What does this control do ? Should it be off for AC, or is it the switch to turn it on? The manual has me confused because it talks about heating cold air ?
Thanks

 

Do you have auto air? I leave my"AC" button on at all times and adjust the auto temp.

 

It's a button to cool down your water or soda while your car is parked in the sun. It uses solar panels for power so you don't waste battery. It's not available in places like Oregon/Washington because it's cold and wet there--ie no sun to power the vehicles Cold Function .

 

Not sure what you mean by "cold function button".

There is abutton with a snow flake looking icon on it an that is the A/C button. When pushed it turns the A/C on and when pushed again it turns the A/C off.

There are also three types of heat - A/C units possible in the car.

1. Auto Heat-A/C - has digital display and you just set the temp and turn the A/C on and leave it at that. The system keeps the car at the set temperature.

2. Manual Heat-A/C - **** to change where the air flows and not display. Adjust the controls and turn the A/C on and leave it on and the car should turn the A/C on and off as needed.

3. Heat only No A/C - should not have a A/C button.

 

Where is this button located as I do not have it in my car either and have not seen that function. and where are the solar panels located as well.

 

Correction. It is the Cooling Function button that I'm confused by. This is the manual system. All the owners manual says is the air is cooled, dried then reheated according to the temp settings. I don't see anything simply saying
AC. You wouldn't be heating Air condition air. The dehumidifing is not done by heating. One would think the snowflake on the button would be AC, but why does the owners manual mention heating and drying the air ? Still confused and the car should be cooler, which is why I think I'm somehow missing some setting.

 

 

By Cooling Function you mean you are really talking about Air Conditioning, correct?

Just remember this is a British car and they have slightly different meanings or use of words.

Now as to how the A/C System works in this car.

The air flow is over the "Evaporator" (cooling unit) and then thru to the "Temperature Mixing Flap" then straight to the vents or over the "Heater Core" to the vents. Another reason for doing it this way is that during the late fall and early spring months (or winter depending on where you live) having the A/C on assists in defogging the windows. If they had no way of passing the dehumidified air over a heating coil then they could not warm the air.

This is how they maintain the correct temperature in the car, by adding some warm air to the very cold air that comes off the evaporator.

BTW this is how most cars have worked for the past 10+ years. Most just do not mention it in the owners manual.

Of course there could be something wrong with the Mixing Flap, but if set to the lowest temp available it should not keep the Mixing Flap closed (no heating)

IMHO the MINI A/C system in the Non Automatic version is not that great. But others dislike the Automatic version.

My suggestion is to crank the temp all the way down and see what you get for cold air. If you do not think it is cold enough take it back to the dealer and ask them to check it. I do not have in front of me the temperature specs it is supposed to meet but the dealer will have them. Make sure that they actually test it with a thermometer not just their hand.

Also of note to you is that the A/C Compressor will kick out under hard acceleration. It reduces the load on the engine and is how they get full power under those circumstances.

 

Thank You
That explains it. I'll have the dealer check it. Best I could describe it is medium cool. However it's been pushing 90 degrees in the Chicago land area.

 

You said it Lil Q...we've had so many Days of Rain, I stopped counting!! Don't come here if you want to have Fun and Frolic in the Sun...you won't find any!! I predict we will go from Late Fall (our Current Weather Pattern) to Early Fall without even a Summer!!

Oh...and the Auto AC ROCKS!!