It's been 20F here the last few days, and even if I hop into the car (inside freezing) and pop on the heat, I notice that the compressor still cycles at stop lights, etc.
Normally I just turn AC OFF during the winter (cycle it every other week though just to keep seals lubed); I'm curious why the climate control cycles the compressor when cooling is NOT necessary?? Is it compensating for the heat of the air leaving the heater core??

 

the ac compressor cycles cause its suppose to. it comes on to help dry the air so your windows dont fog up . if you notice when you turn the defrost on the ac light comes on

 

I totally understand when the defroster setting is selected, but not just heat. As far as I know, the CC system does not have a humidistat. So, unless a honda engineer just thought it'd be neat to cycle the compressor when the heat is on just to reduce humidity in the car, I have no understanding of why it happens.

 

Read the manual, it tells you that it WILL cycle because that is the way it controls the temperature and like fstty said also to keep the humidity out.

 

Severin brings up a good point. Its been getting that cold here in NJ too and i always use the heat with AC OFF. My windows don't get fogged up. I never even have to use the defroster only when it rain, and even then the windows barly get foggy..

It just seems like a waste to always have the compressor cyling on and off when u don't even need it. Wastes gas and puts extra wear on the A/C components.

I do however cycle the compressor atleast once a week in the winter to keep the system A/C system parts lubricated...

i don't like this aspect of the CC system at all.

 

vtec11 it hasnt been cold enough with enough moisture to fog up i bet, wait till its winter (snowing) . if the ac compressor wouldnt last long doing that they never would have designed it to. it shouldnt do it unless you turn the ac on, turn defrost on, or have it on full auto.

 

fsttyms1,

well i think in the teens is pretty cold enough. And i don't mind it using the compressor with the defrost on, but not with just the heater on. I don't think that makes much sense to have the humidity being sucked up by the TL heater. I mean, in the winter we WANT humidity with heat. That's why we use humidifiers in the winters and DEhumids in the summer. I don't see people running there dehumids in the winter at all..

 

The defrost feature turns on the compressor full blast to suck out the humidity. It also speeds up clearing your window of frost, fog, ice, etc. The CC is pretty decent compared to other cars, (my brother's I35 T's CC doesn't work as well. The compressor turns on and off when required (full auto). You can manually turn off the compressor by pushing the A/C button to display A/C off. But on a damp day, you will notice your windows fog up.

You don't have to worry about ruining the compressor during winter (I heard this is big no-no on domestic cars) since Honda encourages you to use the A/C to keep the seals in good shape.

My dad had gone thru so many domestics with leaky seals and valves and had to go thru an annual refill/ repair beacuse the A/C had not been used all winter long.

 

i didnt say just cold, when there is moisture (snow) thats when you get excessive moisture hence the ac being needed. you wouldnt dry the air out so much that your going to start chapping your lips but it helps keeping the windows clean. all it takes is a little humidity in the car and the windows WILL fog up. the ac shouldnt be on with just the heat unless you have it on FULL auto

 

i just have the one auto button since i have the navi. so it usually off. i click AUTO, then turn the AC off from the navi screen most of the time.. but even when its not snowing or raining dude, the AC is on like most of the time..

how do u use it fsttyms1.. FULL auto??

 

my ac is only on if i turn the defrost on in the winter or want the car cooler in the summer