A/C Always on in "Auto" Mode
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Atlanta_man
New member
No, not for mine anyway. And you can turn off the A/C compressor easily by accident if you fool with the little pop out storage thingy under the climate controls.
Netrilix
New member
Mine does the same thing, and I haven't gotten very far looking for information on it. When I turn on my Auto climate control to any temperature, the A/C light comes on. I can turn it off without kicking out of Auto, but it'll come back on next time I move into Auto.
I've heard several solutions like:
-It's used to dry the heat
-It's just indicating that A/C will be used if needed
-It's actually turning the compressor on just in case and, in doing so, killing your MPG
I've yet to find a consensus on this, so I turn my A/C off every time I use Auto, or avoid using Auto entirely.
On a side note, my Auto function has actually been acting very strange lately. If the outside temperature is below 20, Auto mode will not do anything to my car until I've already warmed the car up using Manual. I can set the temp to 68 or 85, it doesn't make any difference. I put it in Auto, and my fan stays at 0. If I put it on Manual for a while, and then switch over to Auto, it operates normally.
I don't mean to thread-jack, but I figure they're both related to Auto climate control.
I've heard several solutions like:
-It's used to dry the heat
-It's just indicating that A/C will be used if needed
-It's actually turning the compressor on just in case and, in doing so, killing your MPG
I've yet to find a consensus on this, so I turn my A/C off every time I use Auto, or avoid using Auto entirely.
On a side note, my Auto function has actually been acting very strange lately. If the outside temperature is below 20, Auto mode will not do anything to my car until I've already warmed the car up using Manual. I can set the temp to 68 or 85, it doesn't make any difference. I put it in Auto, and my fan stays at 0. If I put it on Manual for a while, and then switch over to Auto, it operates normally.
I don't mean to thread-jack, but I figure they're both related to Auto climate control.
Netrilix said:
Mine waits till the engine starts to warm up and slowly increases the fan as the engine temp increases. Great feature since blowing cold air would not be good. Try it out, I bet that's what yours is doing. Once you see the temp needle begin to move I bet you see your fan start to work within a few moments.
Yes, it is normal for the A/C to show as being on (the light is on). However, the computer is smart enough to not actually run the system if it's too cold outside. Even when it's heating season, the A/C will dehumidify the air.
The Auto mode won't crank up the fan for heat until the engine has reached a certain temperature. Why blow a lot of cold air around?
The Auto mode won't crank up the fan for heat until the engine has reached a certain temperature. Why blow a lot of cold air around?
Netrilix
New member
The Auto mode not blowing fans until the engine is warm makes perfect sense, thanks!
On the other question, you said that sometimes it uses the A/C system to dry the air even if it's not cooling it. Would this mean the compressor is kicked in and hurting my gas mileage? (I'm not too familiar with climate control systems in general).
On the other question, you said that sometimes it uses the A/C system to dry the air even if it's not cooling it. Would this mean the compressor is kicked in and hurting my gas mileage? (I'm not too familiar with climate control systems in general).
I don't use Auto on any my vehicles for this reason. 99% of the time, in all newer vehicles, turning an HVAC system on Auto will engage the compressor, whether it is +100 or -25 outside. I think this is due to the fact that Auto also chooses which vents to blow the air through - and most times it blows out all the vents, including the defroster vents onto the windscreen and front side windows. So I assume that just like using the defroster settings (Defrost/Defrost & Feet) it kicks in the compressor to dry out the air.
So rather than hitting Auto, and then setting it like I want anyway: move the vents to just face/face & feet and having to turn the compressor off - I just turn it on manual, select the vents I want used, set the temp (mine's digital) and adjust the fan faster or slower based on the feel of the air in the truck. That way the compressor will not come on, and I may be able to actually salvage some MPG out of that V8 up front. I only want my compressor running when 1) I am actually running the A/C during the summer or 2) when I am trying to defrost the windscreen interior when it is cold out. Otherwise, IMHO only, it is just wasting fuel.
So rather than hitting Auto, and then setting it like I want anyway: move the vents to just face/face & feet and having to turn the compressor off - I just turn it on manual, select the vents I want used, set the temp (mine's digital) and adjust the fan faster or slower based on the feel of the air in the truck. That way the compressor will not come on, and I may be able to actually salvage some MPG out of that V8 up front. I only want my compressor running when 1) I am actually running the A/C during the summer or 2) when I am trying to defrost the windscreen interior when it is cold out. Otherwise, IMHO only, it is just wasting fuel.
i appreciate the confirmation and now i feel better!Mine does all of the above stated . Lately I've been running in auto mode , but with a/c turned off and I just adjust my temp. to where I want it. Personally I could do without the climate control , I feel it's not a big deal to adjust the a/c or heat as I need to (like the old fashioned way I guess) . sign of the times I guess......
With the auto an a/c on it may help to keep the window from fogging.
With the auto an a/c on it may help to keep the window from fogging.
