Air conditioning wants to be on all the time

[Heliian]

The amount of people who don't understand the basic climate functions is unreal.

Read your owners manual.

Most modern vehicles are the same. Sure the seats don't turn on automagically but you have buttons for those.

This isn't an autonomous ai powered vehicle, it's a truck.

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[jimfigler]

Yes, it is an odd situation. My climate is set to auto. This morning its 49 degrees outside and my climate is set to 70 degrees and yet the AC is on. I waited a few minutes and then manually turned it off

 

[C6Bill]

I assume this is the section of the users manual Heliian is referring to:

SWITCHING AUTO MODE ON AND OFF Press the button to switch auto mode on. Repeatedly press the button to adjust auto mode. Adjust the blower motor control or air distribution control to switch auto mode off.

 

[MaintGrl]

"This isn't an autonomous AI powered vehicle, it's a truck. "
No, but an overly complex heating & cooling system!
When you have this many folks trying to figure out a heating and cooling system that says something.....KISS!

 

[Firn]

Why do people get so wrapped up in this?

The A/C and Heat buttons do not directly turn those systems on or off. They only indicate whether the automatic climate control can use them if needed.

A lit A/C button does not mean the compressor is running—it only means it could be enabled.

The same goes for Heat. An active light doesn’t mean it’s operating at that moment.


If you want to know whether these systems are actually running, you have to monitor their PIDs with an OBD tool. I’ve done this, and I can confirm they don’t run needlessly. In fact, manually overriding settings can increase their use. For example, when I set my fan speed and directed airflow to the floor, 12V and A/C compressor current spiked, and the exterior fan ran at full speed. Switching back to “Auto” dropped everything down significantly.

Here’s the rule of thumb:

If the air is being cooled, your set temperature is lower than the cabin temperature.

At startup, the system may briefly run A/C or Heat to check and calibrate interior temperature, but it quickly tapers off.

After that, if A/C or Heat continues running, it’s because the system is actively trying to reach your chosen temperature. That may be a small amount of energy however, the system is dynamic and scales power usage to control output. I have seen the AC "running" but using very little power, same with the heat.


So again: just because the A/C light is on or the Heat button glows orange doesn’t mean they’re running. The truck uses an active HVAC system designed to maintain your target temperature. Don’t overthink it

 

[astrand1]

I can turn it off, but it seems like the AC always tries to be on. For example, Saturday at 7:30AM, the truck has been outside all night. Truck reports that the outside temp is 64F (cooler overnight). I have the climate control temp set to 70F. Start driving and the AC comes on, cold air coming from the vents.

Can I modify how the AC works via Forscan? I generally prefer no AC, except July and August (Maine).

I have the 12" display, knob climate controls.

Thanks,
Steve

For me in Michigan in those temps I’d just have climate control turned off completely. That’s heated seat and maybe a window or sunroof cracked kinda weather.

 

[B177y]

This isn't just a Lightning complaint:

https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/my-car-is-obsessed-with-a-c.49030/

 

[MaintGrl]

"If the air is being cooled, your set temperature is lower than the cabin temperature."
So, you have to keep looking at the temp settings and adjust accordingly.
I just want the dang fan on, NO HEAT, NO A/C, NO having to monitor the temps....
Is that too much to ask!

 

[Firn]

"If the air is being cooled, your set temperature is lower than the cabin temperature."
So, you have to keep looking at the temp settings and adjust accordingly.
I just want the dang fan on, NO HEAT, NO A/C, NO having to monitor the temps....
Is that too much to ask!

I feel like Rube Goldberg has entered the chat. This is the "you are thinking about it too much" part.

Are you cold? Turn the temp up. Are you hot? Turn the temp down. Comfortable? Leave it be.

The ONLY reason to adjust those things is to be COMFORTABLE. You are not wasting energy. You are not wasting gas. The air isnt "dirty" because it went through the AC. The only thing that matters is if you are comfortable.

I get it, I love the spring and fall when the windows can be open, when I can turn the house system can be off. And this feels kind of like that, except it ISNT...The air goes through practically the same things inside your truck if the ac is on or off.

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