Car defrosting on driveway, lesson learned

MatteH Oxford said:
Climate control maybe, manual aircon can run in any weather conditions & I set mine with the heat dial set to the hottest setting for demisting.
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No it can't - the system shuts off at low temperatures. We had this argument last year. Car AC systems do not work in sub zero temperatures.

You might not even notice because in the car it'll still behave like its working - ie, lights will come on etc etc.

In sub zero temperatures it is the how air that is demisting your window and not the air conditioning.
 
DanTheMan said:
It makes perfect sense really, surely AC can't take moisture out of the air if the moisture is in the form of ice?
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It is more to do with the system being unable to cope with such low temps. There needs to be an adequate temperature difference between the condenser and evaporator which you don't get when the air is freezing cold.
 
[TW]Fox;20822005 said:
No it can't - the system shuts off at low temperatures. We had this argument last year. Car AC systems do not work in sub zero temperatures.

You might not even notice because in the car it'll still behave like its working - ie, lights will come on etc etc.

In sub zero temperatures it is the how air that is demisting your window and not the air conditioning.
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Well it works in a mk2 ford mondeo!. Manual aircon does not have an outside ambient temperature sensor, only the SATC system had one. well, two actually, the sun sensor on the windscreen & outside air temp sensor which is usually somewhere in the front bumper.



I used to be a Ford technician Fox, not a internet no-it-all that actually doesn't know it all! :p
 
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More often than not it's above freezing by the time you get to the car though. :p

Nevertheless if you clean the inside of your windows more often it's a big help for clearing them. :)
 
What ever happened to unlocking the car, starting it up, putting the heaters / blowers on full blast, grabbing your scraper, going round all the windows and lights, getting back in and driving off. If my ****** old M reg derv can manage this, I'm sure much more modern stuff can, without leaving it idling for ten minutes unattended..
It's just pure laziness and a waste of yet more fuel.
Either that or you're too ***** to own a garage ;)
 
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I've only needed to deforst my car once so far this winter. Just chucked some luke warm water over the windscreen and then drove off :D
 
[TW]Fox;20823899 said:
I've only needed to deforst my car once so far this winter. Just chucked some luke warm water over the windscreen and then drove off :D
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Can't understand why anyone mucks about with scrapers or leaving the car to warm up. Warm water will clear the screen better, quicker, without you getting cold and it demists the inside at the same time.
 
[TW]Fox;20823899 said:
I've only needed to deforst my car once so far this winter. Just chucked some luke warm water over the windscreen and then drove off :D
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Ditto, although I've done it about 5 times now.
 
MatteH Oxford said:
Well it works in a mk2 ford mondeo!. Manual aircon does not have an outside ambient temperature sensor, only the SATC system had one. well, two actually, the sun sensor on the windscreen & outside air temp sensor which is usually somewhere in the front bumper.

I used to be a Ford technician Fox, not a internet no-it-all that actually doesn't know it all! :p
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Interesting, how is it then that Ford have managed to implement an AC system that works at such temperatures whilst other manufacturers disable theirs at (typically) below 5C? So my manual says, this is to prevent damage, so what is it that Ford know that VW, BMW etc. don't? :confused:
 
MatteH Oxford said:
Well it works in a mk2 ford mondeo!. Manual aircon does not have an outside ambient temperature sensor, only the SATC system had one.
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Do I need to post a photograph of my Mk2 Mondeo with manual aircon *and* an outside temperature sensor? ;)

I don't have the documents for my Mk2 anymore but the Mk3 manual even goes so far as to specifically state the air conditioning does not operate below 5c I think it is.

I used to be a Ford technician Fox, not a internet no-it-all that actually doesn't know it all! :p
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As you've demonstrated being a Ford technician is clearly no guarantee you are correct.
 
floatindolphin said:
Why do people leave their cars running unattended? It's just foolish.

Start it, get the scraper out. Start on the driver's side window and work round the back and finish up with the driver's side of the windscreen. That way, even if someone jumped in it while you were there, they have no visibility
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Needed quoting, Good thinking Batman :cool:
 
Kenai said:
Interesting, how is it then that Ford have managed to implement an AC system that works at such temperatures whilst other manufacturers disable theirs at (typically) below 5C? So my manual says, this is to prevent damage, so what is it that Ford know that VW, BMW etc. don't? :confused:
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The vw systems stop below 3degrees. My gf had an 05 fester, that system shut down when it was icy too
 
I was under the impression that even though the AC system wont cool when the outside temperature is below a certain level, that it would still dry the air passing through it, so would still be useful in demisting the screen.
 
Matt82 said:
The vw systems stop below 3degrees. My gf had an 05 fester, that system shut down when it was icy too
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My manual says 5C :p

You're obviously wrong about the Fiesta though Matt, floatindolphin was Ford Technician not just some internet know it all!! He must be right.
 
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My Vectra is around 4-5c before the A/C shuts down, the other reason is the evaporator can become a block of ice and course possible liquid flood back to the compressor.
 
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