Air Con on the SLK

[brakes508]

Right stupid question I know but none the wiser after reading the owners manual! if the "EC" light is on does that mean the air con is on or off? I wish the german's would speak in goo dold plain text!

 

[SLinKyjoe]

if the lights on, its off.

 

[dagd]

agreed, On is Off!!

 

[jberks]

Button is marked EC for EConomy - so if economy is on then the aircon is off.
(If that's any easier to remember!)

 

[television]

Its easier to remember that if its off its on:idea:

malcolm

 

[mlc]

When we bought our first SLK the salesman explained that EC was German for AirCon, fortunately I read the manual and got it right. Our 2003 SLK has the warning in plain english.

It always amuses me that having had Fords with AC for the last 18 years the owners books now discourage the use of AC because its so "ungreen", whilst MB tell you how dangerous it is to drive with it turned off. Perhaps you dont buy an MB to be green.

Mark.

 

[brakes508]

OK think I will be running with it off (light on!) hooray..... next question why is it dangerous to run with it off? and I remember with my old car something about running the air con for 30 mins every month to keep the system ticking over? any thoughts on what the script is for the merc?

 

[jberks]

The basic rule is keep it on. The fluid lubricates the seals and joints so keeping it off kills the aircon system over time. There is no real benefit in turning it off - may save a couple of pennies in fuel but with engines are big as those in C,E,SLK etc it makes bugger all difference. Sure you save a bit on a 1.3l car but not on an SLK.
Keep it on.

 

[SLinKyjoe]

its dangerous to leave it off as your car can mist up, thus leaving you with a less than perfect view all around,

I would imagine they would say.

I have mine on until i decide to drop the roof, and then i have it on if its really warm so it blows cool air at your face. but if its only warm outside i dont bother.

they do need runnning to circulate the liquid inside every now and again.

best thing to do is test it, drive for a whole year with it on, then drive the following year with it off and see how much fuel you save. make sure you do exactly the same milage over exactly the same roads over exactly the same conditions tho, otherwise it will be influenced by whatever you did that was more economical.

you may save a whole litre!

 

[davidsl500]

When I push the "EC" button my SL automatically makes for Brussels...

 

[johnnycapone]

To switch my air con on, I have to remove my right hand from the steering wheel, move it down a little and turn this lever a few times.
Regards
John

 

[Rory]

agreed, On is Off!!

Yet for the Auto button - On is On.

Completely bonkers IMHO - it means in 'normal' use (Auto on and A/C on) there's always a red light showing, as if there's something wrong.