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auto temperature question

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Smirv, Apr 9, 2010.

  1. Smirv

    Smirv AkA: Ryan

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    Ok so in my Prius when I set it to auto temp. it automatically goes to the foot fan. When I hit mode to change it to the chest fan it automatically shuts off the Auto temp. Just wondering if the auto always blows on the feet, or is there something I am doing wrong? Thanks for any advice.
     
  2. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    What I have noticed on mine is that if the system is calling for heat, it will automatically set the fan direction to the floor. If I lower the temperature setpoint slowly I will find a temperature where the fan direction will switch to either the vent or combination vent and floor.

    It has taken me a while to learn how to adjust the temperature in auto mode to get the fan direction that I want. I have to remember that the temperature setpoint behaves just like the rotary dial on my old car.

    The difference between temperature setpoint and cabin actual temperature determines the fan speed and direction in auto mode. If you cannot find the combination you like, you can always switch to manual mode and control direction and speed. Of course, I prefer to leave mine in auto so I do not have to worry about adjusting fan speed and temp.
     
  3. nieveser

    nieveser Junior Member

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    Yes I have experience that as well. However when I have A/C turn on and you are calling for cold air, its allow you to have the auto mode along with the chest fan.
     
  4. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Auto climate control sets the baffles as well as the heating and cooling. Heat will generally be directed at your feet, unless the system thinks it needs to run defrost. Cooling will move the air up to the chest vents. If you don't like its choices, you have to switch to manual control.

    Tom
     
  5. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    At least in the Gen II, (no idea about Gen III) you can change the vents to suit yourself, and the fan control still adjusts automatically to achieve the temp you have set.
     
  6. Philosophe

    Philosophe 2010 Prius owner

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    Also true for Gen III, even if making a change to MODE or fan speed turn the AUTO light off.

    1. Go in AUTO.
    2. Change the mode to whatever you like.
    3. The AUTO light turns off but the system will still automatically adjust FAN speed and keep the desired temp.

    I used this all winter to have MODE to a mix of defrost/feet, while preserving the "auto" functionality (set and forget).
     
  7. Smirv

    Smirv AkA: Ryan

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    thanks for all the help
     
  8. lunabelgium

    lunabelgium Member

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    @qbee42

    all is known in your thread. It's great !
     
  9. Philosophe

    Philosophe 2010 Prius owner

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    Not completely true. Changing one parameter will switch only this parameter to manual, the rest stays automatic. So, while in AUTO mode, setting manually either fan speed, mode, recirculation will only swith this particular setting to manual and leave the others on auto, even if the AUTO light turns off. So you can change mode and have the system still control fan speed and recirc; or change fan speed and have the system still control mode and recirc., etc.
     
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  10. hsiaolc

    hsiaolc New Member

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    I will definitly have to check that out myself. I have it on Auto 100% of the time.
     
  11. hsiaolc

    hsiaolc New Member

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    To answer your question the quickest is NO. When it set it to auto it can sometimes blow on the foot, sometimes defrosting and sometimes just blowing front the top.
    If you trust the Auto then leave it that way.
     
  12. chrisj428

    chrisj428 Active Member

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    I can confirm this. During the winter months, I override the air direction to have the system divide air between my feet & the windshield. The blower motor speed and temperature remain under automatic control.
     
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  13. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Thanks for the correction. Switching to manual will give you complete control, but as stated in this post, some combinations of manual and automatic control are possible.

    Tom
     
  14. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    I did not know this. When I changed the Mode to change the air direction, the Auto light went out and I just "assumed" that the system was in Manual mode.

    Thanks
     
  15. Smirv

    Smirv AkA: Ryan

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    I tested this out yesterday, success. I left it on auto and changed the fan to where I wanted it and the auto controls still worked. This is a great feature and has solved my problem.
     
  16. tumbleweed

    tumbleweed Senior Member

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    The airflow directed to head or feet also changes when the system is off. If, for example, you have the temperature set for 72 degrees and you push the OFF button the heated air (fan will be off) will be directed toward the floor if the interior temperature is below 72; if the interior temperature is above 72 it will switch to cool (outside temperature) air out of the dashboard vents. To stop the air flow with the system off you can select recirculate.

    I have only tried this in ECO and I'm not sure it works the same way in other modes because the driving mode, ECO, PWR, or Normal, effects how the system operates when heating as well as air conditioning.