Xantia A/C Light on switch

acrowot · Post by **acrowot** » 21 Jun 2003, 21:41

My car is a xantia 1996 SX TD, when I switch on the A/C I find it very difficult to see the light on the switch during the day, it is OK at night time,is this normal?. Every other Xantia I have tried has the same very dim light on the A/C switch.
John

JohnD · Post by **JohnD** » 21 Jun 2003, 23:19

Your probably right! Mine is also difficult to see.

Alex S · Post by **Alex S** » 22 Jun 2003, 01:10

It is the same at all Xantias.Seems like design fault.

JoSawday · Post by **JoSawday** » 23 Jun 2003, 02:22

I'm sure mine was ok when new but now five years and 126,000 miles I have exactly the same problem.

Homer · Post by **Homer** » 23 Jun 2003, 03:21

My late '98 version is fine but I think they redesigned the dashboard with the exterior facelift (mines a facelifted version).

Richard Gallagher · Post by **Richard Gallagher** » 24 Jun 2003, 02:16

If you think the light on a Xantia is bad try a new Mondeo, it is literally the size of a pin-head and so dim that on even a cloudy day you can't see it!

JoSawday · Post by **JoSawday** » 25 Jun 2003, 02:30

I do have a 'workaround'. You drive for a few minutes, with temperature setting to minimum. If you do not feel a cool breeze, press the air con. Drive for a few more minutes. Either you feel a cool breeze and then know the air con is on or you don't and know the air con needs a service.

Actually we should be glad that the Xantia AirCon is quite good - many lesser models have quite a weedy air con. Mine began to be less effective last year but a well spent £80 service sorted this out and it's back to full icy output - even if the light isn't!

RichardH · Post by **RichardH** » 26 Jun 2003, 18:29

The heat from the bulb blackens the green plastic bulb holder inside the switch so reducing the light output.
I swapped the bulb holder in my aircon switch for the one in the rear window isolator switch or the volumetric sensor cutout switch, I can't remember which. Problem solved at least for a couple of years.
I have bought replacement wire-tailed 12volt bulbs for the illuminated switches from Maplins in the past.
Richard

JoSawday · Post by **JoSawday** » 27 Jun 2003, 00:34

RichardH - great tip - how do you get the covers off though (I know it must be easy but I don't want to break anything)?

RichardH · Post by **RichardH** » 27 Jun 2003, 05:19

It just flicks off and there's a white plastic diffuser underneath the cap, if you have the Hydractive switch on the centre console it is easy to remove the whole switch so you can have a good look at it.
Richard