Climate Controls - Is this Normal?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 662
Likes: 111
From: Carmel, NY & Bradenton, FL
Climate Controls - Is this Normal?
Now that we’re starting to see colder weather and the need for heat I’ve noticed that the AC light always comes on when I press AUTO. Even if the temp is set for 70°F and it’s cold in the car, the AC light comes on. If I hit the AC button, both lights go off.
It doesn’t seem like there’s any way to have AUTO temp control for heat without having the AC on. Is something wrong – it shouldn’t be like this?
It doesn’t seem like there’s any way to have AUTO temp control for heat without having the AC on. Is something wrong – it shouldn’t be like this?
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 35,730
Likes: 148
From: Northern NYs Adirondack Mountains,http://www.visitsacandaga.com.
Now that we’re starting to see colder weather and the need for heat I’ve noticed that the AC light always comes on when I press AUTO. Even if the temp is set for 70°F and it’s cold in the car, the AC light comes on. If I hit the AC button, both lights go off.
It doesn’t seem like there’s any way to have AUTO temp control for heat without having the AC on. Is something wrong – it shouldn’t be like this?
It doesn’t seem like there’s any way to have AUTO temp control for heat without having the AC on. Is something wrong – it shouldn’t be like this?
O well mostly a moot point now in a few days it goes away for its winter sleep, we hit 25 degrees last night and its only 32 now.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,482
Likes: 668
From: Kilmarnock Va
I think whoever invented the auto thing wasn't using common sense.But I've seen that quite a bit through my life.When engineers come up with something they should have A more normal person,average IQ to check it out.
Anyway I don't use auto.
Anyway I don't use auto.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 954
Likes: 269
From: San Jose
AC dehumidifies the air. If its cold and wet, that's exactly what you need; nice dry air. You should be able to turn off the AC and retain AUTO.
I can't verify, my car isn't in for 2 more weeks...
I can't verify, my car isn't in for 2 more weeks...
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 662
Likes: 111
From: Carmel, NY & Bradenton, FL
On my other cars, the AC comes on with the defroster to dry the air - makes sense. But why can't you have AUTO heat without running the AC in a C7? Besides chilling the air when you want heat, it's a hit on performance & fuel economy.
It's either a really dumb design or a widespread malfunction.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,941
Likes: 499
From: Northern Virginia
Actually, you can. You never really have totally manual control in this car except when the temp is set to Lo or Hi. If you're on auto, and press the AC button to turn that off, the car still tries to maintain the temp you've set on the ****.
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 662
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From: Carmel, NY & Bradenton, FL
But it's still a really dumb design. Not much point having an AUTO button if it's always in AUTO anyway.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2012
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From: Best Island in the U.S.
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '17
HOOK-EM HORNS
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Port Aransas, Texas Tx
St. Jude Donor '08
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,482
Likes: 668
From: Kilmarnock Va
[QUOTE=TEXASRANGER;1590719771]If you don't want the Windows foged up you put the defroster on.
Last edited by thrilled; Oct 18, 2015 at 07:29 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,244
Likes: 122
From: st paul minnesota
My wife's previous SRX had the same kind of setup. A "snowflake" (A/C) would light up when in the auto mode whether it was 80 above or 10 below. Never did figure out the logic of that. Her new one has the CUE system and that has changed. The system on my '14 operates like all of you have described, although I still recall older cars I've owned where auto simply meant auto and you got heat or A/C without trying to beat or challenge the system.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,099
Likes: 64
From: Houston TX
St. Jude Donor '09
All I know is that the Auto function works in my car year-round. The ac light may only mean that ac is available to the auto climate control, not that it is actively running.
Also, in my C5 and C6, the ac would blow from the top vents when the sun was shining in the windshield to offset the effect of the sun, and blow warm air on my feet to maintain the cabin temp I set. I believe the C7 does the same thing. Pretty smart system really. Just set the temp and forget.
Also, in my C5 and C6, the ac would blow from the top vents when the sun was shining in the windshield to offset the effect of the sun, and blow warm air on my feet to maintain the cabin temp I set. I believe the C7 does the same thing. Pretty smart system really. Just set the temp and forget.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 113
From: Bellevue WA
Now that we’re starting to see colder weather and the need for heat I’ve noticed that the AC light always comes on when I press AUTO. Even if the temp is set for 70°F and it’s cold in the car, the AC light comes on. If I hit the AC button, both lights go off.
It doesn’t seem like there’s any way to have AUTO temp control for heat without having the AC on. Is something wrong – it shouldn’t be like this?
It doesn’t seem like there’s any way to have AUTO temp control for heat without having the AC on. Is something wrong – it shouldn’t be like this?
Pro
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 565
Likes: 143
From: Bedford VA
It works the same on both my cars with auto climate control. In addition to humidity control, it might also have something to do with individual passenger/driver control. You can't set one side lower than the other if all you have running is heat. I don't think the compressor clutch engages unless A/C is required to satisfy the settings.
Drifting
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,300
Likes: 39
From: White Oak NC
All I know is that the Auto function works in my car year-round. The ac light may only mean that ac is available to the auto climate control, not that it is actively running.
Also, in my C5 and C6, the ac would blow from the top vents when the sun was shining in the windshield to offset the effect of the sun, and blow warm air on my feet to maintain the cabin temp I set. I believe the C7 does the same thing. Pretty smart system really. Just set the temp and forget.
Also, in my C5 and C6, the ac would blow from the top vents when the sun was shining in the windshield to offset the effect of the sun, and blow warm air on my feet to maintain the cabin temp I set. I believe the C7 does the same thing. Pretty smart system really. Just set the temp and forget.
Those who say just turn on the defog if the windshield fogs up, have you noticed that after a few minutes condensation spots form and they only go away if you turn the defog back off? Wouldn't you rather have a smart system keeping the fog away to start with?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,162
Likes: 114
From: Prosper, TX
Originally Posted by BenCasey
AC dehumidifies the air. If its cold and wet, that's exactly what you need; nice dry air. You should be able to turn off the AC and retain AUTO.
I can't verify, my car isn't in for 2 more weeks...
I can't verify, my car isn't in for 2 more weeks...
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 13,733
Likes: 66
From: Hurst, TX USA
I noticed the past few days where the temps in the DFW area were in the 50-60s that when starting the car the AC is on and you get a blast of cold air even with the temp set at 75 or so and the inside is at 60. It was so bad yesterday that my wife turned all the vents away from her (which made them blow on me, of course...
) It is worse when the car is parked in the sun, I guess the computer thinks "Sun -- must be hot."
Just an observation, no solution...
) It is worse when the car is parked in the sun, I guess the computer thinks "Sun -- must be hot."Just an observation, no solution...