Others may have noticed this also:

On Accords and the TL the auto climate control bleeds some ambient air even when off. On a slightly cold day when you want a bit of heat (with the system off) you can cycle the red temp up button - as if you were in one of the auto or manual modes - to add a bit of heat into the background airflow.

 

Cool! or should I say hot?

I knew about the ambient air flow but did not know that when the climate control system was "OFF" the temp switches still affect the temp of the ambient airflow.

 

my experience was that when it was off, temp button does not work

someone verify this plz

 

I'll have to check this out- that would kick ass if you used that feature with the sunroof tilted up. I like some warm air coming at my feet on a cool day.

 

Why not just leave the climate control on "auto" all the time. Set the temp to whatever you want and forget it. That's what auto climate control does.

As far as having a little heat at your feet with the top popped, well, just turn temp up until warm air is coming out the vent. I have a 91 Firebird with T-tops and have used AC in the summer at full blast with the tops off. I know it doesn't make sense however it gets quite warm when sitting at those traffic lights. Also done the opposite. Tops off in the winter with heat full blast at the floor.

 

i'm gonna have to try this. i usually turn on auto, and put it on the temp i want, then turn it off and let the air come in.

 

That would be nice if it worked. Like in the old days of manual climate controls I would turn the dial all the way to red and feel the ambient warm air come in. Granted, now we can use auto mode but if you want to save gas, this is a great solution.

 

I use this feature all the time. Just turn on the AC and set the temp that you want and shut it off. If you leave it on 80+ and turn the air conditioner off hot air will flow through the system.

 

All you have to do it set it at the temperature, and then turn it off.

Also, if you want a bit more airflow, crack a window, or tilt the sunroof up, this will increase the airflow AS If the a/c is actually on!!!

 

Mainly because the Auto mode cycles the A/C.. even in the cooler months. Since this is not necessary, the manual mode is better with the airflow directed where you want. I have found that the manual mode does a fine job of keeping the cabin comfortable and the Auto mode is excellent in the summertime when you want to use the A/C. Nice balance and the reason Acura made sure both options were available to the user.

Another nice thing. Many cars automatically invoke the A/C when you select the defrost option. Not our TLs. This is up to the driver, and this is a very good thing since there are times when you do not need to have the A/C on when using the defroster.

I like to have the choice of controlling what I want to use when I want to use it.

 

This is something I have been doing since I bought the car. When you adjust the temp on the auto, it moves the flap to the desired position. If you set it to warm, it allows the air to run over the heater core first then into the car, with a blend of the cool air. At a sit still you will not notice it as much. When you are out on the highway, and you set it, you can really tell. Unless its really cold or really hot or its raining, I rarely have the AC/Heat on. I use the heated seats before I turn the heat on. Gotta love those heated seats!!!!

 

This is how use it as well.

 

This does indeed work. If you push the recirc button on, it will turn this "feature" off.

Also surprised to hear that defrost does not automatically invoke the AC. That's news to me, but I'll have to try it. Customarilly, you turn the defroster on to remove "humidity" from the windows, which is what an air conditioner does. If you're leaving your defroster on for more than a minute or two to clear the windows, something isn't right.

Additionally, if it's rainy and such outside and your windows are fogging up, leaving the AC on and the temp a little higher keeps you from leaving the defogger on or cycling back to it. Less humidity in the car, less fog on the windows.

 

This is if you are using the defroster in the manual mode.. i.e. by manually directing airflow to the windshield. This is a preferred method in some situations. If you just press the defrost button, you will engage the A/C which is a preferred method in certain cases, as well.

 

Perfect timing with this thread! I noticed this yesterday and thought it strange that it would vent cold air even when off.

 

even cars with normal A/C (slide or twist temp control) have that. It only works for heat (because you always have hot water in the heater core) and for letting outside air in (temp depends on weather).

If you turn the fans off and have recirculate off, there is nothing to stop the fresh air from being forced in (and if you have the vent set to heat -- through the heater core) thus you get warm air.

 

And I'm (Seriously) just curious - when would you want defrosting without AC?

 

Most of the time I use my defroster, I do so without engaging the A/C. Perhaps it has something to do with the area in which I live. About the only time I've found the "normal" defrosting mode (as in push the button and let the A/C do its thing) is during the summer months. And even then, I don't use the defroster button.. I use the A/C Auto setting and let the whole car defrost (as in all of the windows).

Oh.. there is one other time when I find the normal defroster mode beneficial. When there are several people in my car. However, that's pretty rare.

 

I tried this yesterday. It did not work. I had the climate control off...the temp set to "Lo" when I shut it off. After several miles, the air out of the vent was still cold. Using the temp buttons did nothing. I turned the climate control to "auto" and raised the them to 75...and shut it off. The air no longer came out of the ducts...but had moved to the floor...and it was warm.

 

Yes, I don't think it changes when the climate control is off. Only when it is on and you change the temp and turn if off will it work. Either way, it's good to know about this feature. I turned mine to Hi this morning and shut if off.

 

Seems like every time I have someone in the car, which is quite rare..
THEY FALL ASLEEP!!!!!!
Never seen a car this comfy that handles like this.
I've had 3 MR2's, so I know a little about handling, but no one fell asleep in them.
Even if I stuck them in the back seat ))))
Sheez, I crack myself up!
Help me, southernboy!

 

It is due to the increased pressure on the outside of the car when you are driving. My CL does the same thing. If you want to ride with the windows and/or sunroof open and don't want the air to come in. Press the Recirculate button with the unit is off. This closes the valve and you will not get the air blowing through the vents.