I've posted before that this does not work well, but now I'm wondering if there's a problem. I know the RL has a new feature to account for sunlight hitting the car. I'm wondering if mine could possibly be programmed backwards. Here's what happens. Normally, when I start out in the morning (SF Bay area), outside temp is around 59/60 degrees and the sun is shining, I have to set the temp control to 69 degrees or it blasts hot air. Today, was a cloudy day in the morning, with same temp outside (59), but I had to set temp control on 75 because it was blowing cold air.

I can never leave the temp control on the same temp. Usually, I have to set it at 69 in the morning and 74 at night.

Is this a "feature" or do you think something is wrong. Can't wait to explain this to the Dealer.

From previous posts, I checked the intake fan on the dash and I know it is pulling air into the sensor.

 

Your experience mirrors mine with my '05RL. If my system isn't reacting appropriately, I just run the temp up or down. Taking it out of AUTO seems to even the temps out when it's behaving like this and allows for a more immediate temp change.

Also, I've noticed that changing directions sometimes inexplicably causes the system to begin blowing colder air. I posted about this several months earlier. Most of the time, the system seems to do OK.

 

I get the same kind of response that you get, a blast of cold air or a blast of hot depending on the ambient temperature. I just decided to wait it out one time to see what would happen and after a few minutes it worked perfectly. I guess the system is trying to get the cabin temp to the requested level quickly and then work to maintain it.

 

I think my experience is somewhat different. In the morning, I have to set it at 69 for my entire commute (45 minutes). Same thing going home - set it at 74 and leave it at 74. I cannot leave it at a setting that works throughout the day even if I try to "wait it out".

 

That does sound different. I think I read on this forum or the TL forum (sorry, I don't remember exactly) where someone who had that problem had to have their temperature sensor replaced. You may want to mention your situation to your dealer.

 

I am having similar uneven temperature behavior and control on my 2006 RL. Does anyone have any further information on this? Are the '07's doing the same thing?

Thanks.

 

I have both an RL and a TL, and they both act weird in Auto mode.

With auto climate control, you SHOULD be able to set a temperature and hardly ever need to change it. At least significantly change it. But I routinely have to row my temp buttons up and down by 8 or 10 degrees to be comfortable. On top of that, I seldom have my temp set to what I consider "normal" (70-ish).

And somewhat like yours, getakey, I find I need to set the temp to 76 in the evening just to stay at the same comfort level as in the morning, when I have it at 68.

Go figger.
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Interesting. I have mine set at 70-72 always and haven't noticed any issues with it. Seattle has had some pretty crazy weather this year, but it hasn't affected it....

 

Same here. My climate control is set to 70 degrees unless the wife dials in differently for her side. I have no issues.

 

Well, it seems this is definitely an issue for some RL owners, myself included, but not an issue at all for others. From what I can tell from other posts and threads, dealers will routinely fail to find anything incorrect with HVAC system operation but many owners feel otherwise.

Would Acura Customer Services be likely to provide any information about something like this?

 

wow - thread got re-energized.
Although, I don't like it, I'm now used to setting the temp at 68/69 in the morning and then 72/73 in the evening. Seems like the HVAC reacts more to the outside temp than the inside temp.

 

The car reads the temperature inside and outside. If it does not notice a big difference between the two I think your fan will barely be turning. By cranking up the temperature you're forcing the car to increase the fan speed and add heat/cold depending upon what you do.

A better solution if you just want some air to move through the cabin is to turn the fan on manually and leave it there. My car does the same thing in 'Auto' mode but that is because it is a function of the automatic temperature settings. It only seems to happen in the high 50s or low 60s.

 

I keep mine on Auto and 70 both sides.

On cold cays after cranking up, and when the car is hitting me with way too much hot air, I've found that opening the roof vent and clearing out the cabin seems to even out the temperature...doesn't make any sense, but that's been my experience. My '05RL still performs as I originally posted in this thread. The automatic temperature control isn't even. Sometimes changing directions causes the car to inexplicably blow cold air.

'05RL with +71,000 miles
Delivery June '05

 

Bluemule how is your RL holding up with 71k on it?

 

So far, the car itself is doing very well...legendary Honda fit and finish...quality that I've come to expect from Honda based on my ownership of 2 Hondas since 1990. I'm currently washing the car twice a week...there's no wax on it because I've not had time to properly take care ot it, but it looks great. Seems to be running ok...I get respectable gas mileage...over 25mpg most times.

Occasionally, something clunks from underneath...in the drivetrain/transmission...it did that new.

I'm in love with the nav/Xm/controls.

There is a horrible wear spot on the driver's left bolster that I would have expected a dealer to help me with, but didn't. I've always considered this premature wear.

I find the Michelin Pilot Sports to be a mixed bag at this point...they'll be rotated and balanced on Saturday...quieter and smoother than the originals but are causing a vibration at high speed...quicker in town, possibly because the car is operating a bit higher into the RPM range...but I'm not comfortable with not knowing exactly my speed and will probably go back to the OEM's when these wear out...if I keep the car that long.

There is another thread about when is the RL no longer new...I've never considered my '94 Honda with 460,000+ miles to be old. I've kept it in as original condition as possible and when it's washed and cleaned, have never felt deprived of a new car experience when driving it...the quality of materials and fit/finish are still evident.

The Acura could very well fit into this same category. However, my ownership experience with the RL has been ruined by Acura/Corporate due to service issues.

And, that is the subject for another thread...

 

It's probably worthwhile to say I have had cars with auto climate control for years, including models from GM, BMW, Lexus, Infiniti and others, so in my case it's not a matter of being unfamiliar with these systems and how they work. I'm sure that's true of most others here as well.

But having said that, the Acura system does require some 'driver involvement'. I believe my BMW's required the least jiggering with of all my cars.

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the HVAC is my biggest dissappointment with the RL - so I guess you could say I really like the car since everything else is great! Just don't see how they could screw it up when auto controls have been around so long. The auto control on my 97 Explorer worked better.
The strange thing is that the control seems to function differently during the first 15-20 minutes. Unless the car is really hot or really cold, the fan is at a very low speed and if it is a cool (not cold - around 50 outside) morning it blows hot air unless I set the temp to 68/69. Then after driving 20 minutes at the 68 setting, it starts to gradually blow cooler air, so I have to turn it up to 70/71. Similar, but opposite in the evening. If outside temp is 70 or so, I have to put temp up to 73/74 or system will blow cold air. Then after driving 20 minutes, have to drop back to 72 or so. Its almost exactly 20 minutes in all cases.

 

I noticed this HVAC "problem" within a week after picking up my car. When I mentioned it during my first trip to the dealer, his response was "just don't put in in auto". My reaction was why have an auto setting if I have to operate it in manual? I was trying to find out exactly when the hot / cold air would flip/ flop, and this is what I found. When I first start the car (when it is cold outside) in the auto mode, the airflow is sent mostly to the floor, but some air blows from the vents in the dash. This air is gets hot fairly quickly as the car warms up, which requires me to lower the temp. set point to the mid or low 60's. I thought that there was a problem in the dash damper not closing fully, but according to the owners manual, some air will always blow from the dash vents. After a while, the flow would shift to bi-level, which then would blow cold air out the drivers side vent. This would force me to increase the temp. set point back to the low 70's. Each time the air flow would automatically shift from bi-level to floor, I would have to re-adjust the temp. set point. My solution simply has been to turn off the dash vent when it is very cold outside until the inside temp. of the car warms up. Another possible solution would be to adjust the temp. of the vent air through the voice command. Maybe I'll try that next time.

 

No issues with my auto control. I have had it set at the same temp for months and only have adjusted it on the occasionla day when the car was mega hot from sitting in the sun or if I had a heavier jacket on.

Sorry to hear about the problem for some of you here.

 

Mine works perfectly as well. Based on experiences with my old TL, and the RL, comparing it with other non-Honda/Acura cars I've owned, I've come to believe Acura has some of the better HVAC systems out there. In both my experiences, they've been "Set 'em and forget 'em".

I hardly ever have to fiddle with them.