You know what's funny, I keep the car in ECO mode and the temperature set to 78. I've kept the A/C on much of the time while driving, and outside temps have been over 100 for several days. I never noticed a problem with the A/C. If it does an even better job when in Normal mode, great... but it seems to do just fine no matter what.
I run mine exactly as you describe, ECO mode temp at 78. On a recent trip to the Southwest I stayed quite comfortable. Maybe once or twice I dropped the temp to 76 for 15 min or so and a few time I switched it out of recirculate for some fresh air but generally I let it manage itself. I did notice once while driving slowly through one of the Natl Parks in Utah that it didn't seem to be cooling the car off, it must have been 90 or 95 outside and about the same inside. Then I discovered the problem, one of the back windows was down.
HI anyone having problem with there ac unit ? I turn my on today it was making humming noise from the compressor went I turn the switch off noise gose away turn switch on noise comes back loud enough inside the car.
That's something I have to get used to b/c the 2G Prius would activate the A/C light if you press AUTO again. I run ECO mode most of the time so I can't tell you how it feels like in the default mode but so far, the A/C is running fine. In fact, I have it set at 24c.
OK, now that a/c season seems to be over around here, is there any harm in just leaving the a/c button set to on when using the Auto setting? I would think that the compressor wouldn't be running anyway when the heater is on, except maybe when de-fogging the windshield. In my 2005 Solara, the a/c button is automatically turned on with the Auto.
I don't know that it would be effective in doing that. As well I don't know how it would affect overall mileage but I don't see a need to do that. I would think it would be just easier to NOT turn the A/C button on, since you won't be using A/C. Just my opinion. Since I live in a cold weather climate I don't plan on keeping it on for the winter use at all.
You're correct. Just leave it on and let the computer decide. Like you said, it'll be off most of the time anyway, only when it needs to dehumidify the interior.
