Just curious, when you press the 'Auto Econ' button and set the temp to something around 80 (basically warmer than it is outside or inside), does the car actually use the A/C? The light on the A/C button is on, so thats why I ask. Or just because its on Auto, it may kick on the A/C if it has to cool the cabin down...? I have heard that its not good to run your A/C AND your heater at the same time (unless of course you need less humid heat).

Thanks for any input!

 

The AC compressor runs when it is on regardless of the temperature you set it too...

 

So thats a waste. It'd be better just to turn up the temperature setting on 'manual' mode so that the A/C light remains off. That way you just blow in warm air without extra load on the engine, right?

 

The reason the AC runs is to dry out the air to reduce/prevent fogging.

 

+1..that's it in a nutshell...

 

First car eh?? j/k

 

Funny.

I've just always had this thing with the A/C being on when the heater is. I just feel like its a huge waste - it just kind of annoys me. No biggie though

 

Yeah man...was just messin with ya It's all good bro.
Just about every vehicle now-a-dayys do that. Especially when you're on defrost/heat. That runs the A/C for drier air and less condensation.

 

According to my 2004 manual the difference between "AUTO" and "AUTO ECON" is that in AUTO the A/C runs all the time to dry the air out irregardless of the setpoint temperature and in AUTO ECON, the A/C cycles on and off resulting in higher humidity but supposedly better mileage. Personally, I use AUTO ECON all year round.

 

++++1

 

auto econ always gets the job done for me too - its just now getting chilly enough in the mornings though since I bought the car that I need the heater on opposed to the A/C.