Must the AC compressor run just to get fresh air

[cdavid]

Sometimes I just want the fan to blow air, but everytime I try to do this, it seems the AC compressor runs. Am I incorrect? Most cars you just set the fan manually to the speed you want and deactivate the AC compressor switch. Are you able to do this with the Prius?

[darelldd]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cdavid @ Apr 16 2006, 06:21 PM) [snapback]240659[/snapback]</div>

Sometimes I just want the fan to blow air, but everytime I try to do this, it seems the AC compressor runs. Am I incorrect? Most cars you just set the fan manually to the speed you want and deactivate the AC compressor switch. Are you able to do this with the Prius?
[/b]

Why do you think the compressor is running?
If you set the temp down to "Low" (lowest it will go), turn off the Auto button, and turn off the AC button, then the fan just blows ambient air at whatever setting you choose. That's how I run 90% of the time.

[kdmorse]

If you press the 'AC' button (on the climate control screen) to turn it off, the compressor won't run, simple as that.

You can leave it in auto, and the temperature you select will determine how fast the fan spins. If it's internally recirculating air (instead of pulling fresh air), press the Recirc button to toggle it to outside air.

Unless it's beastly hot, I usually run Auto, 68, AC off, fresh air.

Edit: The reason I leave it on Auto, is so it controls the fan relative to temperature. When it's warm inside, the fan blows harder to try to get the car down to 68. When it's not warm, the fan idles along at it's lowest setting, all on it's own.

It took two months, but I finally grasp the auto climate control system, and appreciate it. But boy did it confuse the @#%& out of me at first.

-Ken

[auricchio]

Yes. First press AUTO to get it into the auto mode. Then press AC to disable the compressor. The yellow bar on the "button" will go out.

Now the system will do everything to maintain the requested cabin temperature except run the compressor.

[Tideland Prius]

Yeah, you can either go into total manual mode and set the fan speed, mode and temperature with A/C off

OR

you can leave it in AUTO but with the A/C off by pressing AUTO then pressing the A/C button.

OR

You can leave it in AUTO. Even though the A/C button is "on", the A/C compressor won't run unless it's needed. With Option 2, A/C is always off but with this option the computer determines when it's off and when it's on.

[cdavid]

That was my problem, I took it out of "auto" first, and I wasn't letting me then turn the compressor off. I should have just played with it awhile (while not driving, like I was doing). Thanks for setting me straight.