Control Components: Overview: Notes

The climate control system incorporates the heating, ventilation and A/C systems. There are 2 main types of climate control system available;

a single zone manual system
a dual zone automatic system.

The climate control functions for both systems are controlled by the ATC module. The ATC module is mounted in the center console and contains both the system electronic software and user controls.

The ATC module works in conjunction with a number of other vehicle control modules, including the Engine Control Module (ECM), which controls a number of climate control sub-systems on receipt of requests from the ATC module.

The single zone climate control system features manual control for air temperature, air distribution and air source, although a small amount of automatic control does exist in the ATC software. In response to system inputs, the ATC module controls the operation of 3 stepper motors mounted on the heater assembly. The stepper motors then adjust the position of the air temperature, air distribution and air source flaps accordingly.

The dual zone climate control system features automatic control of air temperature, air distribution and blower motor speed. The ATC module is also able to control individual temperature requests for both the driver and passenger side of the cabin.

NOTE: The ATC module can only maintain a maximum temperature difference between the 2 sides of the cabin of up to approximately 3°C (4°F). This is due to the movement and mix of air within the cabin.

The dual zone climate control system features 2 additional sensors; a cabin temperature sensor and a sunload sensor. The cabin temperature sensor provides a temperature feedback to enable the ATC module software maintain a constant cabin temperature. The sunload sensor provides a reading of solar loading on the vehicle occupants and enables the ATC module to adjust the output from the climate control system accordingly.

Higher specification versions of the dual zone climate control system are also available. These systems feature 2 more additional sensors; a pollution sensor and a cabin humidity sensor.

The pollution sensor detects pollutants entering the cabin, allowing the ATC module to react by changing the position of the air intake flap. The cabin humidity sensor calculates the probability of misting on the windshield. The ATC module monitors the signal from the cabin humidity sensor and adjusts blower speed, air distribution and A/C compressor displacement accordingly.