How to distinguish between the recirculation and fresh air modes with one button in the Magotan?
2 Answers
When the vehicle's air conditioning is turned on, pressing the recirculation button will illuminate the indicator light, indicating that the recirculation mode is activated. If the air conditioning is not turned on while the vehicle is in motion, and there is airflow from the vents, it means the fresh air mode is activated.
That button with a car icon on the Passat's AC controls is for the air circulation mode. I figured it out when driving my friend's car - when pressed and lit, it's recirculation mode (blocks outside air); when unlit, it automatically switches to fresh air mode. I use recirculation in traffic jams or tunnels to block exhaust fumes, but keep it on too long during highway drives and it gets stuffy, so I manually switch to fresh air. VW's smart design even lets the automatic AC toggle between modes based on temperature. If the light's not working, could be a contact issue, but first check if you accidentally activated eco mode - that thing really kills your range.