Hey folks,

Who can best describe what the ECON setting of the Aircon knob is meant to do/work? I RTFM, but the manual doesn't give a very detailed description.:confused:

its a pretty little button designed to make you feel ok about using the AC and it does sweet FA in my experence :bowrofl:

From what I know about the three different modes the Off doesn't actually cool the air at all, it will just circulate it. The Econ cools the air but doens't de-humidify but the A/C cools and de-humidifies. This is why when you put use the Econ it will blow cools air but not de-fog a windscreen, where as the A/C does because it takes the humidity out of the air which removes the fogged up windscreen. That's from what I understand it to be at least.

mm, i was thinking the same thing last night
i use off most of the time because i rarely use heaters or need it any cooler
but when i do i use econ especially to demist etc, and seems to work fine for me
but then again i think my aircons retarded, my footwell aircon vent blows no matter what setting i put it on

econ uses way too much fuel anyway

mm, i was thinking the same thing last night
i use off most of the time because i rarely use heaters or need it any cooler
but when i do i use econ especially to demist etc, and seems to work fine for me
but then again i think my aircons retarded, my footwell aircon vent blows no matter what setting i put it on

econ uses way too much fuel anyway
If the ECON setting does cool without dehumidifying, that would help on long hot country runs, where the A/C setting would dry the driver's (and passengers') eyes out, and the windows down at freeway speeds would cause sufficient drag to consume fuel similar to the A/C. ECON would also be more contact lens friendly.

When I had my second gen I could see (because of my busted idle speed control) that in ECON mode the air con switches on and off as it sees fit.

When I had my second gen I could see (because of my busted idle speed control) that in ECON mode the air con switches on and off as it sees fit.

i belive this to be correct on the Econ setting.

the ac compressor still works - it still cools and dehumidifies the air, as thats part of the cooling receiver dryer process of the system, but in econ mode - it doesnt run the ac as much as if it was in the full setting.

ie - comes on for a minute then goes off for 5mins, whereas on the full ac setting it might stay on for 5mins 'compressing' and then be off for 5mins while the compressed gas does its heat transfere thing - and cools you and the car down in the process. (dont quote me on on & off times, as i just picked numbers to express my idea better)

in the long run, once the car has been cooled down, aircon becomes cheaper then as the compressor only has to work minimally to maintain temp, not bust its guts out to bring the temp town.

The only difference is the temperature used to switch the compressor off. Full aims for a cabin temp of about 20 degrees, econo aims for about 24 degrees.
Run whatever setting you feel comfy with.
HINT: Hot, wet weather?
Run the air con on full to pull moisture out of the air. Turn the heater on as well, on recirc. Result? Comfy, dry interior, no fogged up screens!

Doesn't it stand for economy? So that the air-con isn't constantly on and you save a little bit more fuel?

Yep! Stands for economy, supposed to save fuel because the compressor doesn't work as hard.

Yep! Stands for economy, supposed to save fuel because the compressor doesn't work as hard.
Spot on. ECO mode still blows icy cold air out, but A/C cools and de-humidifies (as posted above).
I used to use ECO all the time and it was really good. I told the missus that the A/C mode (with the icicle icon on the button) was only for emergencies like 40 degrees and she believed me.

I told the missus that the A/C mode (with the icicle icon on the button) was only for emergencies like 40 degrees and she believed me.

HAHAHAHAH! love it!

My econ still drops revs substantially and doesnt actually turn off at all, so I dunno about some of the theories here...

Revs should't drop at all, they should actually go up - check your ISC motor. The only time the compressor should run full time is in 40 degree heat with the fan turned right up. Might need a regas if it is on full time in milder conditions.

I believe that the ECON setting makes the air-con compressor turn on and off every couple of minutes. Not sure how long each 'episode' of "on" and "off" lasts, but I know I can hear the air-con kicking in and out every couple of minutes, if not more often, when in 'Econ' mode.

A/C mode just means the compressor is always on.

That's my findings anyway.

I did check this mode of operation between a variety of TS and KS models, manual & auto

I think it's something like AC is on 100-90% of the time and econ is 70-50%..... Not sure on the exact figures.

HAHAHAHAH! love it!

My econ still drops revs substantially and doesnt actually turn off at all, so I dunno about some of the theories here...
hmm think mines the same, i'll check the revs
my car does the shaky idle anyway, but the aircon on either setting on turns my car into a mega-vibrator

hmm think mines the same, i'll check the revs
my car does the shaky idle anyway, but the aircon on either setting on turns my car into a mega-vibrator

lol, much like when I had my second gen. Press AC and the whole car just shakes ur pants off. Steering wheel looks like its trying to escape.

lol, much like when I had my second gen. Press AC and the whole car just shakes ur pants off. Steering wheel looks like its trying to escape.


HINT: ISC motor! You need a new one!

HINT: ISC motor! You need a new one!
HINT:

lol, much like when I had my second gen. Press AC and the whole car just shakes ur pants off. Steering wheel looks like its trying to escape.

Took it one step further and got a new car

A new ISC motor would have been cheaper . . . .:badgrin:

A new ISC motor would have been cheaper . . . .:badgrin:
probably not if you bought it from mitsu... :badgrin:

eBay is your friend . . . .