Do you shut the A/C when powering down the car?

Marvinh · 07-19-2007, 09:26 PM

I wonder if its necessary to power down the A/C when powering down the Prius. With all my other cars I always shut the A/C off when shutting off the car so as NOT to start the car again with the A/C on. But that was because the A/C was belt driven.

With the Prius and the electric operated A/C is it still necessary? Does starting the Prius with the A/C on put any stress on the ICE or electric components of the A/C?

Thanks - Marvin

PriusTouring07 · 07-19-2007, 09:29 PM

I've only been driving a Prius for a week, and no, I haven't found it necessary to shut off the A/C when shutting off the car. I do shut it off with my other cars.

seasalsa · 07-19-2007, 10:18 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Marvinh @ Jul 19 2007, 06:26 PM) [snapback]481942[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I wonder if its necessary to power down the A/C when powering down the Prius. With all my other cars I always shut the A/C off when shutting off the car so as NOT to start the car again with the A/C on. But that was because the A/C was belt driven.

With the Prius and the electric operated A/C is it still necessary? Does starting the Prius with the A/C on put any stress on the ICE or electric components of the A/C?

Thanks - Marvin
[/b]

My 04 with almost 60,000 miles has been driven with Auto/AC on for most of those miles. No Problems.

"With the Prius and the electric operated A/C is it still necessary? " No

"Does starting the Prius with the A/C on put any stress on the ICE or electric components of the A/C?" No

qbee42 · 07-20-2007, 02:03 PM

There is no reason to shut off the A/C, unless you don't want it on the next time you drive. Like most modern control systems, the Prius takes care of the details for you.

Tom

hyo silver · 07-20-2007, 02:16 PM

One good reason to turn off the air before the car is to prevent mould in the ducts. Circulating some warmer air through the system to clear any condensation can alleviate some pretty nasty smells. It helps to run the air occasionally in the winter, too, to keep the seals lubricated.

scm2000 · 07-20-2007, 03:37 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hyo silver @ Jul 20 2007, 02:16 PM) [snapback]482349[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

One good reason to turn off the air before the car is to prevent mould in the ducts. Circulating some warmer air through the system to clear any condensation can alleviate some pretty nasty smells. It helps to run the air occasionally in the winter, too, to keep the seals lubricated.
[/b]

The recent cars I have owned run the AC automatically in the winter when the defroster is on. I think the Prius also does this. So I would not think it is nescessary to take special effort to turn it on yourself in the winter.

Rae Vynn · 07-20-2007, 06:21 PM

I've always turned off most everything before turning off the car.
That way, when I start it next time, I won't be hit by a blast of air, music, headlights, wipers, etc., and I can turn things on as I'm ready for them.

Dang, I feel old. I was thinking about where I got this habit, and it harkens back, yet again, to my years in the frozen tundra, where you reduced the load on your car as much as possible when starting it, because the extreme cold shortens battery life. Also, that first blast of air out of the heater will be FRIGID!
Also, if there is nothing else running, you can actually hear if the car started (not an issue with the Prius, of course), and if it is running correctly (ditto), or if it sounds like it's chugging off-balance (not unusual in the frozen north, with ICEs) and will have to be turned off, and then started again.

I rather like starting my Prius up, hearing that friendly READY beep, and then the quiet. I turn on and then adjust the heat/AC as needed. Then I'll get the music going.

pviebey · 07-23-2007, 03:56 PM

Technologically, most times, my car is smarter than I am. If it needed to be turned off, I think the car's computer would do it prior to turning itself off...

So, I'd say you can if you want, but me personally, I don't bother. And here in sunny FL, the sooner I get the AC going, the happier I'm going to be....

Sure, if your battery is weak, turn EVERYTHING off (including lights, overhead light from the door, etc) to minimize load. If you want to 'reset' it between uses, well, you can do that to...

I'm just too lazy.

pat

07-20-2007, 06:21 PM	#7
Rae Vynn Tree-hugging Vegan Witch Join Date: May 2007 Location: Grays Harbor, WA, USA Posts: 4,154 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: N/A Package: Base Thanks: 258 Thanked 60 Times in 50 Posts Friends: 66	I've always turned off most everything before turning off the car. That way, when I start it next time, I won't be hit by a blast of air, music, headlights, wipers, etc., and I can turn things on as I'm ready for them. Dang, I feel old. I was thinking about where I got this habit, and it harkens back, yet again, to my years in the frozen tundra, where you reduced the load on your car as much as possible when starting it, because the extreme cold shortens battery life. Also, that first blast of air out of the heater will be FRIGID! Also, if there is nothing else running, you can actually hear if the car started (not an issue with the Prius, of course), and if it is running correctly (ditto), or if it sounds like it's chugging off-balance (not unusual in the frozen north, with ICEs) and will have to be turned off, and then started again. I rather like starting my Prius up, hearing that friendly READY beep, and then the quiet. I turn on and then adjust the heat/AC as needed. Then I'll get the music going. __________________ Prius Connection Detroit Photos of our Prius

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07-19-2007, 09:26 PM	#1
Marvinh Marvin Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NY - Long Island Posts: 138 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	I wonder if its necessary to power down the A/C when powering down the Prius. With all my other cars I always shut the A/C off when shutting off the car so as NOT to start the car again with the A/C on. But that was because the A/C was belt driven. With the Prius and the electric operated A/C is it still necessary? Does starting the Prius with the A/C on put any stress on the ICE or electric components of the A/C? Thanks - Marvin

07-19-2007, 09:29 PM	#2
PriusTouring07 Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 177 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I've only been driving a Prius for a week, and no, I haven't found it necessary to shut off the A/C when shutting off the car. I do shut it off with my other cars.

07-20-2007, 02:03 PM	#4
qbee42 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 10,468 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 93 Thanked 387 Times in 289 Posts Friends: 10	There is no reason to shut off the A/C, unless you don't want it on the next time you drive. Like most modern control systems, the Prius takes care of the details for you. Tom

07-20-2007, 02:16 PM	#5
hyo silver awaaay Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 10,724 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: Base Thanks: 47 Thanked 152 Times in 107 Posts Friends: 63	One good reason to turn off the air before the car is to prevent mould in the ducts. Circulating some warmer air through the system to clear any condensation can alleviate some pretty nasty smells. It helps to run the air occasionally in the winter, too, to keep the seals lubricated.

07-23-2007, 03:56 PM	#8
pviebey Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 69 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	Technologically, most times, my car is smarter than I am. If it needed to be turned off, I think the car's computer would do it prior to turning itself off... So, I'd say you can if you want, but me personally, I don't bother. And here in sunny FL, the sooner I get the AC going, the happier I'm going to be.... Sure, if your battery is weak, turn EVERYTHING off (including lights, overhead light from the door, etc) to minimize load. If you want to 'reset' it between uses, well, you can do that to... I'm just too lazy. pat