Ventilate query

CallsignCalifornia · Aug 7, 2023

Hi,

I've been using the ventilate option using "heat immediately" to get some air into the van when wild camping, I've noticed no air comes out of the rear vents, and the rear panel lights up and says OFF whenever the ventilate option is running. Is there a way of ventilating through all vents with this option?

Many thanks.

66tim99 · Aug 7, 2023

Following this with interest.
Used the Ventilate option for the first time yesterday when parked up in the shade and left the dog in the car park of the Welsh cave I was visiting. I popped the top and left the ventilate (‘heat immediately’) option on which was pulling cool outside air in . By the time I got back 2 hours later it had switched off.
Can you use ‘heat continuously’ to ventilate continuously?

CallsignCalifornia · Aug 7, 2023

Hi Tim,

The max time you can have it on is 120 mins, which is a shame because it would be so useful to have on all night, it cools the van down brilliantly!

dspuk · Aug 7, 2023

The heating system from the console only blows air from the main exit vent on the pillar behind the drivers seat.

The rear vents themselves only work when you are driving the vehicle. The heating system for camping and the air conditioning system for driving are two different systems.

If you want the rear vents to work you need the ignition on, which will drain your starter battery.

I believe the ventilate option is timed to 90 minutes, or round about.

andyinluton · Aug 7, 2023

dspuk said:
The heating system from the console only blows air from the main exit vent on the pillar behind the drivers seat.

The Ventilate function, turned on via the "heat immediately" control ( or the remote key fob) uses the dashboard fans & the dashboard outlets, its nothing to do with the parking heater that uses the pillar vent.

Just be careful as I don't think it's been fully established whether it uses the starter battery or the leisure battery.

Also if you don't change it back from ventilate to heat, next time you use the remote, whatever you left it on is what will be turned on.

dspuk · Aug 7, 2023

andyinluton said:
The Ventilate function, turned on via the "heat immediately" control ( or the remote key fob) uses the dashboard fans & the dashboard outlets, its nothing to do with the parking heater that uses the pillar vent.

Just be careful as I don't think it's been fully established whether it uses the starter battery or the leisure battery.

Also if you don't change it back from ventilate to heat, next time you use the remote, whatever you left it on is what will be turned on.

Ah - My sisters was stuck on the ventilate and it was blowing cold air from the pillar and continued to do so until I changed it to heat for her. I'll check again tomorrow. Never used ventilate myself. I guess from your explanation it does not use the rear vents then.

My assumption here is that this would use the starter battery then, vs the leisures as first, it's in front of the seats and second, it uses a timer, likely to protect the starter battery.

66tim99 · Aug 8, 2023

CallsignCalifornia said:
Hi Tim,

The max time you can have it on is 120 mins, which is a shame because it would be so useful to have on all night, it cools the van down brilliantly!

Yes a real shame. It’s understandable if it’s going to drain your starter battery, but if you’re plugged in…

CallsignCalifornia · Aug 8, 2023

andyinluton said:
The Ventilate function, turned on via the "heat immediately" control ( or the remote key fob) uses the dashboard fans & the dashboard outlets, its nothing to do with the parking heater that uses the pillar vent.

Just be careful as I don't think it's been fully established whether it uses the starter battery or the leisure battery.

Also if you don't change it back from ventilate to heat, next time you use the remote, whatever you left it on is what will be turned on.

Thanks for your reply,

I'm aware the pillar vents are for the diesel heater only and not the heat immediately function in ventilate mode (although if you were using heat immediately in the heating mode it would!) - my query relates to the vents in the roof section to the left and right of the rear bench. I can't understand why, when ventilating, air does not come out of these vents as well as the front ones!

andyinluton · Aug 8, 2023

CallsignCalifornia said:
Thanks for your reply,

I'm aware the pillar vents are for the diesel heater only and not the heat immediately function in ventilate mode (although if you were using heat immediately in the heating mode it would!) - my query relates to the vents in the roof section to the left and right of the rear bench. I can't understand why, when ventilating, air does not come out of these vents as well as the front ones!

The rear vents are a completely independent system to the dashboard. It has its own condenser, fans etc all located round the rear wheel arch behind the bench.
The rear system only recirculates van air, its intake is in the boot area, so even if you could turn it on all it would do is act like an inefficient fan, as against the front system actually bringing in fresh external air.

CallsignCalifornia · Aug 8, 2023

andyinluton said:
The rear vents are a completely independent system to the dashboard. It has its own condenser, fans etc all located round the rear wheel arch behind the bench.
The rear system only recirculates van air, its intake is in the boot area, so even if you could turn it on all it would do is act like an inefficient fan, as against the front system actually bringing in fresh external air.

Great. Thanks Andy!