OK, here's a question:

I've never had a car before with automatic climate control. Always the standard kind with the temp slider and AC on & off switch.

I always liked that setup because in the spring or fall when it rained, I could turn the AC on to dehumidify the air and keep the windows from fogging up. Also in the winter I like to turn the AC on with the heater to freshen the air a bit in the car so it doesn't feel as stuffy.

So the other day I'm driving in the rain and have the temp set at 68 and realized I wanted to turn the AC on and there isn't a way to do so. Just AUTO and ECON. I know that if hit ECON, it takes the AC out of the loop. However, in AUTO mode, the AC only comes on "as needed."

Is there any way to override the brain box and force the AC to come on, or is this one of the tradeoffs I have to live with owning the higher end climate control feature?

Thanks
Murph

 

When you turn on the windshield defogger, the a/c is activated.

 

I don't think there's anyway to get the a/c compressor to activate when it's in regular auto mode and blowing at your feet. As stated, just in defogger mode which obviously redirects the air as well.

 

Hmm.
Well, it's not 100% ideal, but if this is the only complaint I have about the car, life is good.

I wonder if I can manually redirect the air with the "mode" button with the defroster switch turned on. I'll have to remember to try that on my way to work.

 

Just manually adjust the fan and/or vent controls and it will switch from Auto to Manual and should engage the A/C compressor. Another thing to do is set the temp to the lowest value while doing the aforementioned steps.

 

It seems that hitting recirculate forces the AC compressor on regardless of the mode you are in...

 

ditto for me - seems its one or the other

 

A little of topic but would the acc fit a 5th gen max and where could I buy one?