Another dumb one . . . Climate control

[jreifler]

So, now that it's cold enough to use the heat, I've noticed that if I turn the system entirely off, it still blows hot through the vents for a period of time.

I don't find the climate control system terribly intuitive on the GX, but wondering if I'm missing something super obvious on how to switch it off ?

 

[Bluegill]

I feel your pain. I often just turn it off instead of letting the computer try to decide if I'm hot or cold. If I park in the sun and the ambient outdoor temperature is 65 degrees but the sun makes the truck think it's 80 degrees, I get blasted with AC when I actually want nothing for a few minutes, or I can just crack a window for a few minutes to let some fresh, cool air in. Then when you turn it off you still feel cold (or hot) air blowing in your face. WTF? Off means off, mother*&*%$@!

I'm convinced that these modern systems just aren't created to work property if they are turned off. It's like the developers put an OFF button on them because they were forced to but they assume no one would ever actually turn their fancy climate control system off.

Back in the good old days with the dash controls operating levers and cables and doors back there behind the dash, you could shut it off and the passages were physically blocked. Maybe a little air would leak through but it still wouldn't be noticeably blowing air our when off. The last vehicle where I enjoyed simple buttons, levers, and dials operating cables and doors was my 1996 Land Rover Discovery. If I recall correctly, there was even a button on that truck where you could let a little fresh outdoor air flow through when off, or really shut 'er down tight.

 

[Jesse H]

My Tacoma's auto climate is a set and forget affair. The GX requires constant fiddling to get comfortable.

As far as hot air creeping in, if the vents are set to fresh air they could still be going through the heater core and making its way out the dash vents. That's actually common in many modern HVAC systems. Try turning off recirculate.

 

[markmanner]

My heating seems to work ok, but the temperature at which it is comfortable to me seems to be about 4 degrees F lower than in my other vehicles. So, for example, if I'd normally set it to 70F, to not be too hot on a normal day (mixed clouds/Sun) I need to set it to 66 or so. I'll be interested to see if that pattern holds in the summer with the AC usage.

 

[jreifler]

Ah well. Was really hoping I was just overlooking something obvious and easy. I'll try that recirculate option, but when I press "OFF," that sh*t should turn all the way off . . . Super annoying.

 

[luxpow]

Can confirm. Turning the AC off does nothing at all. Only way to stop the air flowing is to physically shut all vents off manually. Super annoying.

 

[Jesse H]

Off simply means blower isn't spinning and AC compressor isn't running. If your windows are down and moonroof is open while you're moving, air will make its way inside. Similarly if the vehicle is moving and blend doors are set a certain way, air will find its way in.

I remember cars from the 80s and 90s where the operator could physically feel the blend doors and recirculate flaps moving when you slid the HVAC levers. Now everything is electronically controlled and many don't understand how things work behind the dash or under the hood.

Sorry my GenX is showing.

 

[Keirik]

Are some of you guys sure it's not a cool box issue?

I noticed that I had the same problem of it blowing air even if I tried turning it all off.....until I turned my cool box off. Then it stopped blowing.

What it turns out was that with the cool box turned on, it wouldn't actually allow you to completely turn off air. It was go to "off " but then turn itself back to 1 automatically if the cool box was still on.

 

[markmanner]

I do recall reading that if you turn the cool box on, the AC is on by default.

 

[Keirik]

I do recall reading that if you turn the cool box on, the AC is on by default.

This is correct. If the cool box is on, even if you slide the climate to off, it will fix itself and go back to on. Heat or cool.