Reprogram the climate control?

Summit

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It's bad enough the HVAC system on this thing looks like the controls to a UFO, but it constantly assumes I want the vent on RECIRCULATE instead of FRESH. How can I make stop constantly selecting RECIRC? It is driving me nuts!
 
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Can't...I agree w/ you, our climate is So Gay looking & So Gay to use.

Recirculating comes on when outside temperature is hotter than inside...so this way it won't let in warm air.

I know...it's ubber stupid. I see myself pressing it off all the time.
 
Personally one of the things I like about the 4th gen is the climate control system. I like the look of it and how it functions. After a cold day at the ski hill in the winter I can lean in the vehicle with ski gloves or mitts on and a couple of taps will adjust the temp etc accurately without taking off the gloves. Couple of times I've even adjusted the controls using the end of the ski pole. Not sure of any other vehicle I could do that with. Can't do it on my RAV4 or Matrix as they both have rotary dials. I had a Honda Pilot that had both dials and buttons on the climate control system .. dumb.
 
I like that it recirculates. I think it does this because its more efficient. If the outside air is 85 and you want the inside of the truck at 67 then why try to lower the temp of the 85 degree air? I think it acts just like an HVAC system in a commercial building...it runs on the most economical setting.

Like it was asked above...why does it bother you on that setting? (not trying to argue, just asking)
 
I am new to this 4th gen 4 Runner climate control thing too. Got my truck in the beginning of july and after a few weeks have really come to appreciate the climate control. My tuck is equipped with the dual zone and auto option. On really long drives this summer I noticed it will switch from inside to outside every now and then, and I feel that that is very acceptable. I know when I uused to manually control my last car I would use recirc unless it was raining.
 
I agree that the re-circulate thing can get a bit annnoying but overall the system is very well planned out and works great. The only wierd thing I have noticed is how loud the truck engine gets with the A/C on high, especially coming out of a full stop while accelerating in first gear. The engine sounds soooo loud until 2 or 3rd gear, like a very high idle. Anybody else have this?
Limited V8.
 
I think the noise is the engine fan - it has a thermal clutch and it couples tight to the shaft and turns fast when the engine is extra hot (hot day, A/C on, idle for a while...)

it has a lot of blades and can move a lot of air across the radiator and condenser coils
 
I dont understand why people find it so hard to use, perhaps you have never had an auto HVAC system in a car....its easy, hit auto, set the temp you want, and let it go about its business...just like your house.

It is quite a good system; however, I believe it is a bit week. But...not only are there ambient light sensors (for headlights) but radiant heat as well. Next time you drive into the sun notice the fan speed automatically compensates for the increased radiant heat on your body, when you driving away from the sun, the fan speed is noticeably lower.
 
The HVAC works good but I much prefer the 3 knob design of cars like Honda's:
Temp knob / Fan knob / Where to put the air knob and a button for the compressor
can work those without looking
 
I'm with Atlanta Man. I like the Honda system (and it is what I had before).

I have not had an auto system. I do not like the auto system because while it is good at getting to a temp right away, it is not efficient and it is loud (if I hit auto, it kicks itself into high gear).

I like that it recirculates. I think it does this because its more efficient. If the outside air is 85 and you want the inside of the truck at 67 then why try to lower the temp of the 85 degree air? I think it acts just like an HVAC system in a commercial building...it runs on the most economical setting.

Like it was asked above...why does it bother you on that setting? (not trying to argue, just asking)

1. When it's 60 outside and 80 inside because of the sun and it decides to go on recirc, it's annoying.

2. When I have the fan off and it's not on recirc, I'll get airflow due to traveling forward. If it's on recirc, no airflow.

3. Recirc is only more efficent if you are using the A/C. I only use recirc if I am using A/C and I pretty much never need the A/C, just heat and fresh air.

4. There's often smelly gear and people in my vehicle. Fresh air is good.

5. Recirc leads to fogging when it is cold out.
 
A trip to the dealer is needed. Ask them to change the C-BEST setting for the 'air inlet mode' from auto to manual. There are other settings that can be changed under C-BEST as well, such as unlocking all the doors with a single press of unlock button on the remote, adjusting the auto on/off headlight sensitivity, etc.

Recirculate comes on as long as the temperature setting on the climate control system is set lower than the exterior temperature, not what the actual interior temp is. Try it, if the exterior temp is 70F and you set it for 69F or lower, recirculate will be on. If you set it for 71F it will not be on. I leave mine at 65F rather than "LO" and it doesn't turn go into recirculate nearly as much.

I agree that a complete manual system like the one in the Tacoma or Corolla would be much better than an auto climate control system. I do find myself fiddling around with an auto system more than I should and did with a complete manual system. But they can't please everyone. There will be those who will b!#ch about how their mid-$30k SUV doesn't offer auto climate control. Toyota can brag that even the entry-level 4Runner has auto-climate. Doesn't that give a warm and fuzzy feeling inside?

While Toyota could've designed it to look a little more aesthetically pleasing to the eye, it's quite easy to use the way its setup. I much rather have direct button selection for the different vent position over some other silly climate control system with a "mode" button that requires at least five button pushes to go from bi-level and floor vent position to bi-level. At least with the current system, I can switch to any vent position with a single push of a button, even fast than with the knobs on my Taco and Camry's manual system. How about those that have a up and down fan speed? Again more repeated button presses to go from full speed to low. So before we talk about So Gay ness, it could be a helluva lot worst.

Be careful what you wish for, the 5th gen will more likely than not have eliminated the direct buttons and leaving fewer buttons requiring more pushes to change settings.

Besides if the climate system is one of the few things that gets b!#ched about, I'd say Toyota did a pretty good job with the 4R. ;):
 
A trip to the dealer is needed. Ask them to change the C-BEST setting for the 'air inlet mode' from auto to manual. There are other settings that can be changed under C-BEST as well, such as unlocking all the doors with a single press of unlock button on the remote, adjusting the auto on/off headlight sensitivity, etc.

Recirculate comes on as long as the temperature setting on the climate control system is set lower than the exterior temperature, not what the actual interior temp is. Try it, if the exterior temp is 70F and you set it for 69F or lower, recirculate will be on. If you set it for 71F it will not be on. I leave mine at 65F rather than "LO" and it doesn't turn go into recirculate nearly as much.

Awesome info! Thanks! :)
 

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