How do you turn the interior fan on for heat without the A/C coming on? I know you can instantly click it off but is this the only way.

 

bump... i've always wondered the same thing... something odd about the a/c coming on when it's minus -15 outside!! (... i'm from Toronto)

 

The AC light will allways come on. The Compressor (with the heat on) will just Dry the Air to alow for better Defrosting Does it still do it if you are not in Auto mode? I will try that later

 

bump, I'm curious too.

 

Ya know.. I've been annoyed w/ the A/C coming on ever since winter started. Heat set to 90.. No auto.. and it always comes on. So I'll kill it.. if you switch to defrost or to another setting, It'll come on again. I'd like to get to the bottom of this also.

 

when you have both the fan and the circulation mode in auto position, the ac automatically comes on. you can push the button to turn it off. And, if you set the fan to a manual position (i.e., anything other than auto) and turn the ac off, it will stay off unless you go back to auto fan or engage it manually. I guess they presume that if you are going to run in full auto mode, then that implies you'll let the computer decide how to deploy the compressor. Otherwise, it's not auto, is it? That is the idea behind set it and forget it. Just move it to a manual mode and then you can decide when you do and don't want the ac on.

 

The problem is I (we) always turn the fan off when we get home, otherwise we will freeze in the morning while the car is warming up. With settings at fresh air and manual vent the a/c always comes on when the fan is turned on for heat...guess we're stuck with it. Have a Prelude with a separate a/c switch, when it's turned off it stays off unless I switch to defrost. Heck I'd trade the separate switch for the worthless Auto.

 

I love the auto heat and air conditioning. I just set the temperature at around 75 degrees and don't worry about it . The car just keeps me comfortable. Gotta love the automatic conveniences.

Les

 

A/C means AIR CONDITIONING it does not imply that "Cold air" is going to come out!

The A/C light simply means that the air is being dehumidified (sp?) before coming into the car, as someone said above, this is primarily due to the fact that it helps the car defrost much faster and from the windows "fogging" up on the inside(this would explain the reason for the A/C light coming on when you switch to defrost).

How about you trade your intellect for the separate switch because.....the Auto isn't the thing thats "worthless".

 

Since I'm not very smart I believed the guy that told me a/c takes about 20hp. I don't like constantly checking to see if it's on if I want to raise a little hell. One man's trash is another man's treasure, I'm glad you treasure your Auto Switch...I treasure HP.

 

Didn't think there was a way around this, (I'm turning the fan switch past auto, it's 22deg here) I think they just want us to run the pump a lot to keep the seals wet or something. Something else to check if you run in to a little challenge on the way to work. The climate control does work well on trips but I would like to control a/c (in cold weather) manually around town.

 

The fan switch is definitely poorly designed. They should have put the OFF setting between the manual speed setting and the AUTO setting. That way you could turn the fan off without having to move through the AUTO setting first.

However, I find that you can just move the fan to its lowest speed setting (right before the Auto position) and then it will be soft enough so you don't freeze in the morning. It's no replacement for a good design, but it's a fair workaround.

-D'oh!

 

I agree D'oh, guess we can't have it all. Your suggestion does work above 32Deg.

 

Yes you can, just have a switch that disconnects the AC compressor solenoid. This way, when you flip the switch inside the cabin the AC will never activate (even though the light MAY be on, the compressor will never click) and wallah -- its off. Sure its a bit rough of a job, but hey it works.

THiNK

 

actually if you put the switch to "auto", the fan won't turn on until the engine is warm... so that way it never blows cold air at you... try it... it's pretty cool

but for me, the compressor cranking in the winter is not as annoying as the fact that it's sapping my HP and lowering my fuel economy for no reason

 

Strife, I didn't know the fan stayed off till warm on Auto...I remember reading that in the manual now, thanks for the reminder.

The compressor probably comes on as soon as the fan does though, I'll check tomorrow.

Going to ask my Dad if his Buick works like this.

 

hey vic... np... as a matter of fact though, you're right, the compressor does turn on!

so although it's convenient that it doesn't blow cold air at you , it doesn't help the hp/fuel economy much either