auto climate control stuck in recirculation mode

You need some confirmation from other owners of the same model.
I do not remember EVER having a car that will automatically change from fresh to recirc. or vice-versa, including my present C.
The one exception is turning on defrost which also turns off recirc.

 

Just to add a small note.......
After sitting out in 90 F sun for very long, the temp inside the car can reach 140 or more.
It will cool slightly quicker if the intake air is from the outside (90) than from inside (140).......for the first few minutes.
It also helps to have a window cracked open a bit.......or even better the sunroof if you have one to help exhaust that super-heated air.

 

+1

Leaving the door open a few seconds lets a lot of heat out. Also, opening all windows for a minute (even just halfway) after starting the car helps the AC a lot.

 

You do not say where you reside or what your current temperatures are. That would help.

My 2010 stays in Recirc mode in Auto until the cabin temp gets almost to temp setpoint. With the temps in the 90's mine never comes out of Recirc mode even with a 25 mile commute. As Easy Rider says above, after sitting in the sun all day at work and inside cabin temps reaching 115 to 120F, the cabin temp only gets down to about 78F by the time I get home. That is with heat shields, windows cracked open a little and riding a couple of miles with windows open to let the heat escape.

I want mine to stay in Recirc mode in order to cool the cabin temp down quicker. If you go to outside vent you are pulling in hot outside air that needs to be cooled which takes longer. Even in Recirc mode you are still pulling in a small amount of outside air.

 

It seems you didn't fully grasp the point.
For several minutes after you first start the car, the inside air is HOTTER than the outside air is.
You get better performance at first by NOT having it on recirc.
That also helps exhaust the super-heated air faster.
THEN after a few minutes, close the windows and switch to recirc.

 

I did fully grasp the point, thank you.

I have found that by monitoring the cabin temp that when I have it on Recirc an ride with windows down, then close windows that the Cabin temp will reduce faster.

Give it a try.

 

By that do you mean having the windows all open all the way......or nearly so ??

If I am in a position to have all the windows open, I don't worry about whether it is on recirc. or not........until AFTER I close the windows.

 

Are you in ECO mode? If so, that is the way it is supposed to work.

From another post on this site.......

9. ECO MODE CONTROL

(a) Under the control of eco mode, the A/C amplifier restricts the air conditioning system performance under specified conditions, thus improving fuel economy.

(b) Eco mode control is activated when the ECO MODE switch provided inside the integration control and panel sub-assembly is pressed, and then restricts the air conditioning system performance as described below.

#1 Inside/outside Air Switch Control: Automatically switches the air inlet port to internal air circulation mode when the outside air temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature and reduces the power consumption.

#2 Blower Level Control: Sets the blower level in AUTO mode lower than normal, and suppresses the power consumption. (

#3 PTC Heater Control: Stops the operation of PTC heater assembly and suppresses the power consumption.

#4 Heating Restriction Control: Changes the air outlet temperature by turning the ECO MODE switch on and off during heating and increases the amount of engine-off time when the ECO MODE switch is in the on state, thus improving fuel economy.

#5 Compressor Speed Restriction Control: Restricts the maximum speed during cooling and reduces the power consumption.
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hope this helps

Dave

 

Windows all of the way open to expel the hot air quickly. Yes with the windows wide open it does not matter with Recirc or not.

I just leave it in Auto, which is in Recirc, leave the windows all of the way down until the cabin begins to cools down and I start feeling cool air from the AC vents. Then I close windows.

 

FWIW, it appears to me that the ECO mode and Auto AC puts it in Recirc mode whenever the outside temp is HIGHER than the set temp on the AC.

It doesn't appear to measure internal temps for this purpose. If outside is higher than set temp, it's on recirc. If outside is lower than set temp, it's on outside air.

I'll pay closer attention, but this is what I've noticed. It's why I start the car with my driver door open, lower the windows half-way, and leave them open for a minute after I start driving off. By then, the excessive internal temps are equalized with outside air and I can close the window and let the AC do what it wants.

 

You are welcome. Glad it worked for you.