Want recirc to stay on, or keep previous setting

pri-cluck · 11-08-2006, 10:46 PM

What is great about the recirc versus fresh air mode is that the noxious exhaust from other cars, trucks, busses, etc. remain outside my Prius. Although I will use the fresh air mode when I am in the open road, as soon as I'm behind another car, especially if we're climbing a hill, I NEED recirc to keep the cabin air from becoming toxic. Therefore, most of the time I drive with recirc on, and as often as possible without the A/C running.

But when I turn off the car it always resets back to fresh air mode. I do a lot of short trips in a row and have to keep pressing my recirc button every time I restart the car. It is annoying. In all other cars I've ever driven this has been a more mechanical activator which remembers its previous setting. It should really remember the setting after the car is turned off. It does that with other controls, for example the windshield defroster/defogger ... if that is on when I turn off the car it is on when i turn it back on. So why not the recirc?

Is there a remedy?

**Tideland Prius** · 11-09-2006, 01:12 AM

Hmm...I'm not sure since I don't really pay attention to that.

I know my bro loves to leave it in recirc cause the amount of time you can actually use fresh air (on the route we usually take) is short so might as well keep it closed.

I do remember once starting off in recirc mode but I'm not sure. I'll have to play around with the settings or someone else can chime in.

Welcome to PriusChat!

daniel · 11-09-2006, 11:59 AM

The entire design of the climate control system is screwey! It will always default to what it's been programmed for. There is no way to over-ride that. You just have to hit the re-circ or fresh-air button, when you want it different than the car's programmed default.

When you first turn on the A/C it defaults to re-circ, which is usually the right choice, but in cold weather when you turn on the heat it defaults to fresh air, which is usually the wrong choice.

Furthermore, with the fan off you cannot change the temp setting, and since some air comes through even with the fan off, you often have to turn the fan on in order to change the temp setting, and then turn the fan off again.

The climate control is probably the only really STUPID thing about the Prius. It's nice that there is so little stupid about this car.

SaintStephen · 11-09-2006, 12:49 PM

My F-150's manual told me to keep the vents open while parking to let the truck 'breathe'. Perhaps Toyota decided to make this happen by default?

ss

pri-cluck · 11-09-2006, 01:37 PM

The way I look at it, now that these cars have computers and interactive display screens, all the default user settings that are under computer control should be available to us, to set as we see fit. Just like on our personal computers. These machines are expensive enough items to allow for this kind of simple personalization. But at the very least, it should remember previous settings from one drive to the next.

I do agree, as far as cars go, the Prius is pretty cool, and I have few complaints. Just was hoping if someone knew if there was a way of changing the default for this one setting. Kinda like I was able to turn off the annoying back-up beep. I want my recirc on when I start my drive, that's all.

RBW111 · 11-09-2006, 02:10 PM

Your dealer can change the default to recirc.

auricchio · 11-09-2006, 04:26 PM

In the list of settings, I only see two related to recirc:

- Automatic recirc when the A/C wants to cool the car. Yes/No, default=yes

- Foot Air Leak: The airflow whenever the car is moving. Yes/No, default=yes

There wasn't anything to control recirc directly, e.g.

- Start up in the last mode selected

I wish the car had a mode similar to Volvo: Revert to fresh air after several minutes.

**Tideland Prius** · 11-09-2006, 05:13 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pri-cluck @ Nov 8 2006, 07:46 PM) [snapback]346045[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

What is great about the recirc versus fresh air mode is that the noxious exhaust from other cars, trucks, busses, etc. remain outside my Prius. Although I will use the fresh air mode when I am in the open road, as soon as I'm behind another car, especially if we're climbing a hill, I NEED recirc to keep the cabin air from becoming toxic. Therefore, most of the time I drive with recirc on, and as often as possible without the A/C running.

But when I turn off the car it always resets back to fresh air mode. I do a lot of short trips in a row and have to keep pressing my recirc button every time I restart the car. It is annoying. In all other cars I've ever driven this has been a more mechanical activator which remembers its previous setting. It should really remember the setting after the car is turned off. It does that with other controls, for example the windshield defroster/defogger ... if that is on when I turn off the car it is on when i turn it back on. So why not the recirc?

Is there a remedy?

[/b]

Alright, so I did a check today.

This morning, I parked the car at school with RECIRC selected. When I came back after class, it started up in RECIRC mode. Now, I was in manual mode so "AUTO A/C" was not showing on the IP.

So it will stay in recirc when you restart if you're in manual mode.

Hope that helps!

pri-cluck · 11-10-2006, 11:49 PM

Well I tried it a bunch of times today and guess what? It works now for me too. Strange. Sorry to bother you all with this

. I did try something though, I put the climate control on Auto, then Recirc, then turned off Auto. After that it seems to remember the Recirc setting after shutting off the car. There are definitely some quirks to the programming of this system, but all in all the Prius continues to prove that it is a wonderful car. Thanks for all the help.

BTW, we actually won this car! Our Prius is a Prize. I noticed that some folks pronounce it that way too.

richard schumacher · 11-10-2006, 11:53 PM

Defrost will usually (always?) change it from recirc to fresh upon starting the car, so try to get into the habit of shutting off defrost before leaving the car, or checking the state of it immediately after starting the car.

11-09-2006, 11:59 AM	#3
daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 11,788 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 77 Thanked 288 Times in 181 Posts Friends: 0	The entire design of the climate control system is screwey! It will always default to what it's been programmed for. There is no way to over-ride that. You just have to hit the re-circ or fresh-air button, when you want it different than the car's programmed default. When you first turn on the A/C it defaults to re-circ, which is usually the right choice, but in cold weather when you turn on the heat it defaults to fresh air, which is usually the wrong choice. Furthermore, with the fan off you cannot change the temp setting, and since some air comes through even with the fan off, you often have to turn the fan on in order to change the temp setting, and then turn the fan off again. The climate control is probably the only really STUPID thing about the Prius. It's nice that there is so little stupid about this car. __________________ Daniel Primary car: Zap Xebra SD, 100% electric. 1.9 cents per mile. Range: 40 miles total, or 32 miles to 80% discharge. Top speed 35 mph. Faster downhill. Uses electrons generated from water power. Gas guzzler for when I have to travel farther than 30 miles: 2004 Prius. "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." -- Emma Goldman "Anyone who has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield will think long and hard before starting a war." -- Otto von Bismarck

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11-08-2006, 10:46 PM	#1
pri-cluck Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	What is great about the recirc versus fresh air mode is that the noxious exhaust from other cars, trucks, busses, etc. remain outside my Prius. Although I will use the fresh air mode when I am in the open road, as soon as I'm behind another car, especially if we're climbing a hill, I NEED recirc to keep the cabin air from becoming toxic. Therefore, most of the time I drive with recirc on, and as often as possible without the A/C running. But when I turn off the car it always resets back to fresh air mode. I do a lot of short trips in a row and have to keep pressing my recirc button every time I restart the car. It is annoying. In all other cars I've ever driven this has been a more mechanical activator which remembers its previous setting. It should really remember the setting after the car is turned off. It does that with other controls, for example the windshield defroster/defogger ... if that is on when I turn off the car it is on when i turn it back on. So why not the recirc? Is there a remedy?

11-09-2006, 01:12 AM	#2
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 21,191 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 369 Thanked 527 Times in 354 Posts Friends: 26	Hmm...I'm not sure since I don't really pay attention to that. I know my bro loves to leave it in recirc cause the amount of time you can actually use fresh air (on the route we usually take) is short so might as well keep it closed. I do remember once starting off in recirc mode but I'm not sure. I'll have to play around with the settings or someone else can chime in. Welcome to PriusChat!

11-09-2006, 12:49 PM	#4
SaintStephen Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 32 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	My F-150's manual told me to keep the vents open while parking to let the truck 'breathe'. Perhaps Toyota decided to make this happen by default? ss

11-09-2006, 01:37 PM	#5
pri-cluck Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	The way I look at it, now that these cars have computers and interactive display screens, all the default user settings that are under computer control should be available to us, to set as we see fit. Just like on our personal computers. These machines are expensive enough items to allow for this kind of simple personalization. But at the very least, it should remember previous settings from one drive to the next. I do agree, as far as cars go, the Prius is pretty cool, and I have few complaints. Just was hoping if someone knew if there was a way of changing the default for this one setting. Kinda like I was able to turn off the annoying back-up beep. I want my recirc on when I start my drive, that's all.

11-09-2006, 02:10 PM	#6
RBW111 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: El Dorado, AR Posts: 139 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Your dealer can change the default to recirc.

11-09-2006, 04:26 PM	#7
auricchio Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cambria, CA, USA Posts: 910 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	In the list of settings, I only see two related to recirc: - Automatic recirc when the A/C wants to cool the car. Yes/No, default=yes - Foot Air Leak: The airflow whenever the car is moving. Yes/No, default=yes There wasn't anything to control recirc directly, e.g. - Start up in the last mode selected I wish the car had a mode similar to Volvo: Revert to fresh air after several minutes.

11-10-2006, 11:49 PM	#9
pri-cluck Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Well I tried it a bunch of times today and guess what? It works now for me too. Strange. Sorry to bother you all with this . I did try something though, I put the climate control on Auto, then Recirc, then turned off Auto. After that it seems to remember the Recirc setting after shutting off the car. There are definitely some quirks to the programming of this system, but all in all the Prius continues to prove that it is a wonderful car. Thanks for all the help. BTW, we actually won this car! Our Prius is a Prize. I noticed that some folks pronounce it that way too.

11-10-2006, 11:53 PM	#10
richard schumacher Destination: Eschaton Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 5,866 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Thanks: 140 Thanked 198 Times in 127 Posts Friends: 0	Defrost will usually (always?) change it from recirc to fresh upon starting the car, so try to get into the habit of shutting off defrost before leaving the car, or checking the state of it immediately after starting the car.