Weak center air vents?

[warhead]

I have a MK5 Golf GT and only yesterday did I notice that the 2 center vents are really really weak, can barely feel any air coming out of them. The ones on either side on the front work fine.

I wondered if it was the settings so I tried all of them (top vent, inside vents, bottom vents, recirculate, auto, dual, etc) and none of them made any difference.

And yes I made sure the vents were actually opened all the way, I even opened and shut them a few times but I'm pretty sure it's just a mechanical shutter on the inside and not something electrical.

Is this a normal feature of the Golf or do is there something wrong with mine?

PS. Only reason I'd think it was normal is that it makes sense to achieve dual climate easier if the center vents are weaker, but then the people in the back of the car wouldn't get any AC.

[mr_walker]

I have a MK5 Golf GT and only yesterday did I notice that the 2 center vents are really really weak, can barely feel any air coming out of them. The ones on either side on the front work fine.

I wondered if it was the settings so I tried all of them (top vent, inside vents, bottom vents, recirculate, auto, dual, etc) and none of them made any difference.

And yes I made sure the vents were actually opened all the way, I even opened and shut them a few times but I'm pretty sure it's just a mechanical shutter on the inside and not something electrical.

Is this a normal feature of the Golf or do is there something wrong with mine?

PS. Only reason I'd think it was normal is that it makes sense to achieve dual climate easier if the center vents are weaker, but then the people in the back of the car wouldn't get any AC.

Did you try closing the vent above them on top of the dash (indirect ventilation or some such thing). The two forward facing ones, and the upper dash one share the same supply, so closing either will boost the other.

Walker

[Tim]

Did you try closing the vent above them on top of the dash (indirect ventilation or some such thing). The two forward facing ones, and the upper dash one share the same supply, so closing either will boost the other.

Walker

I run with my top vent closed all the time cos of this.

[warhead]

I'll give that a go next time and see if I notice any improvement.

Thanks for the suggestion.

[ozgriff]

Isn't there a vent in the back of the center arm rest that feeds back seat drivers?

[benough]

Your AC is Climatronic.

The middle vent's don't really blow a huge amount of air, compared to the side ones.

I think the point of Climatronic is to adapt the cabin temp in the most unobtrusive way possible (i.e. minimal blowing or drafts felt on the skin). The Owner's Manual pretty much states this.

I came from crap A/C in a Toyota and found it hard to get used to the minimal blowing, but now it think it is way better.

If not just turn the "Auto" button off and crank the fan or buy a corolla

[BarneyBoy]

The air directed to the centre of the car is shared between 5 outlets - centre top, centre face, and centre rear. The air directed to the outsides is shared by one vent each side.

Try this: shut off the top and rear vents - you'll just about be blown out of the car. Air is a liquid and just like putting 5 sprinklers on one hose, your water pressure will be flogged!

Personally I don't mind the top vent, and as benough said - it pumps air from many outlets at (relatively) low & quiet speed. I can understand what you're implying (that it doesn't appear effective) and on some really hot days I think the car will _never_ cool down when I 1st jump in. But then all of a sudden it _does_ cool down!

[stephen8512]

i may have posted in the wrong thread so i'll just copy and paste what i typed there in here

a bit off topic but ive noticed on my jetta that when i'm cruising normally, air seems to come through the vents even when i have the A/Cturned off. Im assuming its sucking in air from outside and blowing it into the cabin...

is this normal? because it seems like the only way I can completely shut out the very faint wind coming in from my air vents is to turn the scroll dial to "0". And the button for the recycle air only seems to work when I have the a/c on, but as soon as i turn the a/c off, there is still air coming thru....

[THR]

^ That's normal on virtually any car.

I have similar pressure issues with my vents but perhaps it's just design - I certainly don't have anything to complain about because the heater is great - SO warm - and likewise, the air conditioning really does the job.

[Manaz]

is this normal?

Yep - the air intake for the HVAC system on most cars is in an area of relatively high pressure when the car is moving - meaning that air will naturally find its way into the system. This helps to keep the air in the car fresh - a truly sealed passenger compartment isn't a good thing!

[mr_walker]

Air is a liquid...

Damn ... and all these years I've been thinking its a gas!