HVAC controls and directed airflow

[Jackattack13]

Stopped using Auto ages ago after getting jack of the fogged windscreen thing, and my life is better for it.

I get a really annoying whistle when using face+footwell setting that increases with ground speed, so its either face or footwell for me. Also get a regular cascading water sound from behind the dash which I believe is HVAC related (car is kept undercover and generally out of the rain), strangely this occurs even with the air-con switch off (sounds like water coming off the aircon evaporator). I get the feeling the air-con still activates to some extent even if dash switch is off.

I have the whistle too while on face + footwell if over 2 in setting.

 

[[ Adam ]]

The whistle/whine of the HVAC is more obnoxious to me than the ADAS issues.

 

[Norb-TX]

I'm aware but that's now how circular vents normally work.

 

[bbq4133]

Stopped using Auto ages ago after getting jack of the fogged windscreen thing, and my life is better for it.

I get a really annoying whistle when using face+footwell setting that increases with ground speed, so its either face or footwell for me. Also get a regular cascading water sound from behind the dash which I believe is HVAC related (car is kept undercover and generally out of the rain), strangely this occurs even with the air-con switch off (sounds like water coming off the aircon evaporator). I get the feeling the air-con still activates to some extent even if dash switch is off.

I've heard this sound twice now, both the morning after rain or water. I wonder if it's water being let in via the exterior inlet? Maybe it's pooling?

 

[ADVAW8S]

What type of HVAC system do we have? I thought I read somewhere that it's more of a heat pump versus a traditional A/C unit?

Also read on Facebook of a gentleman who picked up his Grenadier in Seattle. He then drove it to Boise and back to Seattle for a shake down run. The A/C didn't work properly. Ended up needing both reservoirs filled and the system bleed for air bubbles. Success after that.

 

[Tom109]

I checked both coolant reservoirs a few drives after picking it up. Both were below the low mark. Topped up and no issues since. It think this is a regular check.

Heat works well, AC works well (not had 70F+ days to really test), and surprisingly the windscreen stays clear even though I have never selected windscreen or defrost. My only HVAC observation is the slot machine effect of turning it on or adjusting a knob - you never really know what you’ll get for the next 30 seconds!

 

[T5Ineos]

I am also not happy with the HVAC, erratic behaviour, one day it blows hot, the next day cold, same settings, untill I play around with the buttons. I still don't understand the pattern :-(

Have you figured it out? I have the same issue. I can have it on 1, almost coldest setting, with A/C on and it will randomly change to heat. Or I may have it set to 2-3 on A/C for a day or two and it just starts getting gradually warmer until the car is sweltering. I may have to turn it to max cold to get the a/c back on and it may take a couple minutes to kick in. Very odd…often when trying to correct it i will either have only ice cold or super hot….maybe im doing something wrong?

 

[crashnburn]

Got the Grenny back from the dealer for the AC recharging.
Drove around for almost 2 hrs and the AC behaved pretty much as what it should have been in the first place.
Adjusted it a few times to test out the settings and so far, so good.
The recharging definitely helped, hopefully fixed it.

The windshield washer parts replacement though, will come in a 10-15 days.

 

[Znarfgh]

I checked both coolant reservoirs a few drives after picking it up. Both were below the low mark. Topped up and no issues since. It think this is a regular check.

Heat works well, AC works well (not had 70F+ days to really test), and surprisingly the windscreen stays clear even though I have never selected windscreen or defrost. My only HVAC observation is the slot machine effect of turning it on or adjusting a knob - you never really know what you’ll get for the next 30 seconds!

What fluid did you use to top up the coolant reservoirs?

 

[Tom109]

What fluid did you use to top up the coolant reservoirs?

BMW HT 12 coolant. I picked it up (plus a couple oil filters) at the local BMW dealer.

 

[alexandruast]

If anyone finds out where the temperature sensor for the HVAC is located, maybe we can place a fixed value resistor there and make the temperature dial work like a classic valve system (even if it's digital).
Or maybe just remove the control from the heater core valve stepper motor and control it using a separate dial.

 

[Skydance]

If anyone finds out where the temperature sensor for the HVAC is located, maybe we can place a fixed value resistor there and make the temperature dial work like a classic valve system (even if it's digital).
Or maybe just remove the control from the heater core valve stepper motor and control it using a separate dial.

The temperature sensor is behind the passenger grab handle above the glove box. But why would you modify and void the warranty. Get Ineos to sort it, it’s all software issue.

 

[trobex]

As of my 15K service, I now have VERY cold air all the way to 26c, and 27/28c are barely warm. So on a cold morning (in QLD that is 19c haha) I can barely get the vehicle to what I think 24c 'should be'. Will have to get this seen to. My fan on Setting # 4 also makes a high pitch whirling sound.

Before service, fan setting # 1 was either barely puffing air, to sometimes feeling normal... it is like Jean says, erratic.

 

[shiv.nandak]

After living with the Grenadier for a while, I am convinced that the wiper issues caused in snowy/icy weather is actually due to the HVAC. For some reason the HVAC loves to constantly feed the windshield with cold air - even when there is warm air coming through the face/leg vents.

 

[Krabby]

I was more polite when I filled out my survey yesterday, but the HVAC is horrific. I genuinely hope software updates can fix it.

 

[alexandruast]

The temperature sensor is behind the passenger grab handle above the glove box. But why would you modify and void the warranty. Get Ineos to sort it, it’s all software issue.

Warranty cannot be denied for modifications, unless proven the part that needs replacing/servicing under warranty was affected by the modification. The legislation is very clear, at least in EU - warranty is voided for the part on which the seal has been removed, and that's it. The rest, it has to be proven.
Never had warranty voided on any vehicle because of modifications, not even bricked ECU while flashing stage 1 software, got sorted it out under warranty (although this was a bit on the edge).

 

[[ Adam ]]

Had the front blowing cold and rear blowing hot with it on auto - full cold.

Take it off auto and it blows hot out the front vents.

Ugh.

 

[Tom109]

Today mine cut the AC fan off when I stopped and selected “R” to back into a parking space. Then it came back on when put into “D”.

 

[Clark Kent]

Today mine cut the AC fan off when I stopped and selected “R” to back into a parking space. Then it came back on when put into “D”.

That's called Reverse cycle AC. It's old school but in keeping with the theme

 

[Tom109]

That's called Reverse cycle AC. It's old school but in keeping with the theme

So sort of the AC version of regenerative braking.