HVAC Controls

[Koz]

I felt I had to comment on the use of these controls over the course of a couple months. At first they LOOKED to be complicated to use, but after a short time I can honestly say that these controls are the best/simplest controls I've ever used (especially with dual zones). After using the controls themselves, I now really like the way you can just look at the digital display to instantly see what

 

[sharp4runr]

I do like the controls, but I do have my gripes.

The LEDS are hard to see so I'm not sure when things are on when I push the button.

Sometimes the logic is off and all of a sudden I'm getting blasted in the face with hot or cold air.

Oh yeah and that blasted hood scoop, don't even get me started on that :

 

[Koz]

I do like the controls, but I do have my gripes.

The LEDS are hard to see so I'm not sure when things are on when I push the button.

Sometimes the logic is off and all of a sudden I'm getting blasted in the face with hot or cold air.

Oh yeah and that blasted hood scoop, don't even get me started on that :

I look at the digital display to see what's on or I can look at the LEDs on the buttons. Both seem to be very clear and visible. I've never experienced the blast in the face. I find that after I found a comfortable temp setting (On auto), I don't have to adjust anything except when I need defrost. I find that once you get used to the Runner

 

[CVsGX470]

I look at the digital display to see what's on or I can look at the LEDs on the buttons. Both seem to be very clear and visible. I've never experienced the blast in the face. I find that after I found a comfortable temp setting (On auto), I don't have to adjust anything except when I need defrost. I find that once you get used to the Runner

 

[Iowa4Runner]

The HVAC controls have two very annoying design flaws. Even in "manual mode" there's no direct control of supply temp and the recirc mode self-engages at exactly the wrong time. The recirc problem blows me away (no pun intended). It's an outright screw-up by the people who wrote the control code.

 

[934runner]

I have had my 2004 4runner for over a year and I still don't know what the AUTO button on the HVAC controls does? I have played with it and looked at the manual it just seems to turn the air conditioner on. Even if it is 11 below outside. I don't get it. Then the system turns stuff on and off by itself. Like the air recirculater the guy above mentioned. Or if I put the system on defrost it goes full blast. That is the only thing I don't like about my 4runner.

 

[CVsGX470]

I have had my 2004 4runner for over a year and I still don't know what the AUTO button on the HVAC controls does? I have played with it and looked at the manual it just seems to turn the air conditioner on. Even if it is 11 below outside. I don't get it. Then the system turns stuff on and off by itself. Like the air recirculater the guy above mentioned. Or if I put the system on defrost it goes full blast. That is the only thing I don't like about my 4runner.

The trick is to push "Auto," and then push "A/C." in the winter. This will turn the heat on and if it warms up on you the AC won't kick on but rather the fan will blow outside air into the truck. For the summer just hit "Auto."

In both cases just adjust the temp and the system will do the rest.

CV

 

[Koz]

The HVAC controls have two very annoying design flaws. Even in "manual mode" there's no direct control of supply temp and the recirc mode self-engages at exactly the wrong time. The recirc problem blows me away (no pun intended). It's an outright screw-up by the people who wrote the control code.

Please explain what the two problems are, because I'm not sure what you are talking about.

The only problem I have is that it looks like you can only use inside air by pushing the button and then it times out/off. This could be a problem when it is really hot outside. It's easier/better to cool inside air that is at a lower temp then outside air at a much higher temp.


Koz

 

[toybox]

Even in "manual mode" there's no direct control of supply temp

That is wrong. The same temp control for the auto controls the temp in manual mode.

Put it in manual and turn the temp up to 82 degrees and see how hot your truck gets.

 

[Koz]

I have had my 2004 4runner for over a year and I still don't know what the AUTO button on the HVAC controls does? I have played with it and looked at the manual it just seems to turn the air conditioner on. Even if it is 11 below outside. I don't get it. Then the system turns stuff on and off by itself. Like the air recirculater the guy above mentioned. Or if I put the system on defrost it goes full blast. That is the only thing I don't like about my 4runner.

In auto, the system determines what settings will work best to maintain the set temp. In manual you can select the speed and which function, but the temp is still set by the digital setting. You will need the A/C on to defrost/defog in the winter.

Koz

 

[934runner]

SO let me get this straight. Say I set the temp to 75 degrees then hit auto. The system will automatically do whatever it has to do, to get the temp to stay at 75? If that is the case then that is kind of cool.

 

[CVsGX470]

SO let me get this straight. Say I set the temp to 75 degrees then hit auto. The system will automatically do whatever it has to do, to get the temp to stay at 75? If that is the case then that is kind of cool.

Yes, I hit auto and hit a/c in the winter. the ac turns off and the auto stays on to heat the car.

In the summer I just hit auto.

However, in both cases, my car defrosts fine and all I have to do is set the desired temp. You have to hit auto first and then set your temp to the desired level. The cooler or warmer you want it based on temperature dictates how hard the fan will blow. as you reach your desired temp the fan will slow down and the temperature of the air coming out of the vents will vary.

CV

 

[934runner]

Well I will be gosh damned. I am such an idiot. That is really frikin cool. I am going to go try it right now. Oh whole damn year and I just found out now. GEEZ.

 

[CVsGX470]

Well I will be gosh damned. I am such an idiot. That is really frikin cool. I am going to go try it right now. Oh whole damn year and I just found out now. GEEZ.

Just remember that when you hit auto, the auto and ac button will illuminate along with the cars appropriate fan setting based on temperature. push ac in the winter to turn off the ac and keep the auto heat on. IMO you don't need the ac to run all year round.

FYI...If your car is very cold and you want heat, when you turn on the auto feature, it may take a few minutes to turn the fan on. The car will not blow cold air at you when you want it warmer. AS the engine heats up the fan speed will increase.

CV

 

[934runner]

I tried it and it works. WOW. Man I am so pissed off at myself. How stupid can I be. For a whole damn year. the wife is always cold and I am always hot. I kept cussing at myself for not getting dual climate. I know this doesn't have anything to do with dual climate, but like our house temp is set at 74 degrees and we can both agree on that. It would just help even out the temp from going to too damn hot to too damn cold. If it keeps it at a steady 74 that would be awesome. Did I mention it has been a whole damn year? lol. man the wife is going to love this. I just called her at work and told her I found out what the auto button is for. Man she is just as excited as me. I know we both went through the manual to figure out what it did, I guess we just didn't get it though. Thanks alot CV.

 

[CVsGX470]

I tried it and it works. WOW. Man I am so pissed off at myself. How stupid can I be. For a whole damn year. the wife is always cold and I am always hot. I kept cussing at myself for not getting dual climate. I know this doesn't have anything to do with dual climate, but like our house temp is set at 74 degrees and we can both agree on that. It would just help even out the temp from going to too damn hot to too damn cold. If it keeps it at a steady 74 that would be awesome. Did I mention it has been a whole damn year? lol. man the wife is going to love this.

Good! Glad I could help you out. Yeah, I love it! In the dog days of summer I set it on 70 and love the fact that is speeds the fan up and slows it down based on how hot. You can tell that it also kicks the AC on and off sometimes by the smell from the vent.

Good luck!
CV

 

[934runner]

Thanks a million CV.

 

[sharp4runr]

Yeah I agree about turning off A/C when hitting AUTO in the winter. It seems to error on the colder side of whatever temperature you set it to when A/C is on, but when A/C is off it is a bit warmer.

 

[Iowa4Runner]

Please explain what the two problems are, because I'm not sure what you are talking about.

The only problem I have is that it looks like you can only use inside air by pushing the button and then it times out/off. This could be a problem when it is really hot outside. It's easier/better to cool inside air that is at a lower temp then outside air at a much higher temp.


Koz

Problem 1. The HVAC control system adjusts the supply temp (the air that blows out the vents) to keep the sensed cabin temperature at the temp setpoint you select. In manual mode you should be able to have the control loop control for supply temp instead of cabin temp. That would be more like the traditional manual control, which I like.

Problem 2. If you start off with the temp set at 70 (or whatever) and later decide to drop the temp setting to "lo", the system switches to recirc, even when it's 50 deg. outside. That is just plain idiotic.

 

[Mark86]

I really like the HVAC controls as well. It is very easy to see the temp, fan speed, and direction of air flow without really having to take your eyes off of the road. I don't even have to turn my head to adjust it because the buttons are so big, I can just feel around and know I am on the correct button.

For the first six months I had my truck, I thought the AC was broken because in the summer it never seemed to blow cold. I was under the assumption that when I took it off auto mode, the temperature didn't matter; it would just blow cold if the AC light was on. Well, I finally realized that maybe the temperatre does matter when controlling it manually (I had the temp set at 75 for most of the summer). I turned it down to the lowest temp and the ice started to form!! Just takes a little getting used to.