Climate control off, hot air coming from engine bay

[TheHeggi]

So basically like it says. If I have the climate control turned "off", after a while I can feel the heat coming in the cabin from the engine bay, by my legs. It actually builds up and gets pretty damn hot in there, even with the windows down. I know it's probably a simple fix, but it's annoying and I can't figure out how to drive with the windows down and not have to run the a/c. Drives a man crazy I tell ya....so what's the fix peoples?

[jdubbs119]

I can't figure out how to drive with the windows down

ill help you, you use a finger or two and push the window button down, wait till they go down, then apply foot to brake if automatic and put into drive, and their you are

[TheHeggi]

So I waited up for this? A cheesy edit of my text, a 3rd grade how-to, and an incorrect useage of "their"?! Really?! Seriously?! Thanks.

Unfortunately, I have a 6 spd, so if you can modify the directions accordingly, I'd really appreciate it. Oh and try to hurry, the car's running...and it's getting hot

[Tiesto]

So I waited up for this? A cheesy edit of my text, a 3rd grade how-to, and an incorrect useage of "their"?! Really?! Seriously?! Thanks.

Unfortunately, I have a 6 spd, so if you can modify the directions accordingly, I'd really appreciate it. Oh and try to hurry, the car's running...and it's getting hot

LOL

I agree I sometimes get a little hot around my legs on a hot sunny day with the windows down. All I know is my replacement for the A4 MUST have ventilated seats.

[minameismud]

i notice it even when i'm driving with the windows down. it seems to come from just below the steering column.

[rayiish]

I just noticed this a couple of days ago. It got really hot and I thought my engine was overheating or something.

[CoreyRandmetz]

sounds dumb, but do you have the climate control set to hot air before you turn it off? i find that if you set it to hot before u turn it off hot air disburses from the vents and if its cold then cold air comes threw the vents.

[TheHeggi]

sounds dumb, but do you have the climate control set to hot air before you turn it off? i find that if you set it to hot before u turn it off hot air disburses from the vents and if its cold then cold air comes threw the vents.

Nah man, it's triple digits daily out here right now, I wouldn't dare test the heat I have it set at a synced 70. It's mostly noticeable at night though. Maybe because it matches the heat during the day so I can't really feel it...so now we've got multiple members confirming but no fix? What the deuce? There's gotta be an obvious fix

[eMacPaul]

Same here... if the top's down, I have the A/C off, and I get hot air over my feet. I know when A/C is on you can control which vents (top, middle, bottom) it comes though, so it seems it should be possible to shut off the lower ones regardless.

[B7A4Sport]

One thing I didn't realize at first (only had my A4 for a handful of months) is the climate control does not blow air according to the temp.setting, it actually adjusts to the outside temp. If it's 100 out, and you have it set to 75, it will blow cold. If it's 68 out and you set it to 75, it will blow hot. It's pretty obvious, I know, but sometimes cars use temp. numbers that people associate w/ cold as opposed to actually trying to match the interior temperature to the number setting.

Given you set it to 70 and its triple-digits out, I doubt this is a problem, but perhaps your external thermometer is having a problem?? Maybe it got busted and thinks its cold out....heat can mess with pretty much anything electronic.

[Slo.Mo.Shun.]

The hot air coming from the engine bay is normal, all B7s do it.

[Zonacat]

Nah man, it's triple digits daily out here right now, I wouldn't dare test the heat I have it set at a synced 70. It's mostly noticeable at night though. Maybe because it matches the heat during the day so I can't really feel it...so now we've got multiple members confirming but no fix? What the deuce? There's gotta be an obvious fix

Hmmm, triple digits? Why not just run your A/C? Use it or lose it.

I run my A/C nearly 100% of the time.

My fix, run the AC.

[airbornerifleman]

I noticed the same thing in my car. It seems to me that the A4s don’t have a "flow through" ventilation system. What I mean by flow through is like what I had on my Jetta MKV, you turn your fan to off and change you temp setting to hot/cold (out side air not a/c) and drive at a good rate of speed, air will actually come through the main vents and if you crack one of your windows you feel even more air flow. In the winter I hardly used the blower fan. I just turned the temp knob to hot and the air in front of the car came through the vents heated. I’m guessing that the heat we are feeling by our legs is the heat coming from the engine through firewall.

[TheHeggi]

Hmmm, triple digits? Why not just run your A/C? Use it or lose it.

I run my A/C nearly 100% of the time.

My fix, run the AC.

Haha, if only it were that simple. Trust me, I use the A/C during the day, but I like to cruise with the windows down at night or whenever its below 90 at least. I love the feeling of the open air, it doesn't feel like you're in your own quiet, secluded world. I hate that feeling. I usually have the windows down from light sprinkle to below 90 degrees.

So its common and it doesn't bug anyone else? Seems kinda crazy to me. It's not just a little hot air, it gets pretty warm down there. I know what recirculation thing you're talking about. In my last car if the lever was in outside air-in position, air would creep in even with the system off, but if you switched it to only inner recirc, it would cut that off. We don't seem to have that option...maybe they just figure old people drive these things and use the climate control 24/7, kinda like why we have a tape deck in a car produced after 1995 I'm bustin out the Top Gun soundtrack this weekend with the windows down, everybody's gonna know I'm on the highway to the danger zone!

[akasch]

why don't you just run the a/c while the windows are down? Its not that big of deal..

[airbornerifleman]

why don't you just run the a/c while the windows are down? Its not that big of deal..

thats out of it

[Kid Red]

The hot air coming from the engine bay is normal, all B7s do it.

All my cars did it. The vents are open so air will get in and come out the bottom. I don't think the issue is unique to Audi, I think it's an indicator that the vent system does not really open or close, it just blows air of different temps maybe?

[TheHeggi]

There's been a way to block it off in all of my cars, you just have to close the ventilation system from outside air, but those were all manual controls...I thought there would be a simple fix, but I guess I'll really dig into it myself and figure out a way, there has to be a way! If I find a way, I'll be sure to post it.

As for running the A/C with the windows down, I tried that and it feels weird getting differentiating whirls of cold and warm air. Plus my mommy said I can get sick that way... Not to mention, the A/C eats up some extra gas and power unless WOT/plaid speed is engaged, and clutch engagement off idle is a little trickier (bog or overreving are both easy to accomplish).

[Alkemix]

You all forget that we are running turbocharged cars. I'm sure we've all seen a youtube video of some yeehaw rednecks turning their trubo inlet into a jet or running it red hot. Our turbos get pretty close to red hot and create a LOT of heat. Heatsoak being a major performance issue in our cars. I too feel that same heat radiating from my leg room area... first thing i thought of was the turbo. Am i wrong?

[TheHeggi]

You all forget that we are running turbocharged cars. I'm sure we've all seen a youtube video of some yeehaw rednecks turning their trubo inlet into a jet or running it red hot. Our turbos get pretty close to red hot and create a LOT of heat. Heatsoak being a major performance issue in our cars. I too feel that same heat radiating from my leg room area... first thing i thought of was the turbo. Am i wrong?

I think you are. If that was the case, by your logic, every turbo car would build up excessive heat in the cabin. Frequent rides in my friend's WRX have convinced me otherwise. I think it's the lower ventilation system not closing entirely since no air/heat is felt through the top vents and hope it's not just improper/ill designed insulation from the bay to the cabin..

[Alkemix]

Am i wrong? - me

I think you are. -you

Alright f**k*r, Lets fight!

Jk... Don't mind me... I'm hopelessly vulgar and sarcastic. You're probably right though because the open window in everybody's scenario def. creates the necessary drop in cabin pressure for your theory. You're my hero you big sexy. Anyways, I kinda like the heat. When i wear flip flops, the warm air caresses the hairs on my feet. Anybody else get that too?

[a4dc89]

I think this is normal for any car..

[TheHeggi]

Alright f**k*r, Lets fight!

Jk... Don't mind me... I'm hopelessly vulgar and sarcastic. You're probably right though because the open window in everybody's scenario def. creates the necessary drop in cabin pressure for your theory. You're my hero you big sexy. Anyways, I kinda like the heat. When i wear flip flops, the warm air caresses the hairs on my feet. Anybody else get that too?

LOL, I wouldn't mind the heat either, but when it's ~85 degress at night, I'm trying to cruise with the windows down to get some fresh air because at that point it doesn't feel too bad. But that extra air turns the heat up a notch, and it gets a little clammy = no bueno. Then I must go faster to bring in cooler air, it's a viciuos cycle...so when I get pulled over for 100 in a 35, I'll just say "sorry occifer, it's HOT in here!"

It's normal to an extent, but you should be able to shut the vents, thats the abnormal part. I'm sure I'll get used to it, or when winter comes around it'll be ok, but when I take my car in to Das Stealership for the damn regulator on the pass front window that sounds like it's grinding glass, I'll be sure to ask someone

[B7A4Sport]

I dunno what to say, other than I don't notice this heat you all speak of...it could just be my Arizona blood....did I get a special one?!?!

[aaronz]

I am in the same damn boat. Just noticed it today especially when driving back from the lake. 85 degrees outside and I was in shorts. My damn legs were sweating! I was told before this is normal but I don't see how it getting that hot can be normal! Just doesn't make sense at all. I even took a picture of what I thought was the issue and everyone that responded said that it is normal..... something is not right. Do a search for hot foot well and you can find my pictures.

[TheHeggi]

I am in the same damn boat. Just noticed it today especially when driving back from the lake. 85 degrees outside and I was in shorts. My damn legs were sweating! I was told before this is normal but I don't see how it getting that hot can be normal! Just doesn't make sense at all. I even took a picture of what I thought was the issue and everyone that responded said that it is normal..... something is not right. Do a search for hot foot well and you can find my pictures.

I'll have to check that out, thanks! I still need to take her in for the passenger front window regulator, so I'm gonna run it past them too.

[aaronz]

anything?