Cimate control too controlling
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 951
Likes: 3
From: Placerville CA
Cimate control too controlling
My automatic climate control is beginning to make me feel like a henpecked husband -- you know, always being told what you want and what's good for you instead of being able to make your own decisions. The owner's manual seems to indicate that there is a setting that allows you to admit outside air without any automatic temperature modification, but I'll be damned if I can find it. The manual says to use the upper vent button for outside air ventilation, but it also says to adjust the temperature to a "comfortable" setting.
HELLO? I don't want "comfortable" -- I want outside ambient temperature, whatever it may be. Am I correct in assuming that in order to get outside air that is neither cooled or warmed by this electronic dictator I have to accurately divine the outside temp and use exactly that temp setting? It certainly seems that at some point the thing takes over control and decides what I want even when I'm not using the auto function button.
Is this thing a descendant of HAL from "2001: A Space Odyssey"? "I'm doing this for your own good, Dave...."
HELLO? I don't want "comfortable" -- I want outside ambient temperature, whatever it may be. Am I correct in assuming that in order to get outside air that is neither cooled or warmed by this electronic dictator I have to accurately divine the outside temp and use exactly that temp setting? It certainly seems that at some point the thing takes over control and decides what I want even when I'm not using the auto function button.
Is this thing a descendant of HAL from "2001: A Space Odyssey"? "I'm doing this for your own good, Dave...."
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Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
The button that indicates the upper vents is the outside air. It's the third or fourth button maybe two to the right of the recirculation button. You don't need to adjust the temp but you may want to adjust the fan speed to your liking.
But you may need to lower the temp so you don't get heat, I'm not sure now.
But you may need to lower the temp so you don't get heat, I'm not sure now.
Last edited by RetiredSFC 97; Sep 13, 2010 at 10:54 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,142
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From: San Antonio Texas
I know what you mean. It took me a while to figure that thing out too. If you push the button for dash air only, you get outside air with no A/C but you have to adjust the temp to something below outside air temp or it will add heat to it. [ A Vette in Texas has enough hot air in and around it already!] The button with vent and under dash is an A/C controlled position. I do love the Auto button though when on the road. Just set the temp and drive from desert to mountain and the temp stays the same. Windows down and dash vent driving are usually reserved for cooler days here in Texas.
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Rolla Missouri
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St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
The only setting that will not run the a/c compressor is the "Vent" setting.
This is the button with the arrow pointing at the mans head.
All other settings will run the A/C compressor if/when the temp setting calls for it.
In the vent setting the temp will be whatever the outside air temp is. You can adjust the temp to warm the air up if needed, but it will never be cooler than ambient outside temp.
This is the button with the arrow pointing at the mans head.
All other settings will run the A/C compressor if/when the temp setting calls for it.
In the vent setting the temp will be whatever the outside air temp is. You can adjust the temp to warm the air up if needed, but it will never be cooler than ambient outside temp.
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The only setting that will not run the a/c compressor is the "Vent" setting.
This is the button with the arrow pointing at the mans head.
All other settings will run the A/C compressor if/when the temp setting calls for it.
In the vent setting the temp will be whatever the outside air temp is. You can adjust the temp to warm the air up if needed, but it will never be cooler than ambient outside temp.
This is the button with the arrow pointing at the mans head.
All other settings will run the A/C compressor if/when the temp setting calls for it.
In the vent setting the temp will be whatever the outside air temp is. You can adjust the temp to warm the air up if needed, but it will never be cooler than ambient outside temp.
And to disable the A/C compressor, make sure the AUTO button on the right side of the panel (surrounded by the FAN speed buttons) is not illuminated.
This way, you can manually set the blower speed and interior temp out of the vents without any AUTO CLIMATE CONTROL assistance.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 951
Likes: 3
From: Placerville CA
In the vent setting the temp will be whatever the outside air temp is. You can adjust the temp to warm the air up if needed, but it will never be cooler than ambient outside temp.
1) use the "face" vent button; and
2) set the temperature as low as it will go so that the heater is not activated.
Is that right? It would be a lot better if the heater was disabled along with the a/c on that vent setting. As long as there is a fully "auto" setting available I can't see why the thing needs to make ANY decisions for me if I don't want them.
This looks like the kind of thing a marketing department dreamed up. The focus group they used probably didn't understand the apparatus, either, but liked all the buttons.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
Just use the button that indicates the upper vents and then use the fan control speed buttons. It should allow outside air in, but will only allow in what the fan speed is set for. It's not like the old cars when set the outside air and it blows freely.
To be sure adjust the temp buttons so you don't kick on the heater. Adjust the temp to a temp at or below the outside temp. I don't know if you actually have to set the temp or not so just play with it and see what happens.
I seldom use mine actually but have on a few occassions.
To be sure adjust the temp buttons so you don't kick on the heater. Adjust the temp to a temp at or below the outside temp. I don't know if you actually have to set the temp or not so just play with it and see what happens.
I seldom use mine actually but have on a few occassions.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
So to get completely unconditioned air I need to:
1) use the "face" vent button; and
2) set the temperature as low as it will go so that the heater is not activated.
Is that right? It would be a lot better if the heater was disabled along with the a/c on that vent setting. As long as there is a fully "auto" setting available I can't see why the thing needs to make ANY decisions for me if I don't want them.
This looks like the kind of thing a marketing department dreamed up. The focus group they used probably didn't understand the apparatus, either, but liked all the buttons.
1) use the "face" vent button; and
2) set the temperature as low as it will go so that the heater is not activated.
Is that right? It would be a lot better if the heater was disabled along with the a/c on that vent setting. As long as there is a fully "auto" setting available I can't see why the thing needs to make ANY decisions for me if I don't want them.
This looks like the kind of thing a marketing department dreamed up. The focus group they used probably didn't understand the apparatus, either, but liked all the buttons.
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So to get completely unconditioned air I need to:
1) use the "face" vent button; and
2) set the temperature as low as it will go so that the heater is not activated.
Is that right? It would be a lot better if the heater was disabled along with the a/c on that vent setting. As long as there is a fully "auto" setting available I can't see why the thing needs to make ANY decisions for me if I don't want them.
This looks like the kind of thing a marketing department dreamed up. The focus group they used probably didn't understand the apparatus, either, but liked all the buttons.
1) use the "face" vent button; and
2) set the temperature as low as it will go so that the heater is not activated.
Is that right? It would be a lot better if the heater was disabled along with the a/c on that vent setting. As long as there is a fully "auto" setting available I can't see why the thing needs to make ANY decisions for me if I don't want them.
This looks like the kind of thing a marketing department dreamed up. The focus group they used probably didn't understand the apparatus, either, but liked all the buttons.
It has nothing to do with being "full auto" really. You don't have a control valve to shut the water flow off from running through the heater core.
So, by setting the temp to lower than outside temp you are preventing the blend door from opening and allowing heated air to enter the system.
I guess if you want to disable the heater, you could splice a valve into the heater hose, so you could shut if completely off.
People have done that if they have a leaking heater core and they don't want to fix it.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 951
Likes: 3
From: Placerville CA
You don't need to set the temp as low as it will go. Just set it at or below the outside air temp.
Race Director
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From: Manheim Pennsylvania
To get outside air through the vent system, first turn auto system off then push in the upper vent air button. This gives you ambient outside air. Works great when the car has not been driven. The air passages heat up when the car is stopped after being driven, when you start driving again the vent air is hot. To correct this, operate the air conditioner a few minutes to cool the air passages than reprogram for outside air. I use the outside air position often with the top down.