I have some trouble figuring out the AC system on our '06 Prius. When we drive it, we set the AC to "Outside Air". But anytime we start it again after having parked awhile, it comes on in the Recirculate mode. Is this automatic? Would appreciate information here. GENO
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(gene4655 @ Aug 8 2007, 10:21 AM) [snapback]492349[/snapback]</div> Yes. I think the Recirculate setting is the default. I just change it to outside air with the steering wheel switch. Marvin
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(gene4655 @ Aug 8 2007, 10:20 AM) [snapback]492346[/snapback]</div> If you have the Auto climate control on it will selectt the best option to cool your car ASAP. Since you are getting into a parked vehicle it is likely hot in there thus it switches to recirc mode to cool it down faster.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(gene4655 @ Aug 8 2007, 10:21 AM) [snapback]492349[/snapback]</div> Yes, it is automatic - but also temporary. It stays in recirculate until the car's interior cools down, then switches back to using outside air. In hot weather, it seems to take as much as 15 minutes before recircultate turns off. It does this to cool the car as quickly as possible, but it still helps to roll down the windows and vent the superheated air out when you first start up the car. - Tom
This behavior is backwards for a dry hot climate. The first setting should be for outside air, which even at 100, is cooler than the car's interior. This will cause the fastest cooldown. Then after purging the hottest air, it should go to recirc in order to lessen the load on the compressor to maintain a given temp. Of course, the "manual" solution is to open windows for a minute or two first, but then it isn't very "auto A/C" then, is it? Dumb.
