how to use heating system

The system was intended to be left in AUTO mode and the cabin temperture simply adjusted to whatever level is comfortable to the operator. (Moderation is important here, or else the ICE can be forced to run more that necessary when temp is to either extreme.)
Auto does leave the A/C compressor on and operable when the system deems necessary. If heavy front/rear windsheild defrost/fogging is necessary that would need to be selected seperately, then deselected once no longer necessary.

Some folks just can't get past the way things used to be, and have to run it all manually, thinking they can do a better job. It's better to just set and forget.

My first car with true Automatic climate control, like the Prius, was an '87 Nissan 300ZX. Pretty cutting- edge at the time. Initially I wanted to operate it manually, like a traditional A/C system, but soon discovered the beauty of the AUTO system and just left it alone, and simply adjusted the temp.

It's remarkable because Compressor operation, temperatur, fan speed, vent seledtion are all automatically regulated dependant on outside airtemp, sunload, humidity, temperature differential, and change as conditions change.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(9G-man @ Sep 24 2007, 09:11 PM) [snapback]517259[/snapback]</div>

Ya know, I'm not convinced the "some folks..." comment is exactly true. I DO know better than to try to outguess the car's computers for most stuff. What I am stuck on is why, if I turn the a/c OFF, and have the blower set to front (as in defrost), with air on recirculate, the cabin stays MUCH cooler than just about any other setting. It seems as if the compressor MUST be on, but if the a/c light is NOT on, then why is the car so comfortable??? And, if I leave it all on AUTO, it just blows on my face, at a way lower temp than I want it at. Mine NEVER changes from just face blowing if it is on AUTO, and a/c compressor stays on (lit) At the times I want to adjust it, the auto setting is always way too high--I need to change all of its settings to make it comfortable (i.e., WHERE it is blowing, how high the fan is running, whether it is recirc or exterior, temp). Admittedly, I've not figured out if the compressor is running if I have it on defrost/recirc, even if the a/c light is off--and I only wonder about this because the air stays so cool--but I DO know that the AUTO setting does NOT do much of anything that I really want it to.

 

i noticed mine finally switched from blowing in my face to blowing on my feet the other morning! it was brrrrrrr cold outside (60! HEY.... leave me alone... 60 is COLD in the desert!) and i still had my temp set at 78 from the last time i drove it...... warmed up quickly AND was blowing the heat on my feet!

 

It's simply not an intuitive system, and makes it hard for those of us who sometimes just want to vent a little outside air in. I wish that the AC compressor were an opt-in instead of opt-out: Set the auto-temp and if it's too warm in the car, hit the AC button and it will utilize the compressor to maintain the selected temp.

I'm not one of "those people" not used to modern "auto" AC/heat systems. My last car was a 2000 Volvo and no matter how much I hated the car, it had an excellent auto climate control system that didn't require nearly so much fiddling with to make it work.

 

If I switch a/c off it looks like it turns off the whole heating system

Can I still manually adjust air temperature and direction with a/c off?

 

Remember: When they call it "air conditioning", they mean it quite literally. It's the air-cooler-downer AND the air-warmer-upper all in one.

 

I am a new prius owner and I'm having a hard time with the system. I am trying to be efficient and in nice weather that we've had lately, I prefer having the windows open. However, depending on the outside temperature, it's also nice to have some fresh air blow through the system just to keep comfortable. When I turn the a/c off and turn on the vents in front, and it's say 63 degrees outside or less especially, and the temp is set to 73 from my auto setting, the air that blows in is warm and uncomfortable, rather than just fresh air which would feel nice.

Is there a way to set up the system to get fresh air without the system heating or cooling it? And I'd really rather not lower the temp to 60 degrees, then have to readjust so dramatically during the heat of the day, or when it gets colder.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(elcorazon @ Sep 26 2007, 10:34 AM) [snapback]517859[/snapback]</div>

To do that, turn off "auto", turn off the A/C compressor, and select a manual fan speed.

Tom


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rufaro @ Sep 25 2007, 12:32 AM) [snapback]517269[/snapback]</div>

The Luddites are circling their wagons!

Tom

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qbee42 @ Sep 26 2007, 10:01 AM) [snapback]517871[/snapback]</div>

so I have to turn off BOTH the AC compressor AND the auto mode. I just assumed the auto mode would be off when I started changing the settings. thanks for the info. and I think it's unnecessarily complicated. I also wish there were an easy way to lower the speed of the fans without changing the screen... although I guess I can do that directly at the vent.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(elcorazon @ Sep 26 2007, 11:04 AM) [snapback]517874[/snapback]</div>

I believe manually changing settings will turn off the auto mode. It is a bit complicated, but only if you want to use manual control. The Prius was designed to be driven with the windows up, in which case auto mode works just fine. On those transitional days, when the outside air is just the right temperature, and I'm stopped or driving slowly, I do wish there was an easier way to run the manual vent controls. It's a small point, but still annoying.

Tom

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qbee42 @ Sep 26 2007, 10:39 AM) [snapback]517900[/snapback]</div>

it may, but for some reason it heats up the air so it's not refreshing at all.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(elcorazon @ Sep 26 2007, 11:45 AM) [snapback]517903[/snapback]</div>

The way I understand it, in order to have the vents just passing "fresh air" without any heating or cooling, you need to turn off the Auto and turn off the A/C and set the temperature to the minimum temperature, though anything lower than the ambient temperature should suffice. Anything higher, and the engine will warm the air to a degree.

Just visualize the temperature setting as a blue & red dial, except that our dial has the ability know when to turn itself up or down to hit a target temperature. :lol:

This is in fact no different from any traditional HVAC system in any car - even if you set the temperature dial to "Red" for max heat and fresh air but no blower, air coming through the vents while moving will be heated.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rufaro @ Sep 25 2007, 12:32 AM) [snapback]517269[/snapback]</div>

Some folks over complicate things and Automatic climate control is one of them. Just leave the A/C compressor alone (on) and if the fan speed (airflow) is too high or the temp too cold, run the temp control up a little.
If the fan speed its too low, or temp too warm, run the temp control down a little. That temp control is used for temp and airflow speed.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Sep 25 2007, 05:13 PM) [snapback]517671[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qbee42 @ Sep 26 2007, 08:03 AM) [snapback]517871[/snapback]</div>

Luddite here...

Nope, I still don't understand.

If I have auto off (which I virtually always do), a/c compressor off (ditto), manual fan speed selected (ditto yet again), but I have selected recirculate and front windshield blower only, THE A/C COMPRESSOR IS STILL ON???? I found out long ago that the a/c auto setting does NOT work for me under ANY circumstances, 27k miles later.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(elcorazon @ Sep 26 2007, 08:04 AM) [snapback]517874[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sarge @ Sep 26 2007, 10:39 AM) [snapback]517976[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(9G-man @ Sep 26 2007, 11:07 AM) [snapback]517993[/snapback]</div>

I guess I still just don't understand. The most comfortable settings I have found for ME are a/c OFF, recirc ON, temp usually pretty low, fan MID to LOW. This has worked for me in outside temps of around 100F, as well as more reasonable ones. Luddite me or not, is the a/c compressor working with these settings even if the a/c light is OFF? If I've gotten into the car AFTER the day/car have warmed up some, I may have to turn the a/c light on, but then can switch back to blowing off the windshield recirc after a time. The Automatic setting, which ALWAYS turns on the A/C light, is virtually never comfortable for me (for one, it's NEVER turned on the blower to my feet).

Once more--if the a/c light is OFF--is the compressor EVER on?