I have a Mini Cooper S...sport package, leather, etc. With the automatic climate control feature is the A/C light (switch) suppose to remain on at all times? Another words, whether I have it set to 64* or 76* the green A/C light remains on. The reason I ask is that I now have a problem with the cooling fan running loudly for approx. 5 minutes after I turn the car off and as I slow down getting ready to park the temperature needle pegs to H immediately and flashes the red warning light...??? Not sure if the symptons and/or A/C light issue are related...any help/thoughts are greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

Not sure about the 2nd half of your problem, but for the first, yeah it's supposed to stay on. Something about it takes moisture out of the air or something.

 

Problem #2 is your power steering fan ... something has lodged in it or caused it to stop working. When that happens it blows a fuse which also controls your aux. cooling fan. Recommend getting it to the dealer for a look see.

Word of caution, when I did they only replaced the fuse and disconnected the fan. So no cooling for the power steering. Wasn't pleased with this set up and went back and had them replace the fan motor as well (I do a good bit of slow speed driving in parking lots). They did mention however that MINI was working on a fix for the fans as they realized it was a bad design (doh)!

Good luck!

Geoff

 

There are shroud's available from places like Moss Mini to protect the PS fan...

 

Leaving the AC on permanently just dehimidifies, cools and, if neccessary, reheats the air. You definitely want it on when you are running the defrost/defog stuff. I find, however, that I prefer as much humidity as possible in my heated air. So it's a personal preference, really.

 

Thank you to all...I should be able to get to the dealership this week and will point them to the p/s fan and fuse as well as checking the aux fan. Hope they don't try to blame the pulley upgrade. Thanks for the feedback! CANAJUN - IT'S UNBELIEVABLE THAT THE DEALERSHIP JUST LEFT YOUR P/S FAN UNHOOKED! Thanks for the "heads up"...

 

I have a 2004 MCS with auto climate control and I can turn off the AC. I just push the AC button and the light goes out.

 

But there is still another question in this A/C thing...

Even though the A/C light is on, is the A/C on all the time? Or, does it just come on "automatically" when the cabin temperature rises above the set temperature?

I've tried to interpret the wording in the manual but it is vague on this issue. Can anyone, with certainty, shed light on the A/C operation in "automatic" mode?

Theo

'04 MCS

 

I wondered about this too. It seems like the A/C should turn off when the heat is on, if you dial the temperature up, but it stays on even if the ACC is set to "HI." I usually hit the A/C button to turn it off. I don't really want my heat air conditioned.

As for the A/C still running with the light off, I don't think that's the case. What would be the point of having an A/C button if it just stayed on all the time anyway? Do they just want us to think we're controlling the A/C even though we really aren't? Are German engineers that sadistic? Well, maybe they are.

 

According to the manual, if the heat and AC are both on then the incoming air is being cooled and dehumidified then reheated to approximately your set temperature prior to being circulated into the cabin. So the AC is on, but the air entering the cabin isn't cold, as it's been reheated--it's just dehumidified, which is why it should be on any time you have the defog/defrost function on.

 

Good conversation...my original problem is fixed - leaky O'rings behind the supercharger. No damage done. Thanks for answering the A/C or automatic climate control query...I think I will manually turn my A/C off when requiring heat, unless defog is needed, as I do not need the air dehumidified. Turning it off will also probably save gas during the winter months. Not to forget that I have always heard to cycle your A/C on for 5 minutes or so each month during the winter to keep everything lubricated...??? Doesn't take much even if this is false. Thanks.