Hi,

I have a 2010 Mondeo. I was using google to look for ford forums/fora
and found some posts saying that the 2 L diesel that I have has a 600W
electric heater, so that when it is cold (like the last few days), it
will heat the cabin without having to wait for the engine to warm up.
I don't think this is documented anywhere. I would have thought the
salesmen could use this as a sales point?

It's not clear to me how and when the heater is activated. The posts
(if only I could remember the urls, sorry) suggested that the computer
switched the heater on depending on the outside temperature, possibly
the cabin temperature, and what was set on the climate control. I
wonder if it only switches on if the temperature is set to "HI"?

With the frost recently, I drove to work with he coolant temperature
gauge not having moved yet the car was lovely and warm , so it must be
working.

However, I also read that the model before mine did not have this
heater but had a coolant heater instead, using glow plugs to warm the
coolant.

I'm wondering why Ford changed their approach? Is it that the electric
heater is cheaper? It's often said car manufacturers go for the
cheapest option. Or is it that the cabin heater offered faster heat to
the occupants?

It seems to me that the advantage of a coolant heater is that it would
warm the engine too and that has to be a good thing. It seems a step
backwards that they have removed this.

It was nice being able to use the front heated windscreen but I notice
a line down the middle of it. Does this mean one element is broken or
is it that the windscreen has a left half and a right half, and this
strip is a no-mans-land between the two?

TIA

"Fred" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I have a 2010 Mondeo. I was using google to look for ford forums/fora
and found some posts saying that the 2 L diesel that I have has a 600W
electric heater, so that when it is cold (like the last few days), it
will heat the cabin without having to wait for the engine to warm up.
I don't think this is documented anywhere. I would have thought the
salesmen could use this as a sales point?

It's not clear to me how and when the heater is activated. The posts
(if only I could remember the urls, sorry) suggested that the computer
switched the heater on depending on the outside temperature, possibly
the cabin temperature, and what was set on the climate control. I
wonder if it only switches on if the temperature is set to "HI"?

With the frost recently, I drove to work with he coolant temperature
gauge not having moved yet the car was lovely and warm , so it must be
working.

However, I also read that the model before mine did not have this
heater but had a coolant heater instead, using glow plugs to warm the
coolant.

I'm wondering why Ford changed their approach? Is it that the electric
heater is cheaper? It's often said car manufacturers go for the
cheapest option. Or is it that the cabin heater offered faster heat to
the occupants?

It seems to me that the advantage of a coolant heater is that it would
warm the engine too and that has to be a good thing. It seems a step
backwards that they have removed this.

It was nice being able to use the front heated windscreen but I notice
a line down the middle of it. Does this mean one element is broken or
is it that the windscreen has a left half and a right half, and this
strip is a no-mans-land between the two?

TIA

I would think the electric heater kicks in until the coolant is up to
temperature, improvements in battery technology would be the reason they use
an aux heater now and not previously IMO.

The quickclear windscreen is in 2 parts so the slight gap in the middle is
normal.

MattF

Fred submitted this idea :
Hi,

I have a 2010 Mondeo. I was using google to look for ford forums/fora
and found some posts saying that the 2 L diesel that I have has a 600W
electric heater, so that when it is cold (like the last few days), it
will heat the cabin without having to wait for the engine to warm up.
I don't think this is documented anywhere. I would have thought the
salesmen could use this as a sales point?

If he pointed that out, the salesman would also have point out that the
reason it needs one is due to the extremely slow warmup of a diesel
engine :-)

It's not clear to me how and when the heater is activated. The posts
(if only I could remember the urls, sorry) suggested that the computer
switched the heater on depending on the outside temperature, possibly
the cabin temperature, and what was set on the climate control.

Probably turns on at below +10 to +5C.


However, I also read that the model before mine did not have this
heater but had a coolant heater instead, using glow plugs to warm the
coolant.

Heating the coolant first, would involve some long delays before you
got warm air, so air heating will be somewhat more effective.

It seems to me that the advantage of a coolant heater is that it would
warm the engine too and that has to be a good thing. It seems a step
backwards that they have removed this.

Some diesel cars were fitted with a Fuel Burning Heater, basically a
mini central heating boiler burning diesel to heat up the coolant. Mine
has one and very effective it is too. I can switch it on 10 minutes
before starting the engine and the car is already warm to get into.

At below +5C the FBH will fire up automatically anyway when you start
the engine, which will then provide some heat within a mile or so.


It was nice being able to use the front heated windscreen but I notice
a line down the middle of it. Does this mean one element is broken or
is it that the windscreen has a left half and a right half, and this
strip is a no-mans-land between the two?

They are split into two separate panels, passenger and drivers side.

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk