Air Conditioning Settings

[alaskaman]

When I posted the pic of my air conditioning a couple people pointed out that my setting at 75 was kinda high. So I was wondering if my temp set is accurate as that same thing occurred to me. After I get going I usually set it around 78 as anything below that is to cold but the setting of 78 is clearly warmer than it feels. If I put it to 65 it's like the arctic. Anyone else have this in their 4th Gen?

 

[CJ3Flyr]

What I notice on mine is that when the sun is shining through the windshield I set a higher temp than if it's cloudy (or night). I think my set temp vs 'real' temp is close unless there's sun on the dash sensor. When the sun is on the dash the interior gets colder than set temp as if the sun compensator over-compensates.

:cheers:

 

[josh220]

I've got limo tint so the sun beating down on me isn't a factor at all. I still keep it at 65 or "LO" unless I am on a really long trip and decide to turn it up a little, but even then I have never gone over 70. Low 70's is room temperature to me, so to me, using the AC to blow "average" air in my face seems pointless. But everyone has their own comfort settings.

 

[pickerdd]

Just wondering if you have pulled off the lower part of the dash below the steering wheel. If so, maybe the temp sensor came loose. It sits a little below the starter switch. Just a thought because if it did then the auto setting for your AC won't work correctly.

 

[simple]

Want to know if anyone else experiences this. When the outside temp is higher than 65, then my 65-68 setting are cool...I would not say 'freezing'. When it is below that temp my 68, is las vegas in the summers, and 65 is room temp. I checked my refirgerant levels, and they are pretty normal. Do you think this could have anything to do with the AC relay which I heard is bad?

 

[Neversummer]

When I posted the pic of my air conditioning a couple people pointed out that my setting at 75 was kinda high. So I was wondering if my temp set is accurate as that same thing occurred to me. After I get going I usually set it around 78 as anything below that is to cold but the setting of 78 is clearly warmer than it feels. If I put it to 65 it's like the arctic. Anyone else have this in their 4th Gen?

alaskaman,

I had noticed that in your previous thread also.

All I know is that on mine if the temp is set at 75 then the air coming out is pretty damn warm! If it hits 78 I pass out.

65 is cold no doubt. I have mine usually set at 68 but I tend to like things cooler. It all comes down to personal preference I guess.

But with that said, with an outside temp of 105 and your climate set at 75, and with you still feeling comfortable at those settings, maybe you should have the dealer check it out just in case your climate control is off and it is pumping out cooler air than you expect?

Maybe you just like things toasty, but with a name like alaskaman I would assume you are familiar with the cold!

 

[webe363]

my A/C sucks to. contemplated taking it to the dealer back when i bought it, but they wouldnt have done anything. it gets cold when i set the temp low, but the temps and cooling dont seem to match my 9 year old solara with auto A/C.

 

[r32]

I have to keep mine on LOW 24/7. Anything else and it's just not cool enough.

 

[gmgarman]

I am glad I read this thread! I noticed with my 08 S.E, I can never find a comfortable setting. Its either ice cold or blistering heat and I thought I was loosing my mind! I miss having the old spin temperature dial I use in my crown vic at work!

 

[r32]

I am glad I read this thread! I noticed with my 08 S.E, I can never find a comfortable setting. Its either ice cold or blistering heat and I thought I was loosing my mind! I miss having the old spin temperature dial I use in my crown vic at work!

I agree. I think the funky push button controls for the 4Runner Air Conditioning is the only place the designers went wrong.

 

[majmattmason]

I've been thinking on taking mine in for a check of the A/C also. Noticed the same issue when I bought it two weeks ago. It definitely kicks off when at a stoplight and the rpm's are low. It's too much of a cold/hot cycle for the mild temperatures we're having right now and I'm concerned that when summer comes it will be intolerable. Any suggestions are welcome as this is not the Toyota "snowblower" I'm used to from previous vehicles I've owned.

 

[alaskaman]

well I did a little checking and when I am in the city and the outside temp is hot I set it about 69 to 72 and that is cold. on the open road If I set it at lo or 65 I will have brain freeze and so I move it up until it is cool. on very hot days that would appear to be 75 and the air coming out is very cool at least enough to cool the cabin. but I do wonder about it and why it says 75 when the air coming out is clearly colder than that. I would take it in but now I am kinda used to it (and it works). If they try to "fix it" gosh only knows what they could screw up...........

 

[Routty]

In my experience, the thing works exactly like a thermostat in a house. It blows cold or hot to achieve the inside temperature you desire. If it is 102 outside and you put it to 75 (or even 80 for that matter) it is going to blow cold air. If it is 25 outside and you put it to 65 it is going to blow warm air. It is just blowing cold or hot depending on outside temperature to acheive the inside temperature you set. I run in auto mode all the time as it seems to do a good job in my opinion. I especially like it in the winter when it slowly blows warm air as the engine temp increases. I have been in much more expensive automobiles that will just blast cold air at you in the winter not knowing that the engine is cold. The 4runner doesn't do this which I think is great.

All that said, what temp air it spits out during manual mode is a mystery to me. I really think it was designed to just run in auto all the time.

 

[tonybaloney]

i'm not sure if my understanding is correct but there are two modes for the ac.

- with auto on, the ac works like a house ac which controls the car temp at desired temp. if you put it at 70, the ac will blow hot air if it's <70 in the car and cold air if it's >70 in the car.

- with auto off, the ac works like the traditional car ac (without climate control). changing the temp between 60-90 directly affects the temp of the air coming out. it's like changing those blue/red spectrum knob.

does that make sense?

 

[Uneek]

It was mentioned in another thread, in auto, unsure about manual mode, the temperature of the air coming out of the vents is not what's displayed. Rather the displayed temperature is the overall temperature the climate control system is trying to acheive for the entire cabin.

IMO, the system is decent, but I still find myself fiddling with it too much to have a comfortable setting unless it's blazing hot. As an example in the winter when temps are between high 20s to low 40s, I have to tweak the temp between 70-74 when the outside temps drop 10 degrees. Usually on the freeway, it'll be about say 40, when I get off the freeway and on the streets, it'll get to say 30, I have to readjust the interior temp.

 

[OneEyedHito]

and.......

I agree. I think the funky push button controls for the 4Runner Air Conditioning is the only place the designers went wrong.

I agree, but I would have to add THE POS CUPHOLDERS IN FRONT to that list........

Back on topic though I have found that I can keep my Auto setting on "69" (serious not be a smart *ss) if the outside temp is in the 70's, even after sitting in the sun (80-90's) and I am good to go......On the highway I even have to hit the SMALL DOT some times to lower the fan.....Of course I haven't been through one of our 100% Humidity 90 degree July days here in Cinci yet, so I will get back with you after that.

Cheers

 

[Munodi]

Climate Control buttons

I agree. I think the funky push button controls for the 4Runner Air Conditioning is the only place the designers went wrong.

When I'm wearing sunglasses, I can't tell what the settings are. My '94 Camry manual controls were much easier to use.

 

[drmorbius]

Just wondering if you have pulled off the lower part of the dash below the steering wheel. If so, maybe the temp sensor came loose. It sits a little below the starter switch. Just a thought because if it did then the auto setting for your AC won't work correctly.

Been looking for a place to mention this. When I had my dash apart recently I had a chance to really look at that sensor below the ignition switch. Apparently cabin air is sucked into this opening and the temperature is checked by a thermistor just inside the opening. I found that the end of the hose was choked with dust and the sensor was completely covered. I used contact cleaner to clean the sensor after vacuuming out the hose and it made a large change in the way my AC works. If the cabin is hot from sitting in the sun it now gets really cold immediately when using the auto setting. Before it would put out lukewarm air and slowly get cooler.

 

[talonjade]

Been looking for a place to mention this. When I had my dash apart recently I had a chance to really look at that sensor below the ignition switch. Apparently cabin air is sucked into this opening and the temperature is checked by a thermistor just inside the opening. I found that the end of the hose was choked with dust and the sensor was completely covered. I used contact cleaner to clean the sensor after vacuuming out the hose and it made a large change in the way my AC works. If the cabin is hot from sitting in the sun it now gets really cold immediately when using the auto setting. Before it would put out lukewarm air and slowly get cooler.

I think I shall verify this tonight! if anyone else see's similar results please post a reply, FOR SCIENCE!!!!
:zoom::zoom::zoom::zoom::zoom:

 

[futbolking]

Interested in results.