Help using a Volvo heater

[ph9]

I've recently bought a 2005 D5 S60 and I'm struggling to operate the "Climate Control" I'm used to simpler heaters, like the one in my Defender.

Firstly, it doesn't seem to get particularly hot - is this normal? I haven't taken it for a really long drive yet - the shortest is 15 miles, so I presume it's only beginning to warm up by then, although the water temperature gauge does climb to the half-way mark. The steering wheel is usually cold when I set off (outside temperature around freezing), and my fingers go numb at the start of the journey, and then take ages to warm up.

Secondly, I'm not sure what all the 'auto' buttons, defrost' button, or mannequin direction controls do. I suspect it must be simple and logical, but I can press one button and the fan goes into overdrive or stops, and if I manually adjust fan speed other lights (auto aircon etc?) go on/off. Also, the direction controls don't seem to be very effective either.

At least it's not draughty like my Defender, and the ambient temperature in the cab does increase. However, I'd quite like to be able to get hot air on my feet and/or my hands, but that seems impossible!

I'd appreciate some tips on how to extract maximum heat from it!

[Pothole]

Handbook?

[ph9]

Yes, I did read that a couple of times! However, operating the ECC in real life is another thing altogether! Reading the handbook again, I'm wondering if its designed to work better in 'Auto' modes, and I'll just have to accept a gradually warming cab rather than manually control air temperature, direction and force.

[Scrump]

I think most modern climate control systems operate better in auto mode (with a/c on).
Adjust the temperature but leave the rest to the cc system.
The reason you are not getting warm is that your journey is not really long enough for sufficient heat to reach the cc system (I suspect).

[Deefor62]

I have the same vintage V70 but with the petrol engine. I echo the recommendation above to just leave it on auto so it sorta itself out. It does seem to take a while for the car to warm up, and the heated seats in mine also take a fair while to warm up compared to the 3 series that my wife has.

I think that what you’re experiencing is possibly normal

[ph9]

Thanks for confirming that. Hopefully, I'll be able to take it on some longer journeys before too long, and see what happens then.