Auto Climate Control for Dummies Like ME

[mav75]

OK, can someone please explain the Automatic function of the climate control to me? This is the first vehicle I owned with any kind of auto climate control.

I know this has been discussed in other threads, and I've read them, but I haven't found quite the answer I'm looking for. So here goes:

I've gotten far enough to figure out that enabling the Auto function and selecting a temperature, the system controls fan speeds and fresh/recirc settings on its own to provide a constant temperature.

I also know that by selecting a different fan speed, the Auto setting is deactivated. But here's my question: If I do that and leave the temp setting at 70, does the system blow out air that will keep the cabin at 70 while letting me control the fan speed?

Sorry for the stupid question, but enquiring minds want to know

Thanks,

Mav

 

[Iowa4Runner]

OK, can someone please explain the Automatic function of the climate control to me? This is the first vehicle I owned with any kind of auto climate control.

I know this has been discussed in other threads, and I've read them, but I haven't found quite the answer I'm looking for. So here goes:

I've gotten far enough to figure out that enabling the Auto function and selecting a temperature, the system controls fan speeds and fresh/recirc settings on its own to provide a constant temperature.

I also know that by selecting a different fan speed, the Auto setting is deactivated. But here's my question: If I do that and leave the temp setting at 70, does the system blow out air that will keep the cabin at 70 while letting me control the fan speed?

Sorry for the stupid question, but enquiring minds want to know

Thanks,

Mav

It's not a dumb question and yes, in non-auto mode you can adjust the fan speed while the temp setting tells the HVAC computer what temperature to maintain the cabin. On my '04 there's a cabin temp sensor just below the ignition key (look for a mini grate thingie).

In fact, there's no way to dumb the system down further and make it act like the manual controls of the old days. No matter what you do, the temp setting will never directly control the temp of the air coming out of the vents. The computer will always vary the output temp to maintain the cabin temp at setpoint. Some people like this, but I hate it...
:soapbox:

 

[mav75]

Hey, thanks for your help. It seems like, at best, the HVAC system is semi automatic. Not to mention its annoying inclination to decide when and when not to allow fresh air to come in from the outside. Still, I haven't had any real annoying experiences with it. It seems like it works pretty well. A lot better than an '03 Tacoma my wife and I had.

 

[tcpoob]

my 05 V6 SR5 4wd has similar auto temp hvac system. what i dont get is why my a/c is on at least 90% of the time in auto mode. i can understand in a hot summer day, the computer turns on the a/c to cool the cabin and in a humid day, to remove moisture. but, it just seems most of the time the a/c (light) is on in auto mode.

anyone know what's going on? doesnt this consume gas un-necessarily? it's getting rather cold in Bos area lately and the a/c is still on most of the time. i usually just toggle it off which doesnt seem to disable the auto temp function.

 

[Mark86]

To start, everytime you press the auto button, the A/C compressor turns on. That is the way this system works and I don't like it either. If you turn off the A/C compressor, you will not disable the auto mode. If you adjust the air flow direction, the system will be in semi-automatic mode. Your fan speed will still be controlled automatically but the air flow direction will stay on your last selection. To put the system back on auto mode, just press the auto button. If you want to use the system in full manual mode, just set the temperature to COLD or HOT and control the fan speed + air direction by yourself. If you leave the system on auto with these settings, the fan will always blow at the highest speed. As for the recirculate, that is controlled by the outside temperature. I have noticed when the temperature is over 75 degrees, the recirculate will automatically turn on. That is only used in the very hot weather to cool the cabin down quicker. The recirculate is ALWAYS automatically controlled. If you don't want it on in the hot weather, you will have to manually turn it off each time you start your truck.

 

[Iowa4Runner]

As for the recirculate, that is controlled by the outside temperature. I have noticed when the temperature is over 75 degrees, the recirculate will automatically turn on.

On my '04 in manual mode, recirc will switch on not based on outside temp, but on the temp setpoint. It seems to ignore outside temp. The other day it was sunny and 50 degrees outside, I bumped the temp setpoint from 70 to "lo" and the recirc mode came on. So instead of using 50 degree air for cooling, it gave me recirculated warm air. That's just plain dumb...

 

[Mark86]

On my '04 in manual mode, recirc will switch on not based on outside temp, but on the temp setpoint. It seems to ignore outside temp. The other day it was sunny and 50 degrees outside, I bumped the temp setpoint from 70 to "lo" and the recirc mode came on. So instead of using 50 degree air for cooling, it gave me recirculated warm air. That's just plain dumb...

My recirculate always stays on when the temp is on lo as well. The reason I said that the system is based on the outside temp is because when I pulled my truck out of the garage once, the outside temperature read 100 degrees on the screen. When the outside temperature went down to around 75 degrees, the recirculate switched off automatically. I had the temperature set on 72 degrees the entire time.

 

[cdoyle]

I've said it before in other posts, but this HVAC system is my biggest complaint of the Runner. On these colder days, it seems I'm always fighting with the system.

I would like it to just blow out the temp that is displayed on the display. Instead of always adjusting for the cabin temp.

I like the air to blow out the upper vents, and the temp is always too HOT or too COLD. No matter what I do, I can't keep it constant. I think I finally got it, and about 10 minutes later, it will be blowing out cold air. So I boost it 1 degree and ahhh there finally. Then 10 minutes later HOT.
If I just leave it alone, it's up and down up and down.

so annoying

 

[Iowa4Runner]

My recirculate always stays on when the temp is on lo as well. The reason I said that the system is based on the outside temp is because when I pulled my truck out of the garage once, the outside temperature read 100 degrees on the screen. When the outside temperature went down to around 75 degrees, the recirculate switched off automatically. I had the temperature set on 72 degrees the entire time.

That's interesting, I've never noticed if mine does that.

 

[Northof49]

I love the system.....when it's cold out, I set it to floor + defrost, turn off the air, turn off the recirc, and that's it. I never change it from 21 degrees, or whatever you want....so I don't even screw with that.

Most people that have problems with it are just using it wrong.....because it will do anything you want, and anything other auto-climate control systems can do.