I'm trying to figure out if my defroster -- I have the "automatic climate control" -- is working correctly.... When I press the defroster button, the system kicks into high fan and the green light on the defroster button flashes. It stays like this (high fan, flashing light) until I press it again...whereupon the fan shuts off and the defroster does too.

When it's doing this, I'm definitely getting defrosted; but what I wonder is if there's a way to continually send air to the defroster vents WITHOUT the fan going at full tilt. I've tried pressing the fan button to slow it down when in defrost, but when I do this, the defroster stops altogether. Pressing AUTO on the system does the same thing (shuts down the defroster). It definitely only wants to run with the fan at full blast...or not run at all. So, while the system defrosts my windshield well initially, I have to KEEP turning it on and off if I want to drive without the howling fan. It's just too loud in a little car...sort of like driving in a wind tunnel.

In all previous cars, I've been able to keep some air flowing to the defroster vents at all times AND with the fan operating at any speed. In the MINI, it seems to be all or none...and this is annoying. Especially in cool, damp, times (e.g., fall/spring) or when you're in the car in wet clothes. At these times, the defroster should be able to run continiously to keep down the fog inside. Anyone have any clues about this?

 

jsun: I noticed that too, here's what I do

Adjust the heat up to 80 degrees or so, then there is a button on the right side of the climate control to through the vents at the base of the windshield. You can then adjust the fan speed to the setting you want.

I think that will accomplish what you want. Correct me if I'm wrong about what you're intending to do.

 

Thanks Dave! But which button on the right? Is it the actual defroster button (the one just below the fan speed selector) or the one below the defroster button (the one that has an arrow pointing at your chest...indicating I guess those air vents)? Somehow this shouldn't be so complicated javascript: x()

 

What you want to do is hold down the defroster button on the right side for about 5 seconds then release it. This will cause it to be on but not at full blast.

 

cdrober's hint is interesting. I'll have to check that out.

I was talking about the second button down on the right

 

I've got a similar issue with the automatic climate control. When I put it on full auto the air conditioner light always lights up. If the temp outside is cooler than the inside then it heats and doesn't cool but the light on the little snowflake button stays on. The fan also runs at high speed and doesn't seem to ever slow down. Anyone have a similar situation?

 

I'm going to check out Cdrober's suggestion on the way home today. I think that may be it as the manual says something about holding down the button, but it doesn't describe why exactly you'd want to do that...maybe THAT's why.

As for Donald's question...I think that the AC is indeed always on when you've chosen AUTO mode. Sometimes it's AC with heat, sometimes just AC. Since I don't always want to have the AC on (i.e., why rob horsepower when what I really want is heat?!!?), I've taken to not using the AUTO mode at all and instead just choosing which vents I want active (two buttons on the right) and dialing in a temp. That works for heat. For AC, I just turn on the snowflake button and then choose my vents and dial in a temp. In other words, I think I go for totally manual mode.

So much for the "Auto Climate Control" feature ...good thing I didn't exactly pay for it...or did I?

 

In all cars, Mini or otherwise, full auto turns on the AC. It's just how they are designed. So, yeah, even when the car is heating up the inside, the AC is running. It's kinda stupid, but that's how it is. For what it's worth, AC not only cools the air, but dehumidifies as well. That's why it's called air CONDITIONING and not just air cooling. The Mini's system is pretty good in that it will auto-adjust around your setting. For example, if you press auto, and then turn the AC off (by pressing the snowflake button), the system will adjust all the other parameters (fan speed, vent selection, etc.) in an attempt to come compensate. On some cars, any button push will completely deactivate the auto system.

We have a Mercedes E-class car, and it does the same thing.

Roundy

 

1. I usually keep the auto air on most of the time. I do not find that the A/C being on does anything to lower HP - if it's just dehumidifying the air and the A/C compressor isn't going at full tilt, you have nothing to worry about.

2. With the auto air, I also always have fresh air coming in. The air filter works great - I can be behind an old bus or truck and smell nothing. As for the defroster (front), if you keep it on auto with fresh air, your windshield WON'T REFOG. I love it. I just hit the defroster button once and within 10 seconds the fog is gone so I hit it again and it goes back on auto and it never fogs up again! Keep your auto air on and you never have to worry about a fogged up windshield!

800 miles is 7 days....

 

For the record, the "hold for 5 seconds" technique suggested by Cdrober works fine. The defroster starts a high fan and then after 5 seconds calms down to less than full blast and you can adjust the fan to whatever level you want. I personally find this much better than the "let it run at full blast, turn it off, and then turn it back on when you want to re-defrost" technique. But to each their own, and it's good to know the system accomodates all. Thanks all!

 

The instruction manual also states what Cdrober suggests, not a perfect way of doing it - and it doesn't always do it correctly. I end up pushing it a couple of times before it "holds"

 

The instruction manual also states what Cdrober suggests, not a perfect way of doing it - and it doesn't always do it correctly. I end up pushing it a couple of times before it "holds"

 

5 second method the way to go................. :smile:

 

I feel pretty good about deleting the auto air from the package now! I had an auto climate in a Saab and hated it. I was always fighting with it.