bymer

Hey guys,

With the hot & humid summer days upon me, I am using the A/C more often.
I have always wondered how the Automatic mode works for the A/C.

When the Auto & A/C is on, the car regulates the fan speed as it reaches the target temperature, say 70 Degrees. My issue/question is that when the temperature is reached, the auto mode does NOT turn off the AC (Snowflake) it keeps on running. Same goes for when I press Auto (without the A/C running) the car just ramps up the fan dials and does NOT turn on the A/C.

Is the car capable of turning ON/OFF the AC as needed in order to reach the desired temperature instead of you manually having to engage the button? Is this something that can be coded or it just cannot happen?

Thank you!

tom_il

When you press auto the A/C always goes on. Unless you have coded it away.

Why would you expect the A/C to go off when the temp is reached ? How do you expect the temp to be kept when the A/C of off ? Maybe in the winter this would work but def not in the summer.

baveagle

Set the temperature and select Auto and be done with it. Works for me during spring, summer, fall and winter. A/C is on only when needed to either keep the selected temperature or control humidity. Auto also controls heating, sometimes in combination with A/C.

bymer

I see your point Tom, I was just curious as to whether the Auto mode has the capability to turn off the A/C function by itself, as mine does not due to as you mentioned, the hot weather.

Baveage, you mention the A/C is only one when needed to keep the selected temperature, does it at times shut off in auto or you manually depress it?

Thanks guys!

audiophool

The A/C light will be on but the compressor itself only cycles as required.

I second the "leave it in AUTO and forget it" way. All I ever change is the set temperature (+/- 3C (lower in winter, higher in summer)) as required to keep an even temp. Long gone are the days of fussing with the controls.* Once in a blue moon you need to use the defrost setting...

*Actually just back from a couple weeks on Hawaii and we rented a Focus with manual AC. What a pain to be constantly fiddling with fan speed, temperature and vent settings. Auto AC FTW!

bymer

Yeah that is what I do, i usually adjust the temperature dials to my desired temp and the auto A/C just dials back the intensity once it gets closer to that temperature that I have set. It just seems to be on the WHOLE time as I can feel cold air coming out the vents even when the intensity(orange light) is at 2-3.

Never knew the A/C compressor cycles itself but I hope it is true in auto. Thanks!

tom_il

yeah offcoure it will keep on blowing cold air to keep the temperature in car constant. Don't forget there is constant heating of the car by the sun or hotter outside temp. The only way to keep it cool is to blow colder air all the time. A/C won't cycle much unless there is no need to cool the car.

DavidF

If and when the a/c compressors cycles on and off, the snowflake button stays illuminated. If the button illumination cycled on and off with the compressor then people would notice it off and press the button to turn on the a/c, but in reality would be turning it off. User would be constantly chasing the button light.

Auto mode requires the a/c to be on summer or winter to function properly.

EddieboyS

You can disengage the compressor by pressing the snowflake button but it will reactivate and remain activated if you hit auto.

bymer

That answers my question, that illuminated snowflake was what was troubling me in terms of whether the compressor was turning itself off or not. Now I understand.

Thank you all!