Couldn't think of anywhere else to put this. Whenever I want to adjust the temp in my car, I never actually turn on the A/C. I'll just set the temperature to whatever I want it at and turn on the fan. Is this using A/C?

I was recently told that what I do is just blowing air straight into the cabin. If I were to set the temperature to its coldest setting during a hot summer day, I wouldn't actually get cold air, but I know I do. I don't need to turn on the air-conditioning to get cold air.

So what exactly does the A/C do that climate control doesn't? I'm stumped

 

uh... climate control allows you to set your desired temperature. They hvac system automatically mixes a combination of hot and cold air to achieve the set temperature. If you set it to the lowest temp. possible, then it only blows cold air, and vise versa.

so yes, your a/c is on if it is hot outside and you set it to 65 degrees.

 

that's strange, shouldn't the A/C light come on then?

Basically I have an icon on my stereo screen that's usually blank, but will sometimes say A/C on, or A/C off. So if it's blank and it's blowing cool air on a hot day, the A/C has to be on?

 

Regardless of what you set your temperture to, the A/C will only come on IF it has been enabled. You do this one of three ways (this assumes you have NAV);

1. You manually turn it on.
2. You use the AUTO mode.
3. You verbally instruct the system to turn on.

If you do not want to use your A/C, don't use the AUTO mode. Rather, adjust your temperature, vent settings, and fan speed manually. I do this most of the time during the summer except for those times when I want to use the A/C and then I use the AUTO mode with my desired temperature (usually I set it at something like 72-76).

The HVAC system, in conjunction with the NAV, is quite involved and allows a lot of options plus it does a lot of things in the background on its own when coupled with the AUTO setting. So just setting the temperature to its lowest setting and not turning on the A/C means... your A/C will not be in use. And this is very simple to detect. You can hear, and feel, the compressor engaging and disengaging when the A/C is in use. That and the fact that your display will indicate whether or not it is on of off.