I should have asked this when I first bought the car!
How does the ECON switch work? Is it for demisting?
If I touch the r/h. side, a red light comes on.
If I touch the l/h. side, it goes out.
If I touch the bottom of the switch,another red light comes on.
And before you ask, I have RTFB!  2013 Dynamic Santorini black
2011 XS Lago grey
2007 HLS Stornoway grey
sometimes towing an Elldis AVANTE 574.

The ECON switch turns off the Aircon but keeps the fan on

You need to put it on auto if you want Aircon

Dan Freelander 57 plate XS Blue Auto

The Econ switch attempts to keep the cabin temperature as set without using the aircon. If this doesn't happen the aircon will be used.

Hi the econ switch his simply the aircon on on/off switch
Econ means disengaging the aircon compressor to save fuel as the aircon unit increases fuel consumption
If econ light is lit air con is disabled
By pressing the econ switch again it will show Off this turns off aircon and fan motor
The auto button when pressed and illuminated gives the car auto control of fan and maintains the set temperature in the cabin and will regulate the fan speed itself until the desired temp is reached and overrides aircon and fan settings to achieve the auto set temp

Hope that clarifies for all - FL2 3.2 i6 - There is no Replacement for Displacement

If my wife ever sells my stuff for what I told her I paid for it, there will be some bargains out there!

BossBob, your first sentence is correct, I don't believe your second one is, ECON Mode effectively turns the aircon off:

"Air conditioning is automatically switched on and controlled whenever the system is not operating in ECON mode."

Both LED's out = Air Con On \ Climate Control On
Econ LED Lit = Air Con Off.
Off Led Lit = Climate Control Off 
Hung like Einstein, smart as a horse.

as above - FL2 3.2 i6 - There is no Replacement for Displacement

If my wife ever sells my stuff for what I told her I paid for it, there will be some bargains out there!

Thanks Chaps!  2013 Dynamic Santorini black
2011 XS Lago grey
2007 HLS Stornoway grey
sometimes towing an Elldis AVANTE 574.

Or leave the Aircon on, you lose about forty feet of travel every gallon but you won't ruin the aircon pump and seals as your using it, so it won't dry the seals out saving you about £600.

Or about a mile per gallon if you have a 3.2 i6 like me!  - FL2 3.2 i6 - There is no Replacement for Displacement

If my wife ever sells my stuff for what I told her I paid for it, there will be some bargains out there!

i just thought it was better to leave in auto

ad210358 wrote:

Or leave the Aircon on, you lose about forty feet of travel every gallon but you won't ruin the aircon pump and seals as your using it, so it won't dry the seals out saving you about £600.

Best advice  * GONE. GS TD4 Manual MY2013. Orkney Grey with privacy, cold and clearview packs, armrests (a must!) and a spoiler.
* 2011 4.4 TDV8 Full Fat. Amazing piece of kit.
* GONE.2012 RR Sport HSE SDV6 Orkney Grey. Rocket ship. 33mpg.
* Range Rover Classic '93 200Tdi Factory fit
* 1949 80" in family since 1975

Only problem with mine in auto mode is it blows your wig off when you get back in and the fans go to full to try and reach climate set  - FL2 3.2 i6 - There is no Replacement for Displacement

If my wife ever sells my stuff for what I told her I paid for it, there will be some bargains out there!

Thanks for your help chaps! What a complicated switch!  2013 Dynamic Santorini black
2011 XS Lago grey
2007 HLS Stornoway grey
sometimes towing an Elldis AVANTE 574.

so for full auto air con should both auto and econ lights be on or off?
hard to tell in this weather and too cold to look under the hood to see if compressor is activated

I have always left my air con on auto the economy light should be off only the two lights on the main demister dial should be on. One light under auto the other varies depending on blower speed. I always average around 30- 32 mpg with the air con on auto tried it switch on economy once and found I got around the same between 30- 32.4 mpg not much of a saving.

When your engine is running switch on just the auto mode if you then press economy you will hear a click as the air con clutch is disengaged the engine tone also slightly changes. Press auto again you will hear it click and hear a slightly higher engine tone as the air con clutch is engaged.