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Dashboard vents question
Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2016 7:56 pm
by vicksplace
Hi, I wonder if anyone can help with this problem... Hot air comes out of the top (front screen) vents and out of the footwell vents, but only blows cold/cool through the main dash vents. Our bongo has the electronic heater controller. I'm assuming that either it's a problem with the electronics (which would be tough to fix) or some sort of vent/flap that isn't moving, but I don't have a clue where to look. I don't believe there's a problem with water leaks or sludge in the system as other vents are ok and I have checked water level.
Looking forward to hearing from you and, hopefully, being warmer while driving.
Re: Dashboard vents question
Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2016 8:12 pm
by haydn callow
Check linkages by your left foot
Re: Dashboard vents question
Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2016 10:24 pm
by scanner
Not sure offhand about the Bongo (despite having owned it it for 8 years) but some vehicles only ever send warmed air rather than red hot air out of the face vents, so that you can have the heating on high without roasting your face.
Re: Dashboard vents question
Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2016 10:29 pm
by cmm303
I've seen a detailed discussion about cold and hot air out of the face vents, but can't remember if it was here or in the other place. So it
may not be a problem. I'll see if I can dig out.
Vicksplace, has it always behaved like this or have you noticed a sudden change?
[Edit]The behaviour described in this thread that sound familiar?
http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... nt#p481443 It is not what I was looking for which was a comprehensive description of what heat comes out where at which settings.
Re: Dashboard vents question
Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2016 10:54 pm
by jimmo62
If you press the Auto switch then warm air will be circulated out of various vents depending on the conditions in the van. You will get warm air from the dash vents. If you alter any of the settings except temperature, it drops out of this mode and will only blow cold air from the dash vents - by design. Same applies if you turn Auto mode off, or select Econ. You can get hot air from the dash vents in this case by setting the temperature to maximum, anything less than max gives you cold air.
So basically if you change anything after you select Auto then you should expect air at outside temp from the dash vents
It's just how it is!
It's covered in the user manual but it's not very clear......
Re: Dashboard vents question
Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2016 11:00 pm
by vicksplace
Thanks for the quick replies.
I'll try to find the left foot linkages in the light tomorrow.
Both my partner and I were pretty sure that we used to get heated air out the main/face vents but then we wondered if we'd imagined it :/
I'll try the max temp setting and also on auto to see if it ever comes through hot.
Re: Dashboard vents question
Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2016 11:54 pm
by g8dhe
Passenger side is the temperature control drivers side are the outlets;

Re: Dashboard vents question
Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 3:00 pm
by vicksplace
jimmo62 wrote:If you press the Auto switch then warm air will be circulated out of various vents depending on the conditions in the van. You will get warm air from the dash vents. If you alter any of the settings except temperature, it drops out of this mode and will only blow cold air from the dash vents - by design. Same applies if you turn Auto mode off, or select Econ. You can get hot air from the dash vents in this case by setting the temperature to maximum, anything less than max gives you cold air.
So basically if you change anything after you select Auto then you should expect air at outside temp from the dash vents
It's just how it is!
It's covered in the user manual but it's not very clear......
I can now confirm that it behaves exactly as jimmo62 describes. It seems that Mazda either want me to have cold hands or extremely hot hands, but anything in between will have to be managed by the 'auto' setting which chooses to put very little air through those dash vents. I'd like to sincerely thank the forum for trying to help with so many sensible ideas, photos etc over such a trifling little problem.
All the best everyone.