Owned a Z for a week, what's up with the auto climate control?
 

Hey, everyone, I just bought a used 350Z about a week ago and I couldn't be happier. It's a silver touring model with about 30,000 miles on it and the previous owner only wanted $20,000 so I'd say I got a good deal. Other than the famous tire cupping issue, I'm more than satisfied.

One quick question, though. I noticed that whenever I turn on the far right climate control knob (without the far left knob set to AUTO), that no matter what the setting are on the other two knobs, the AC comes on automatically and I have to push it to shut it off every time. What's up with that? I've pored over the owner's manual trying to find the answer to no avail. Does anybody know how to turn on the climate control without the AC coming on?

BTW, in only a week's time, I've noticed all the teenagers in their Civics and VWs giving me the eagle eye at traffic lights and screeching out once the light turns green. Man, this is ANNOYING. Just the other night, some kid and his three friends in his 2001 Mustang GT convertible were trying to get me to race them at a light but I wouldn't go along (my crazy driving days are far behind me). Hopefully this won't last and I'm certain that I'm not the only Z driver on this board being harrassed by overindulged teenagers.

i have to push it to turn off the AC every single time. :)

i leave the AC on...without the AC my car smell like crap...

I know what your talking about on the 06' mine does it as well. When you turn the fan from off to auto or to a fan level the A/C comes on. Thats just how it is according to the manual.

Yea this is the 1st car I have owned that did this but oh well ...just something you got to deal with...congrats on the new ride.

Ahh good I just thought I was retarted

Sometimes when I start the car the air conditioning is ON and sometimes it is OFF. I think that it depends on what position the knob is in when you shut off the ignition.

The little yellow light on my controls is always on, even if everything is off.

The reason why the A/C appears on all the time is to act as a dehumidifier and keeps the windows from fogging up. Just set the temperature and let the climate control do its thing.

Thanks for the replies, everyone, I'm glad to be part of this Z community. Yeah, I must admit that it is a bit strange that the AC comes on whenever you turn on the climate control NO MATTER WHAT but hey, I'll get over it. My only problem is that it can't be good for the compressor to be turn on and off often in such rapid succession.

One more question, is there any benefit to using the Nissan radiator fluid or should I just stick to the cheap Prestone stuff?

This is the secret...before turning off the ignition set the fan at lowest
speed, turn off compressor, set vents non-auto.

When the car is next started, the compressor will be off, and the fan speed
can be adjusted upward without the compressor turning on.

My compressor hasn't been on in weeks, but the fan still airs out the cabin.