Climate Control System
Introduction
Component Location
The climate control system features fully automatic control of temperature, blower speed (airflow) and air distribution to maintain optimum comfort under most driving conditions.
Manual controls are provided to allow the operator to over-ride automatic operation.
System Features
- Twin blower assemblies
- Center mounted evaporator, heater and air distribution unit
- Electric solenoid water valve controlled heating Electric water pump assembly
- Servo motor driven air distribution flaps
- Temperature differential control between foot and face outlets
- Dedicated side glass defrost/demist vents
- External temperature sensor
- Motorized in-car aspirator
- Solar sensor
Electronic Control Panel
- Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
- Digital temperature display
- Manual fan speed level
- External temperature display
- Celsius/Fahrenheit selection
- Heated windshield switch (where fitted)
- Heated backlight switch
- Defrost switch
- Manual airflow distribution overrides (4)
- Access to self diagnostic system and error codes
Sensors
- External ambient temperature sensor
- Motorized in-car aspirator
- Heater matrix temperature sensor
- Evaporator temperature sensor
- Solar sensor
These sensors feedback information to the Air Conditioning Control Module (A/CCM) which automatically adjusts air temperature, airflow volume and distribution from the air conditioning unit to maintain a stable passenger compartment average temperature under changing weather conditions
Major Components
Compressor
Features
- Engine mounted, driven by the accessory drive belt.
- Fixed displacement type.
- High-pressure relief valve, to avoid system over-pressure.
- ECM controlled clutch energized via a relay.
Receiver drier
- Vertically mounted on the right-hand side of the engine compartment next to the engine coolant radiator.
- Fitted with the high-side charge port.
Condenser
- Multi-pass fin-over-tube type, mounted in front of the engine cooling pack and directly to the radiator.
Pressure (Bitron) switch
- Located in the discharge pipe.
- Provides a signal, via the A/CCM, to the ECM, to disengage the compressor clutch should the refrigerant pressure be < 2 bar or > 30 bar.
- Provides a hard-wired signal to the ECM, to switch the cooling fans to HIGH speed at 22 bar rising pressure and to LOW speed at 17,5 bar falling pressure.
- Provides a hard-wired signal to the ECM, to switch the radiator cooling fans to LOW speed at 12 bar rising pressure and to switch the fans OFF at 8 bar falling pressure.
Expansion Valve
The expansion valve is located inside the heater/air conditioning unit and comprises of a diaphragm, connected by a capillary tube to a temperature sensing bulb, which regulates the valve according to temperature variations at the evaporator outlet pipe. This component is NOT serviceable. See 'Refrigeration Cycle' Description and Operation
Air Conditioning (Heater/Cooler) Unit
The air conditioning unit houses the evaporator, heater matrix and their temperature sensors. The unit also incorporates two servo motor operated air distribution flaps which regulate airflow to the front footwells and the quantity of airflow through the cool air bypass (air which by-passes heater matrix) up to the upper air distribution box (ADB).
When the front footwell flap is open, air is ducted to the footwell area via the lower air distribution duct (LADD) and front footwell duct. The LADD is clipped to the bottom of the air conditioning unit case and the front foot ducts clipped onto the outlets of the LADD.
Condensate (water) which forms on the evaporator fins is drained out of the unit case through two drains, located either side of the unit underneath the evaporator. The liquid is routed to the vehicle exterior via flexible tubes which are located behind the firewall heatshield.