Auto A/C settings

[Totalshock]

Newbie question for you veterans -- I've noticed that if you touch the Auto A/C button on the steering wheel, when you go into climate control, it's turned on (intuitively enough) both the automatic climate control, and the air conditioner to on, regardless of how you had it set up before.

My question is... with the Air Conditioner set to on this mode, does it actually use the air conditioner (condenser) all the time, or just when the car deigns it necessary to cool the vehicle down?

Thus far, I've gone into climate, and made sure the A/C button is unselected, but the temperature control is still turned on... and that seems to work... but I'm not sure if I need to do this, or if the system is smart enough to lay off using the actual air conditioner when it's cold outside (or at least when it doesn't need to actively cool the cabin down from a higher temperature.)

If it's not going to impact my mileage by running the real A/C system all the time, I'd like to leave it on so I can "set it and forget it," but I'll keep doing what I'm doing now if not actively deselecting A/C on the climate screen means the air conditioner (and not just fan) will run all the time.

Thanks!

[TheMaskedMan]

My question is... with the Air Conditioner set to on this mode, does it actually use the air conditioner (condenser) all the time, or just when the car deigns it necessary to cool the vehicle down?

Very good question.
I, too, would like to know the answer.

[victor]

I have also wondered about this. However, I can say that the last few days I have needed to heat the car, and if the compressor is "enabled" than the motor will stay running at a stop. If I switch it off, then the motor goes off as well.

I therefore concluded that it stays on in automatic. I would love to find Im wrong here!

[efusco]

Guys I just don't think the compressor is running when the car is actually heating everything else is just too advanced and too designed to be energy saving to believe they'd do something like that.

I think the thing that makes this question come up at all is the fact that they call the climate control system the Air Conditioner....if they called it climate control would we even wonder about this??

[TheMaskedMan]

[font=Comic Sans MS:4a7ae9a4e3] [size=18] That certainly makes sense. But consider this:
It's recommended that the A/C compressor be "On" while heating
the car if the windows are fogging up.
The A/C compressor removes the humidity from the air and helps defog. (Is that a word?)

[Totalshock]

[font=Comic Sans MS:1c5d746061] [size=18] That certainly makes sense. But consider this:
It's recommended that the A/C compressor be "On" while heating
the car if the windows are fogging up.
The A/C compressor removes the humidity from the air and helps defog. (Is that a word?)

Isn't that why we have the "defog" button on the steering wheel and/or climate control screen? If you start to fog, pressing that button overrides the climate control,t turns on the front panel blowers, and activates the A/C compressor to help deal with the humidity issue that causes fogging inside the window.

[seasalsa]

Isn't that why we have the "defog" button on the steering wheel and/or climate control screen? If you start to fog, pressing that button overrides the climate control,t turns on the front panel blowers, and activates the A/C compressor to help deal with the humidity issue that causes fogging inside the window.

If the climate control is on auto the windows will not begin to fog. The Defog buttons are for use when you get into the car and the windows are fogged or frosted.

[pino]

I've noticed that if you touch the Auto A/C button on the steering wheel, when you go into climate control, it's turned on (intuitively enough) both the automatic climate control, and the air conditioner to on, regardless of how you had it set up before.

This is a feature of most cars with Auto A/C. The good news is you can have it changed (among other things)by your dealer via the Toyota Scan Tool. It will allow you to select Auto A/C without automatically engaging the A/C compressor if it was not already engaged.

My question is... with the Air Conditioner set to on this mode, does it actually use the air conditioner (condenser) all the time, or just when the car deigns it necessary to cool the vehicle down?

The compressor cycles on and off to reach and maintain the desired temperature whether heating or cooling the air. It prevents window fogging because it is actually removing moisture from the air. The only time the compressor will not run (even though the A/C icon is lit) is when the ambient temperature is below 38F. This is to prevent damage to the system because the refrigerant will become too cold.

I hope that helps a bit.

Best,
Pino

[IsrAmeriPrius]

I...if the compressor is "enabled" than the motor will stay running at a stop. If I switch it off, then the motor goes off as well.

Isn't the air conditioning compressor on the European model of the Prius electrically driven?

Before the weather turned, I have had the air conditioning on full blast in 100+ degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperatures and the ICE would shut off every time that I came to a stop as long as the traction battery was sufficiently charged.

[DaveinOlyWA]

heating the outside air will also reduce the moisture content too.