Mono climate control

[freddyokel]

So I have a 207cc with dual zone climate control which is, quite frankly due to the size of the cabin, ridiculous.
Getting fed up of having to adjust the temperature on both knobs.
Is there any way of putting the thing into a 'mono' mode?

[RichardW]

There's usually a button somewhere; have you got a manual?

[freddyokel]

Got a manual, sadly there's no mention of it other than saying it should be kept in 'auto mode' which still allows for individual temperatures.

[GiveMeABreak]

No there's isn't - it's a different system with additional motors for the air distribution and mixing.

I don't know why you are having a problem, all you need to do is put the thing in 'AUTO' and set the temperature! Leave the vents open and the system does the rest. If you have it off auto, or somebody adjusts their temperature, then of course it will adjust the specific temperature on that side.

Auto is recommended in any case as it keeps fresh air in the vehicle and a comfortable setting and ensures the A/C is kept in good condition by regular use to protect the seals.

If you want to adjust yours or the passenger want to adjust the temperature up or down temporarily, then all they have to do is adjust the individual temperature control - all the other functions remain automatically controlled.

[freddyokel]

The problem I'm having is that 'Auto' is incapable of sustaining the temperature when the roof is down.
To maintain a good inside temperature when it's not warm outside, both controls have to be set to 'HI', the vents to 'floor and dash' and the fans to at least half.
This is something the 'Auto' setting just doesn't do.
The heating system is obviously capable of working well in a roof down situation but the 'Auto' setting can't manage it properly. Leading to the annoying fact that when changing from roof up, where both dials are normally at 21, to roof down when they need to be HI, you need to adjust both sides independently.

[GiveMeABreak]

Ok, so understanding of this vehicle being a cabriolet, there are certain operational differences explained here:

Reminder of operation: Air conditioning system
The operation of an automatic air conditioning system, for a given displayed setting, breaks down into 2 separate phases:

• A "bringing to a comfortable temperature" phase that quickly reaches a comfortable temperature after the vehicle has been started. The implementation of this phase requires in particular knowing the temperature of the passenger compartment at the time of starting.
• A "comfort maintenance" phase that maintains a comfortable temperature despite external climatic effects due to changes in the exterior temperature and sunshine.

Details of the operation of the automatic air conditioning system (In cabriolet mode)

Specific features of the automatic air conditioning system (In cabriolet mode):

• Deletion of the "bringing to a comfortable temperature" phase as it appears to be no longer necessary (at start-up the passenger compartment temperature is substantially the same as the exterior temperature in cabriolet mode.
• Taking the opening of the roof into account as an external climatic effect, in the same way as a variation in sunshine and/or exterior temperature to provide the "comfort maintenance"

Coupe/Cabriolet/Coupe Transition Operation

Example of cold climate life situation

A: Vehicle (In coupe mode).
B: Vehicle (In cabriolet mode).
C: Bringing to comfortable temperature mode (Exists only in coupe mode).
D: Comfort maintenance mode (In coupe mode).
E: Comfort maintenance mode (In cabriolet mode) (Different level of the cabriolet mode). The passenger compartment temperature is not used by the automatic air conditioning system.
F: Percentage or temperature.
G: Time (in seconds).

Colour Yellow: Passenger compartment air temperature calculated by the automatic air conditioning system.
Colour Blue: Desired passenger compartment temperature.
Colour violet: Target blown air temperature.
Colour Green: Target level of air flow.

N.B.: At start-up, the exterior temperature and the passenger compartment temperature are 0°C.

Start-up in coupe mode then opening and closing of the roof:

• Starting(In coupe mode): The "bringing to a comfortable temperature" mode proceeds in a substantially similar way to that of a saloon.
• Opening of the roof: The "bringing to a comfortable temperature" mode is stopped (if it has not already stopped). The opening of the roof is taken into account by the automatic air conditioning system which positions itself at a temperature and blown air distribution and flow rate level that maintains a comfortable temperature(In cabriolet mode) (Stabilisation level). The stabilisation level depends on the exterior temperature and the sunshine and is different to the stabilisation level obtained in coupe version.
• Closing of the roof: Another "bringing to a comfortable temperature" phase occurs if necessary to return to a comfortable temperature inside the vehicle in coupe mode

Example of hot climate life situation

A: Vehicle (In coupe mode).
B: Vehicle (In cabriolet mode).
C: Bringing to comfortable temperature mode (Exists only in coupe mode).
D: Comfort maintenance mode (In coupe mode).
E: Comfort maintenance phase in cabriolet mode (different level to cabriolet mode). The passenger compartment temperature is not used by the automatic air conditioning system.
H: Specific initialisation of the passenger compartment temperature when the roof is closed to initiate a special "bringing to a comfortable temperature" phase.
F: Percentage or temperature.
G: Time (in seconds).
Colour Yellow: Passenger compartment air temperature calculated by the automatic air conditioning system.
Colour Blue: Desired passenger compartment temperature.
Colour Violet: Target blown air temperature.
Colour Green: Target level of air flow.

b]N.B.: At start-up the exterior temperature is 30°C and the passenger compartment temperature is 45°C[/b]

• At start-up in cabriolet mode then closing and opening of the roof:
  Starting(In cabriolet mode): No "bringing to a comfortable temperature" phase occurs. The automatic air conditioning system positions itself at a temperature and blown air distribution and flow rate level that maintains a comfortable temperature in cabriolet mode(Stabilisation level). The stabilisation level depends on the exterior temperature and the sunshine and is different to the stabilisation level obtained in coupe version.
• Closing of the roof: A bringing to a comfortable temperature phase occurs if necessary to return to a comfortable temperature inside the vehicle in coupe mode.
• Opening of the roof: The "bringing to a comfortable temperature" mode is stopped (if it has not already stopped). The opening of the roof is taken into account by the automatic air conditioning system which positions itself at a temperature and blown air distribution and flow rate level that maintains a comfortable temperature(Stabilisation level). The stabilisation level depends on the exterior temperature and the sunshine and is different to the stabilisation level obtained in coupe version

[freddyokel]

So... in cabriolet mode we only have 'Comfort maintenance mode' which apparently doesn't use the passenger compartment temperature and according to the graph in the 'Example of cold climate life situation' section doesn't try and follow the 'Desired passenger compartment temperature' set point either.
That would explain why auto mode completely fails to keep you anywhere near what's set on the dials when it's cold outside and you have the roof down then.

[GiveMeABreak]

I thought you’d enjoy a bit of info on the system. Obviously they can’t modify the complete system just for a Cabriolet, and there’s no way that it can ever compensate for an open roof otherwise it would be going on full blast all the time trying to keep a set temperature, that it would likely never get to. So I suppose it’s a compromise with the technology available.

Of course they’d be very little point in having the air-conditioning on all the time which you would get with a normal vehicle when it’s left on auto.