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Question on how AUTO climate control is supposed to work.

Is this 'NORMAL'?

OUTside temp = 79F / 26C
X5 Temp set at 66F / 19C
Auto = ON and AC = OFF
Is it normal that the vents blow 79F air with AUTO ON? I was expecting it to blow 66F the set value.

If I turn AC = ON then it lows 66F. BUT I thought the whole idea os AUTO is that you set it and forget it, the car would then turn on AC as needed. ITs not behaving that way. Is this 'normal'?

BTW its a 2005 X5 in case that matters.

Auto only works with AC=ON. It won't turn the AC on/off automatically as needed. Auto ON only regulates the heat output. It's a stupid system, but most cars work this way. That's why I never liked auto climate controls. I can accomplish the same feature on a manual climate control system.

Thank you. So there's nothing wrong with the car, but the Owner's Manual needs to be revised... probably something lost in the translation.

Funny but my former 2002 Explorer got it right... I set it to AUTO and 72F/22C and it did the rest regardless of the season.

It is easy to misunderstand this function. After all, the manual says "...the AUTO program ensures that the selected temperature is achieved as quickly as possible." I sweated a few times until I figured I'd better just turn the damn AC on manually.

The good thing is that the X has a terrific AC system. Cools down really fast.

Here are the 2 sections in the manual that had me confused:

"The AUTO program adjusts the airflow and distribution patterns for you while also using your preselected temperature setting as the basis for adjusting the interior climate to adapt to external influences: summer, winter."

"We recommend 72F/22C as a comfortable setting, whether the air conditioner is operating or not. When you start the vehicle, the AUTO program ensures
that the selected temperature is achieved as quickly as possible. It then maintains this temperature, regardless of the season. "

I wonder that the original German text really said. But the english version does not say you need to have AC=on for AUTO to cool the vehicle to below the outside temp.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Last5oh

Here are the 2 sections in the manual that had me confused:

"The AUTO program adjusts the airflow and distribution patterns for you while also using your preselected temperature setting as the basis for adjusting the interior climate to adapt to external influences: summer, winter."

"We recommend 72F/22C as a comfortable setting, whether the air conditioner is operating or not. When you start the vehicle, the AUTO program ensures
that the selected temperature is achieved as quickly as possible. It then maintains this temperature, regardless of the season. "

I wonder that the original German text really said. But the english version does not say you need to have AC=on for AUTO to cool the vehicle to below the outside temp.

Turn the aircon button on and leave it on permanently. The system then looks after itself. The only time you can get away with turning the ac off, is when the outside air temp' is less than what you have selected inside.
My previous BMW was the same, as is my wife's golf. If you think the manual instructions for the ac are suspect, try figuring out the hot/cold selection on the centre outlet.
Colin.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatboyoz

lol
i agree, i dont understand the center outlet...
its just werid!

i tried mine yesterday : outside temperature was 74F , i set auto and air conditioning ON , set the temperature at 80F , but the air was still coming out COLD.

is this normal ?

If I understand the above discussion correctly, PLUS the discussion on the center vent setting, I'd guess that with that climate control set-up, your center outlet must have been set to 'BLUE' for it to blow outside (colder) air.