"Forcing" aircon to activate in cold weather

Works in our '96 Previa. OK, the heater is on at the same time, but the air is not as warm as it would be without the a/c switched on.

The Climatic in my Fabia is actually better at demisting than the full-on electronic gubbins I had in the A3.

I always found the full on electronic funkiness in the mark four Golf troublesome too. Okay, if you hit the demist mode it worked a treat, but if you left it alone it would gradually mist up.

But I always put that down to the particular car 'cos the other VWs we had on the fleet had great systems.

Generally the A3's worked very well. I think it's one of the things that is different from Golf IV. It was the demist specifically that was a bit weak.

Yes it sounds the opposite of the Golf.

Dear all I have been following this discussion with interest, but I am a little confused. Both my previous two cars, a Renault Laguna and an Alfa 147, had Automatic climate control, they also had a control to press (or twist) for front screen demist. This set the air vents to screen and the temperature to High or Hot. Surely to demist the front screen one doesn't want to cool the screen with the air con as this will cause more condensation not less. Both the Renault and the Alfa tried to heat it. I hope I haven't missed something. In the days of my youth one could buy a heating element on suction cups to stick on the bottom of the screen to try to demist the screen infront of the driver. Just a thought. Unfortunately I didn't go for Auto Climate Control on my Passat so cant comment on what my latest car does. Dave

Air conditioning does not just cool the system. It also de-humidifies the air too.

Yes you have.

Late reply - but here goes...

I have a Touran SE Diesel, without the dual zone climatic upgrade. What I have noticed is, if the "econ" button is active, then turning the air direction knob to "windscreen" turns the econ light off (also turns the recirculating light off too).

This says to me that it wants to work the aircon compressor for windscreen demisting given other parameters are acceptable.

At around 5-7C it demists fast and efficiently (my other car is a Daewoo so admittedly I'm easily impressed(!))

Haven't tried it this morning with 1-2C outside, but I suspect for reasons given by others it won't bother cutting the aircon in.

Cheers

Tim S

Technology! I was brought up on carbs, contact breakers, tappet adjusters and duplex chain driven cams Sigh! I am learning here though. Thanks guys.

Dave