The Heating and Air Conditioning System

Not all automotive systems are involved in making the car run-some systems are designed simply to enhance passenger comfort. The heating and air conditioning system is an example of a passenger comfort system that the passengers can control. Almost all vehicles contain some sort of heating system, and many contain air conditioning systems as well. When a vehicle is operated in cold weather, its heating system uses some of the heat produced by the running engine to keep the passenger compartment warm. In hot weather, the air conditioning system is used to cool the inside temperature of the passenger compartment.

Although most systems allow the passengers to control the level of heating or cooling in the vehicle, some systems are equipped to maintain desired temperatures automatically. Some modern vehicles even contain systems that allow the driver and the passengers to choose different temperatures for their own seating areas on each side of the vehicle.