This seems weird

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(4chi @ Oct 18 2006, 12:01 PM) [snapback]334482[/snapback]</div>

Air conditioning means just that. Conditioning the air. Warm or cold.

 

Ditto. In the USA we often use the term "air conditioner" only to mean cooling, but for most it means any sort of conditioning of the air, whether heating, cooling, filtering, etc.

Tom

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(theforce @ Oct 18 2006, 09:05 AM) [snapback]334486[/snapback]</div>

Yep. But it confuses me too, having to put on the A/C in order to warm the cabin of the car up. :huh: It just doesn't sound quite right, but it works!

 

Perception of COLD is partially dependent on the humidity level of the atmosphere. The air conditioning compressor may cycle on/off even in cool weather in order to dehumidify the air in your cabin. Thus the term "air conditioning" is appropriate even when cooling the incoming air is desired.

Ditto others who illustrate the meaning of "air conditioning."

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Charles Suitt @ Oct 18 2006, 02:48 PM) [snapback]334626[/snapback]</div>

Yes, but it's not just a perception. Water molecules are bigger than air molecules, and carry away more heat. The more of them, as in the higher the humidity at any given temperature, the colder you feel.

 

They should have labeled it "Climate Control" instead of A/C IMO

It really means that the automatic climate control is engaged and will heat/cool/dehumidify as it sees fit based on your temperature settings and ambient conditions.

If left alone it will automatically change the vent settings and fan speed too. You can manually override any of those and the "Auto" button will de-hilight, but that just means it's no longer controlling whatever specific feature you over-rode.

 

Basically it means the compressor is running, right? which lowers mileage?

I just punch the a/c button to get the light to go off, the set the temp to warm the cabin to the desired temp. Seems to work o.k. Hope i'm not screwing something up........ just seems a bit odd to me as well to have the a/c on when heating (or the compressor that is) :blink:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Oct 18 2006, 06:49 PM) [snapback]334792[/snapback]</div>

Thanks Tideland.... that actually eases my minds a bit, I'll probably just start setting the temp and hit "auto" instead of trying to micromanage the heating system. I was just concerned I was wasting gas doing it that way.. glad i'm not

 

The problem I have with the A/C is knowing what temperature to set it at so I don't get too much cooling or heating. If I want cooling, I don't want it to be TOO cold, so I set it at, say, 72 degrees. However, if I leave it at that temperature, in the morning when the ambient temperature is lower, the heating will come on to try and warm it up to 72 degrees. I don't want heating unless it's really cold. What's the best strategy for this?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rangerdavid @ Oct 18 2006, 07:41 PM) [snapback]334829[/snapback]</div>

I normally don't even hit "auto" and it seems to warm up just fine - maybe I should try it - I think though in auto I am limited to where I can send the "conditioned air".

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusRos @ Oct 18 2006, 06:47 PM) [snapback]334832[/snapback]</div>

The best solution I found was to get accustomed to using the temp adjust buttons on the steering wheel.

The A/C will run in the defrost setting to help dry the air.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Oct 18 2006, 09:17 PM) [snapback]334877[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(richard schumacher @ Oct 19 2006, 08:22 AM) [snapback]334974[/snapback]</div>

Yeah -- it seems you have to bump it way down though, and then adjust it back up. Also, sometimes I just want air without heating or cooling but have difficulty figuring out the right sequence of button presses to turn off the A/C. It seems I sometimes can't get the A/C button to turn off. I usually get it in the end, but I kind of just stumble into the correct sequence!