Greetings community!

I have kind of specific question for which I did not find an answer (but could be I am bad at search so excuse me for the duplicate if any)

I have Acura RDX 2018 Tech and long story short after some repair work done to the expansion valve, my wife (who is primary driver) complains that the climate control Auto mode when AC is ON does not change air direction to the windshield vents

So the questions are:
1) should the climate control Auto mode once activated automatically for the AC change air flow direction to the windshield vents?
2) is there some trick to the mode button & associated air flow gate actuator to make it work properly while assembly\disassembly is done?

More context about work being done cause I am still in process of repair my car at the same car shop - I met few issues so far:
1) after initial expansion valve replace was done and I picked up my car I noticed that air was blowing only from windshield vents and foot vents (no middle front & rear vents air flow at all). The mode button did not change the air flow direction.
2) I brought my car back to car shop second time: They repeated disassembly/assembly procedure and after the air flow direction (the mode button) started to work. They confirmed that they missed some connection. However the air flow from the windshield vents was noticeably weaker compared to what was before the initial repair
3) I brought it back third time & they disassembled the area under the glove box again, and while it was opened I was able to test the mode button - and it was working fine - air direction was properly changing according to selected mode and the air flow force was kind of Ok from all the vents. But once they put all plastic cover back in place - Mode button stopped to work again
And the air was blowing only from windshield vents and foot vents
4) Now I need to bring it 4th time to car shop to, again, repeat all these steps and see what causes the mode button/controller not functioning

I am still not sure what is the expected behavior for the AUTO mode when AC is ON. What it does right now is:
1) makes air flow blowing faster
2) does not change the air direction

I am looking for some confirmation form other RDX 2018 owners in regards to expected behavior, thank you in advance

Any hints or advices are very appreciate

Thank you
Sincerely
Vova

 

Can you manually test each flow - floor, bi-level, dash, windshield? If everything works when you set the mode manually, switch to auto, and then play with the temperature. Max cold should direct most air out of the dash vents. Max hot should be mostly floor, and some windshield and a little bit out of the side dash vents. If the system does not work this way, then I'd say back to the shop it goes.

 

Many thanks for your reply samiam_68!

At first, when I picked up car from car shop, manual mode selection did not work. I found a guide how to run self diagnostic and it did show MODE MOTOR LOCK ERROR - see attached images below
Later, I do not know how - but the ERROR was resolved somehow on its own after few hours walking around the car with both keys)

Later will test how the AUTO works according to your description
Reading in other threads seems the behavior of AUTO mode also might depend on the sun sensor under the windshield
Today is not a hot day - will try eventually

Thank you!