C1 Ventilation

[DarthMuppet]

Hello everyone, my son has a 2016 C1 Puretech Flair (1.2), and I am curious about the ventilation system. I have had 17 cars in my 38 driving years, plus more hire cars than I can remember, but I have never driven one where, when you turn off the air recycling, there is no airflow into the vehicle whilst you are moving. I have none at all. The controls feel right, I can hear and feel the control valves move, and with the bonnet up and the fan running, I can hear changes to the fan / air sound outside when you move the recycling lever between positions.

Could someone clarify what should be happening please? I was expecting air to flow whilst driving, but I have nothing.

Also I have a faulty front seat passenger detection switch. The alert used to be silenced when I fastened the seatbelt, but recently it sounds continuously even with it fastened. I have had to disconnect the 2-pin connector to stop the noise - can I just leave it disconnected, or are there airbag implications by doing that? i guess it will always think the seat is empty.

TIA

DM

[PaulC5]

Do you get air flow with the fan on ? Without the fan on and with the air set to outside the flow will not be much but best to check with the central vents full open.
Check the pollen filter is not blocked and in any case it should be replaced at the annual service. You can also check any vents at the bottom of the windscreen are not blocked with leaves if this is the air entry.

[DarthMuppet]

Yes, airflow with the fans on, and coincidentally I did just replace the pollen filter last week, previous one looked like it had been partially eaten….not sure it had ever been changed.

I think the inlet is under the should at the base of the windscreen, can’t get the wiper arm off currently so I can’t look underneath it. Hopefully the penetrating oil has worked and I can have another try at some point . There are a few leaves but I won’t know for sure until I can remove the wiper

Thanks

[PaulC5]

If you have decent air flow with the fan on I would think there is likely to be nothing wrong. On our cars without the fan on the air flow when moving is not much.

[CitroJim]

In my experience, very few modern cars flow a lot of air with the blower stopped. I agree with Paul it's likely all good in your case...

I had a Series 1 C1 and recall that was similar... Only on my AX do I rarely need the blower to be switched on; the airflow mostly being quite adequate...

The difference is that it has a short, straight intake and distribution. Modern cars tend to be a bit torturous with ducts full of bends and constrictions...