Inside/Outside temperature

[Alan_uk]

Has anyone checked the Inside & Outside temperatures using a thermometer and comparing against the A2 displays?

For example, today the outside temp was shown as 23 degrees and the climate control was also set at 23 degrees (CC was on Auto and Econ was off) yet cold air was coming into the cabin and it felt chilly. If both are really 23 degrees then I would have thought the incoming air didn't need to be either heated or cooled.

This is not something new - the vehicle has, as far as I recall, always been like this.

 

[erstens]

For example, today the outside temp was shown as 23 degrees and the climate control was also set at 23 degrees (CC was on Auto and Econ was off) yet cold air was coming into the cabin and it felt chilly. If both are really 23 degrees then I would have thought the incoming air didn't need to be either heated or cooled.

This is normal! The A2 has a sun controlled climate so the car, when it just stand or drive without any airflow, it will heat upinside only because of some light is coming to the inside and heat up the inner of the car. So the climate will bring out cool air.
But if there are 19 degrees outside and the climate is at 22 or so, the airflow will be very low and without cooling.

 

[Alan_uk]

Thanks erstens. I think I see what you are getting at. What I think you are saying, is that if the CC was off the inside temperature would be higher than the outside because of the green house effect of the glass. And of course the human's in the vehicle are adding to the heat as well. So the CC needs to be blowing cool air to bring down the temp to the 23 degrees even though that is the outside temp.

 

[bretti_kivi]

yup. the outside thermometer is supposed to be pretty accurate. If you want to check it, you'll need a selection of thermometers, preferably calibrated...

Bret

 

[erstens]

Thanks erstens. I think I see what you are getting at. What I think you are saying, is that if the CC was off the inside temperature would be higher than the outside because of the green house effect of the glass. And of course the human's in the vehicle are adding to the heat as well. So the CC needs to be blowing cool air to bring down the temp to the 23 degrees even though that is the outside temp.

Right. That's what I mean.

 

[Alan_uk]

Thanks Bret.

I've just noticed (just woken up!) that you are the German A2 Forum Administrator but you live in Finland. The wonders of the internet age - but it's a bit far to go to meetings ;-) Having lived in Denmark, I know cross border commutes are quite common.

I see from Google Maps that there are 2 other A2 members living in your locality. Are there many A2s in Finland?

 

[bretti_kivi]

no, there aren't very many. When we moved here 4 years ago, it was to Kuopio (another 400km north), and I was A2 number 5. That was in 2003, as they were still being sold....
The highest number sold was in Jan 2003, and then there were 42 in one month. Other than that, the stats I've seen indicate 2-3-4-5 per month. So, by my estimation, something like 200 were sold here originally, and probably another 100 or so have been imported.

Yes, it is a bit far to go to meetings but until last year I was travelling a lot with work so would organise stuff round when I would be somewhere. Since then, it's got more difficult, but I try where I can.

My A2 stands out like a sore thumb here - it still looks ultra modern and with the polished wheels and the soon-to-be sound system, it's very, very obvious

Back to topic: the 307 we have reads consistently wrong around 0. It's extremely annoying, as that's the important bit. The A2 seems to be completely correct, or very, very close - to within 0,5 degrees C - where the 307 says +3 or -1 instead of 0. Other thermometers seem to corroborate it, too.

Bret

 

[Telzon]

outside temp

I'm not sure how accurate the outside temp sensor is, as one morning when there was a hard frost it said outside (well it can't talk but u know what I mean any way i can't speak germen) temp was +3 but it must have been minus degrees any way i now knock off 4 when i see the temp. also when econ light is on the air con is off?? am I right.

 

[humps]

The A/C compressor should run anyway (ECON off) even if it is blowing warm air. Most noticable when it is cold and rains. Switch on ECON and the windows immediately starts to mist. But as Bret said, the sun light sensor will make CC compensate, this is also very noticable as I drove out of a cloudy area into bright sun light.

With my current A/C issue, I know the compressor is only switched off by either ECON mode, low signal on the pressure sensor G65 or very low refrigerant level. Or other electrical faults in the CC circuit. Even when evaporative sender G263 fails, it would run in emergency mode and send 0.3-0.5A to the regulator N208 valve!

 

[Alan_uk]

But as Bret said, the sun light sensor will make CC compensate, this is also very noticable as I drove out of a cloudy area into bright sun light.

I didn't realise there was a sun light sensor. I now understand why erstens mentioned it. I shall look out for any changes as the sunlight changes. Where is sensor situated?

With so many sensors in modern cars it's a wonder they work at all ;-)

 

[humps]

I didn't realise there was a sun light sensor. I now understand why erstens mentioned it. I shall look out for any changes as the sunlight changes. Where is sensor situated?

Look at the front of the dash in the middle of the demister vent, you should see a little rounded cover which should have had you guessing what it is since the day you noticed it!