Auto HVAC always = A/C

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IL-LS

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When I start my car and the HVAC is in "auto" it ALWAYS switches the A/C on regardless of the temp outside. Is this normal?
 
my car does it... my gf noticed it yesterday..... question when you turn off your ac does it sound like your vents are closing.. mine is getting really loud..anyway to limit that noise? it does it when i turn them on/off
 
IL-LS said:
When I start my car and the HVAC is in "auto" it ALWAYS switches the A/C on regardless of the temp outside. Is this normal?
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Yes it is. It will always show the A/C on regardless of the temperature outside.
 
Actually under a certain outside ambient temperature it will turn off. The HVAC systems computer is using the compressor to dry the incoming air to make it more comfortable inside the vehicle. Once the incoming air reaches a temperature at which it cannot physically hold enough water molecules it will kill the compressor...something like 28 degrees farenheit. This system is designed to lessen the humidity in the cabin. This is all based on the fact that the less humidity there is in the air the more water can evaporate from our bodies thereby making us feel the effects of the HVAC systems efforts more efficiently. At least this is my understanding. Not to worry though...AC compressors have come a long way in the past few years. Federal regulations on coolant usage have forced the manufaturers to come up with more reliable systems that can operate at a constant rate with little effect on efficiency over time.
 
FreeFaller said:
Actually under a certain outside ambient temperature it will turn off. The HVAC systems computer is using the compressor to dry the incoming air to make it more comfortable inside the vehicle. Once the incoming air reaches a temperature at which it cannot physically hold enough water molecules it will kill the compressor...something like 28 degrees farenheit. This system is designed to lessen the humidity in the cabin. This is all based on the fact that the less humidity there is in the air the more water can evaporate from our bodies thereby making us feel the effects of the HVAC systems efforts more efficiently. At least this is my understanding. Not to worry though...AC compressors have come a long way in the past few years. Federal regulations on coolant usage have forced the manufaturers to come up with more reliable systems that can operate at a constant rate with little effect on efficiency over time.
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You are correct that the compressor will turn off but the light won't. I've experimented with mine in extreme cold and the A/C light will never turn off at least in my car anyway.
 
you can try running the diagnostic utility to see if any codes come up.

With the key on engine off, press auto and the floor position button at the same time, release them and press off within 2 seconds.

Also, dont get worried about the noises after the scan. I believe it is just recalibrating the vent doors or something.
 
GrayGhost1 said:
You are correct that the compressor will turn off but the light won't. I've experimented with mine in extreme cold and the A/C light will never turn off at least in my car anyway.
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Hmm...I could have sworn mine has turned off. Maybe that's something they had changed between 01 and 02...or maybe I'm on crack.
 
You can turn the AC off by pressing the AC button when it's on. I also think ours has turned off by itself a few times.
 
For my 'o2, if you manually turn off the A/C by pushing the button and selecting another option such as upper vents or vents for your feet, then when you restart the car the settings will be the same as you left them. If you turn everything off by pressing the off button, then if you restart your car the A/C button will automatically light up. Thats how it is in my car.
 
pour me another one said:
For my 'o2, if you manually turn off the A/C by pushing the button and selecting another option such as upper vents or vents for your feet, then when you restart the car the settings will be the same as you left them. If you turn everything off by pressing the off button, then if you restart your car the A/C button will automatically light up. Thats how it is in my car.
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I dont "THINK" mine does it that way, but ill try :)

I guess it does not matter if the AC button is on considering that does not mean the ac compressor is runing..
 
I have the same issue with my 2004 LSV8. At first the thing kicks in and totally fogs the windshield, but it goes away within a minute once the moisture gets purged from the system. I have always heard that you should run your AC regularly to get the best life from it, and to do this during the winter, run the AC with your defrost vents and the temperature on hot. For the same reason stated above in the post by freefaller; it dries the air, and therefore works to defrost better. It still bugs me though, I kinda wish they just had the regular old knobs for heat and cool...
ZB
 
zeebee said:
I have the same issue with my 2004 LSV8. At first the thing kicks in and totally fogs the windshield, but it goes away within a minute once the moisture gets purged from the system. I have always heard that you should run your AC regularly to get the best life from it, and to do this during the winter, run the AC with your defrost vents and the temperature on hot. For the same reason stated above in the post by freefaller; it dries the air, and therefore works to defrost better. It still bugs me though, I kinda wish they just had the regular old knobs for heat and cool...
ZB
Click to expand...

You're right. The AC condenser should run at least 10 minutes a week so the seals last longer.
 
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