Does AC operate all the time when set in AUTO?

 

yes.
It will run less when its cold out, and more when its hot.
You can turn it off and run in auto with no ac, as long as its not
real humid, the ac system gets rid of the humidity in the car that
can fog up the windows.

No need for it on a cold dry day though.

Brett

 

No, it doesn't run all of the time. It does though in the manual mode setting. In auto mode, it cycles.

 

thanks for the answers

 

I know what your talking about, and yes it does run all the time if you run in auto or just try to bring in fresh air with the fan on. Summer and winter if you don't want it on you have to push the a/c button so it shows off. I think for the a/c to default on, is a poor design on Honda,s part. I also have a 2004 Honda Pilot that does the same thing, it's a little bit of a pain in the butt.

 

one other questuin - if i turn off AC, are the other settings still automatic or do i have to change them as well (vents, circulation etc)?

 

Once you press any button like air flow mode, vent speed, AC on/off button etc... the AUTO option is gone out the window, from that point its all manual

 

no I don't think that's the case. even auto message is gone, fan speed seems to adjust automatiaclly

 

Sorry to have to disagree with a few posters here, but the original question was, "Does AC operate all the time when set in AUTO". If one takes the assumption that by this question, the poster means "does the A/C compressor operate all of the time, the answer is "NO". The compressor does NOT run all of the time when the Auto mode is activated. Listen.. you can clearly hear it engaging and disengaging. However, in manual mode, the compressors DOES operate all of the time regardless of the temperature setting you chose.

 

I think the design is great in Auto. It only runs when needed to keep the humidity down. If you want to turn it off completly, just push the AC button and it will show "AC off" and the compressor will never run. The only time I turn my AC off is on a really cold dry day otherwise I get fog on the windows in the winter.

 

The correct thing to have said was the compressor cycles on and off all the time in auto.
The compressor NEVER runs all the time in any car, only till the evap temp
gets low enough to shut the compressor off.

In real hot weather, at high fan speeds, the compressor may run for quite some time, but it will shut off when the evap coil gets cold enough.
On some cars this is done with pressure sensors, on others its an
actual temp sensor in the coil.

My Jaguar had the sensor in the coil, and you could select the temp it ran at,
allowing you to set the humidity in the car.

Most cars will run the evap temp at about 35 degrees and adjust airflow
through the evap and heater core to give the temp you want.

On a cool day, the evap will have no problem getting down and staying
at that temp, so the compressor will not run much.

No need to run it at all if its cool and dry out though.

You really notice the ac compressor operation in the TL.
On the Jaguar and the Passat, you could not feel it unless you
really tried.
I find the windshield wipers clunky as well.

Brett

 

He changed his question mid-way throught the post...but I agree with you for your anwser to the first question.

 

I personally dont think so...I have noticed that once I switch to manual mode all the other functions are manual also...the vent stays @ the speed it was when you switch to manual...

someone else can confirm....I will also try it on my way home today to see..

 

It has been my experience that once you override you're on complete manual control. If you manually override the AC, all other controls will stay where they are until you manually select a different setting.