The activated carbon filter makes an additional contribution to cleaning the fresh air that enters of gaseous pollutant emissions. The state of the microfilter is not picked up.
System functions

Recirculated-air mode

In the recirculated air mode, in the event of a high pollutant load, e.g. in a traffic jam, the supply of fresh air can be blocked. The air in the vehicle interior is permanently recirculated. With recirculated air mode, the oxygen in the vehicle interior is used up. Furthermore, in the recirculated air mode the relative humidity in the vehicle interior can increase, which can lead to fogging over.

To ensure adequate fresh-air supply, the recirculated air mode has a time limit (30 min recirculated air mode -> 30 s partial fresh-air mode -> 30 min recirculated air mode -> etc.).
The recirculated air mode is activated as follows:

• the recirculated-air button on the operating unit is pressed
• AUC detects an ambient condition

The fresh air recirculated-air flap is closed. The refrigerant circuit is not force-activated. The recirculated air mode is saved before the idle state of the control module is reached, i.e. the function is activated after a reset.
AUC mode

In the recirculated-air control (AUC) mode, automatic switches are made between fresh air and recirculated air mode depending on the quality of the ambient air.
If the AUC sensor measures a rise in the pollutant emissions in the environment, the IHKA control module automatically activates the recirculated air mode. To ensure adequate fresh-air supply, the recirculated air mode has a time limit:

• at outside temperatures below 0 °C:
  2 min recirculated air mode -> 1 min fresh-air mode -> 2 min recirculated air mode - > etc.
• at outside temperatures of 0 °C to 6 °C:
  3 min recirculated air mode -> 1 min fresh-air mode -> 3 min recirculated air mode - > etc.
• during operation without air-conditioning function at outside temperatures above 6 °C:
  4 min recirculated air mode -> 1 min fresh-air mode -> 4 min recirculated air mode - > etc.
• during operation with air-conditioning function at outside temperatures above 6 °C:
  12 min recirculated air mode -> 1 min fresh-air mode -> 12 min recirculated air mode - > etc.

When the AUC function is activated, during an engine start there is a switch for approx. 40 s to the fresh-air mode due to the warming phase of the AUC sensor.
End Quote:

 

Thank you Schatzy! That is exactly what I wanted to know.

 

OMG that is hysterical!! I need to save this and hopefully will find the opportunity to use it!!

 

Our Audi works the same way, it's supposed to switch to recirculate if you get behind a diesel truck for example, I've never seen it do it on it's own tho....

to the OP, set the rotary **** to the dash vent position (about 9 o'clock) and kick the fan up a notch or two, but I've found the best way to get fresh air into the car is to open the windows!