Understanding how the interior heating system works

[Janda2]

Do we not have a system to cool the car?

 

[siteguru]

Yes - the air conditioner (which is a heat exchanger rather than a heat pump). A heat pump is like A/C in reverse.

 

[Kithmo]

So basically in our MG cars we do have a heat pump set up to cool, like a fridge. A heat pump set up to provide heat is very efficient capable of producing more energy (heat) than it consumes. Cooling is the reverse, inefficient. Surely we just need the ability to run it in reverse mode, no need for another heat pump? (my ice maker can reverse as can air to air heat pumps). Am I misunderstanding?

That's what I was thinking, or is it more complicated than that ?

 

[Joningy]

That's interesting info re. the ER. But @Joningy's Trophy LR will almost certainly not have a heat pump - if it's a UK-spec car.

That's interesting info re. the ER. But @Joningy's Trophy LR will almost certainly not have a heat pump - if it's a UK-spec car.

I'm now certain as well @siteguru, I didn't bother to check, so I was obviously mis-sold by the sound of it, I was told it had a heat pump, word of mouth only I'm afraid, so nothing I can do now 17 months later.

 

[Janda2]

Yes - the air conditioner (which is a heat exchanger rather than a heat pump). A heat pump is like A/C in reverse.

OK as you say it is just that I call a heat exchanger a heat pump, whatever mechanism is used.
I see that the heat exchanger in the MG4 also cools the battery so reversing it would not generally be a good idea.

 

[fshuk1]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - my UK MG4 Trophy ER has a heat pump.

I don't know whether it has a PTC heater as well as the heat pump.

The type certificate says it was built September 2023, and I bought it new through an MG dealer last year.

After earlier comments on this thread, I removed the black plastic cover under the bonnet to take a closer look. All the visible components are those shown on pages 243-244 of the Service Repair Manual (aka Refit and Remove Manual), which are different from the parts of the non-heat pump a/c on pages 241-242.

I only found out that it has a heat pump when investigating whether to buy a third-party frunk. There are two types on the market, and I discovered that the ones for cars without a heat pump won't fit my car.

So, I have one of the earliest MG4 (Oct 2022). I have the same components as in your picture and in the service manual page 243. I also get hot air if I have A/C on or off.

I don't believe I have a heat pump. What does it all mean?