Golf MKVI Air Conditioning

[dopey]

No complaints here, made it through the Sydney summer without any noteable issues, and I had the car parked in full sun on many occasions. I do have very dark window tinting though, which helps keep cabin temps down a little in the first place (well, depending which way the car is parked). It's certainly not the strongest air conditioner I've had in a car, but it's far from the worst and definitely good enough that I hadn't even given it any thought until reading about other peoples apparent issues.

[nikamichi]

It's under warranty and just extend it to 5 years if you're worried.

They should rename this forum to VWWhingeCooled, there are a heap of nick picking threads lately.

You are probably right on both points !

However, in defence of the "nick pickers" of Golf VI, this is a car where the base engineering of PQ35 was released 7 years ago ( so in reality it was developed nearly 9 years ago). They have produced millions of these cars in this 7 year span, and the air cond system has been criticised as being marginal, and has a reputation of being unreliable.

I don't think it is too much to ask of the 2009 world car of the year ( and australian car of the year) to have an effective and reliable air cond, after all we are paying a premium for a quality product with proven engineering !

[G-rig]

Seems fine to me (the GTI probably has better aircon than the 118TSI as it's got a more powerful engine).

However i much prefer to your typical cheap car which is either off or freezing. I will have to RTFM again as i think auto mode still applies once you change the vents even though the light is off. i'm usually adjusting between 20 and 22 deg. Also depends if you want more fan and higher temp or a lower temp and less fan.

[Maverick]

You are probably right on both points !

However, in defence of the "nick pickers" of Golf VI, this is a car where the base engineering of PQ35 was released 7 years ago ( so in reality it was developed nearly 9 years ago). They have produced millions of these cars in this 7 year span, and the air cond system has been criticised as being marginal, and has a reputation of being unreliable.

I don't think it is too much to ask of the 2009 world car of the year ( and australian car of the year) to have an effective and reliable air cond, after all we are paying a premium for a quality product with proven engineering !

There is a push for all manufacturers to reduce fuel consumption and this means all areas have to be efficient including the AC system. Contrary to your claims there are no widespread complaints about the AC system and most of them seem to be from people that can't understand how the climatronic operates.

I can't fault the AC system in the Golf, it works, it keeps you cool or warm and does it without blasting hot or cold air in your face. It works as well as the other cars I had that did blast hot or cold air in your face and it does it much more efficiently. I set the controls and I rarely ever touch the system and leave it on auto because it just works and does what it's supposed to do.

You can't have your cake and eat it too, you want a car that is fuel efficient but you complain because the AC system is efficient and doesn't hit you in the face with hot or cold air.

[Maverick]

Seems fine to me (the GTI probably has better aircon than the 118TSI as it's got a more powerful engine).

The engine size/power is probably related to it as well, the compressor adjusts so it doesn't impact on the engine performance and this is going to occur much more often on the smaller engines.

However i much prefer to your typical cheap car which is either off or freezing. I will have to RTFM again as i think auto mode still applies once you change the vents even though the light is off. i'm usually adjusting between 20 and 22 deg. Also depends if you want more fan and higher temp or a lower temp and less fan.

x 2 it's a far more efficient and smarter system when compared to many other cars and the climate control works so well. Seems that too many people equate getting hit in the face with hot or cold air with having a high performance system when the opposite is true, they probably put a fan on their desk at work because the building AC system isn't hitting them in the face so to them it's not working.

[Corey_R]

Eek... aircon that puts out -2 degree air. Geez. Combine that with blast in your face style ducting. That would be a nightmare to me. I'll take my Golf MKV GTI's aircon any day

Also - nikamichi, VW use Sanden compressors in their cars too. It simply depends on supply at the time...

[Coaster]

The A/C performed very well over the Summer, even on a trip up to Lancelin where the outside temp was over 41ºC, the cabin was comfortable for all 4 occupants. Another nifty thing is it waits 5 or so seconds after the car is turned on to begin operating, allowing the engine to reach stable revs before it draws power.

I have Formula One tinting from Tint-a-Car on the windows, which has a high insulation rating and an SPF 50+ rating. I think it's very beneficial in extreme heat and sun conditions like Perth and keeps the cabin cool for quite a while after I've left the car.

Did know about the chilled glove box. Bit of a gimmic?

I've used it to keep fruit cool, so not just a gimmick!

[nikamichi]

Guys,

you make valid points.

What I would say is that a system which can only put out 5.8 degrees at a 32 degree ambient is going to struggle on the hottest of days. And that was my experience last year where with a 47.5 degree ambient, the system could only produce 10 degrees at the vent, and even after 3 hours of solid 80 km/h driving could only maintain a cabin temp of 29 degrees. I even had to take the car through a car wash to reduce the heat soak to achieve that temp. That same day, the Liberty within 30 minutes was cranking out 1.8 degree air, and held a cabin temp of 18 degrees. The air cond performance in the most adverse of conditions is chalk and cheese.

Personally I would prefer to pay a penalty of 0.5 l/per 100km to have a system which will actually hold the temperature dialled up on those 3 really hot days per year.

98% of time the system is adequate, and the heater is fabulous, producing 82 degrees at the vent within 15 minutes.

But ask anyone who works in the air cond industry ( automotive and industrial), 95% of complaints happen on those 3 hot days of the year, and any deficiency in a system will be revealed.

Just my experience, opinion and 2 cents worth !

[nikamichi]

Also Guys,

When quoting vent temps, these are all done at the lowest fan speed. Increasing fan speed, actually increases vent temp.

[G-rig]

Guys,

you make valid points.

What I would say is that a system which can only put out 5.8 degrees at a 32 degree ambient is going to struggle on the hottest of days. And that was my experience last year where with a 47.5 degree ambient, the system could only produce 10 degrees at the vent, and even after 3 hours of solid 80 km/h driving could only maintain a cabin temp of 29 degrees. I even had to take the car through a car wash to reduce the heat soak to achieve that temp. That same day, the Liberty within 30 minutes was cranking out 1.8 degree air, and held a cabin temp of 18 degrees. The air cond performance in the most adverse of conditions is chalk and cheese.

Personally I would prefer to pay a penalty of 0.5 l/per 100km to have a system which will actually hold the temperature dialled up on those 3 really hot days per year.

98% of time the system is adequate, and the heater is fabulous, producing 82 degrees at the vent within 15 minutes.

But ask anyone who works in the air cond industry ( automotive and industrial), 95% of complaints happen on those 3 hot days of the year, and any deficiency in a system will be revealed.

Just my experience, opinion and 2 cents worth !

Sell it and get something else then .

[nikamichi]

Well it is the last choice to drive on those really hot days !

[hooba]

Well it is the last choice to drive on those really hot days !

Out of interest what colour is your Golf?

[Maverick]

Guys,

you make valid points.

What I would say is that a system which can only put out 5.8 degrees at a 32 degree ambient is going to struggle on the hottest of days. And that was my experience last year where with a 47.5 degree ambient, the system could only produce 10 degrees at the vent, and even after 3 hours of solid 80 km/h driving could only maintain a cabin temp of 29 degrees. I even had to take the car through a car wash to reduce the heat soak to achieve that temp. That same day, the Liberty within 30 minutes was cranking out 1.8 degree air, and held a cabin temp of 18 degrees. The air cond performance in the most adverse of conditions is chalk and cheese.

Personally I would prefer to pay a penalty of 0.5 l/per 100km to have a system which will actually hold the temperature dialled up on those 3 really hot days per year.

98% of time the system is adequate, and the heater is fabulous, producing 82 degrees at the vent within 15 minutes.

But ask anyone who works in the air cond industry ( automotive and industrial), 95% of complaints happen on those 3 hot days of the year, and any deficiency in a system will be revealed.

Just my experience, opinion and 2 cents worth !

Without using Vagcom/VCDS and measuring the status of the compressor, the temperature sensors throughout the vents, the status of the flaps and so forth your comparisons to the primitive system installed in the Subaru are meaningless. Lowest fan speeds "can" achieve the lowest vent temperatures but air moving over skin is important with cooling on hot days and you may not be getting the most out of the unit as you'll find the compressor will switch off more frequently to prevent the coil from freezing up.

The compressor in the Golf is a variable displacement compressor that has seven cylinders and allows more or less gas to be compressed at any one time depending on the cars requirements (minimum 2% to keep the system lubricated). Compare this to the type used in many cars like the Subaru which is either off or on. The Golf system is more like the inverter AC systems you install at home whereas the Subaru and others is the older style on and off with fluctuations in temperature.

Other benefits of the variable system include no annoying cutting in and out and the resulting power loss or increase in idle. Not to forget reduced fuel usage. I have some info I'll post on my website later today.

[G-rig]

Out of interest what colour is your Golf?

Wouldn't be surprised if it was black, LOL.

[nikamichi]

The A3 is red .... the liberty was Black.

Guys, you think the air cond in Golf is fine, and that is your opinion ( and I respect it).

My experience is that it isn't ( maybe I just got a bad car .... I probably have with all the things that went wrong with) . Wheels magazine don't think it is good enough and said so when they announced Golf as COTY( sometimes I respect their opinions ). Do I think the air cond is bad enough to not purchase the car ? No. I signed for a GTI with all this experience ( but as I did with the A3 ticked the extended warranty option, and will be getting the best tint I can).

I'm glad to hear the compressor technology is fabulously advanced. Maybe that accounts for the documented issue of compressor failure. When quizzing my dealer, as I have done with the 2 other major failures in my car ( steering rack, and gearbox),they confirmed it is a documented issue.

Major car manufacturers including VW have training and drive days ( hard to believe I know). And they give pros and cons of their competition, as well as the opportunity to drive all their competitors. The Subaru salesman was simply repeating what was in the training materials.

In terms of my crude comparisons, I was only using the temperature probe, and diagnostic process that was used and left behind by my local authorised dealer.