AC and heater help please!

Based on the outside (incoming) air, it tries to calculate what to do with the system to make the inside reach the temperature you've specified. From using mine for a month (I got mine the same week you got yours) I can tell you a few things:

• Setting the inside air temp at or below the outside air temp yields air that is inexplicably always slightly warmer than say, sticking your hand out the window. This leads me to believe that the Prius heats the air a tiny amount. For example, AC off and temp set to LO is warmer than AC on and temp set to 78 (when outside air is 65-70).
• If you have the heat turned up more than a little, you will need to put the AC on to dehumidify and avoid fogging.
• For heat, you want to go at least 10 degrees over outside air, with AC off. Increase temp to your liking, if it starts to fog, turn AC on.
• For cooling, set AC on and temp to between outside temp and 6-8 degrees above outside temp (ex. outside 70, try 76-78). You won't need much cooling except on REALLY hot days. My Prius won't even get TOO hot sitting in the sun, just merely uncomfortable. And the Toyota AC is WAY too efficent, lol

Hope that helps you!

 

I have discovered, after a lot of trial and error, that the best thing to do is to leave the system in full Auto mode and only adjust the temp setting up or down to get the air direction and fan speed that you want.

This system is a Climate Control system and it works very well if you let it. It is nothing like a manual AC system that most of us are used to and can be frustrating until you learn how to leave it alone and let it work.

 

I agree; however, there are times when I would like air blowing in my face, which is at odds with the place to direct the air that the computer thinks is 'most efficient'

 

If you set it to Auto, then change only those settings you want changed, the other settings remain in auto. I want dash and feet vents, but leave everything else on auto.

I think that if you use any 'defrost' vents, you also power electric heaters.

 

On mine, the Auto light goes OFF if I change air direction, but stays ON if I choose Recirc or Outside air...weeeeeird.

I haven't heard about electric heaters, other than the heated back glass.

 

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...ric-heating-elements-those-cold-mornings.html
Sounds like Defrost is not important in Gen 3.

 

Huh, kewl