LMAO!!

 

If you don't want the fan to be automatically controlled, you can just push the up/down arrows for the fan speed and only the fan will come on just not in auto mode.

 

I've noticed in my 06, with the auto mode on, it allows the choice of recirculating the air or not, but w/ economy, it only allows pass through air (no circulation) so if you hit recirculate, it switches back to auto mode.

 

I noticed that auto mode only works when the foot vents are blowing. When I push Mode to change vents auto turns off. Is it supposed to do this?

 

Actually, this is a weird Nissan trait, that you can't set recirc without the AC compressor on. Sucks when you're following a diesel and you just don't want to smell them for a short while...

Curt

 

If you have auto mode set and you try to manually change some of the settings (including the Mode and Fan), it turns off the auto mode. Because, now you are "manual".

Curt

 

That's exactly what the tech said at my dealer, though it still didn't make much sense to me--since I haven't felt the compressor cycling on and off. Still seems a bit weird.

 

i'm pretty sure auto econ just runs the compressor at a lighter load (hence higher fuel economy) so it doesn't dehumidify as much, the air is still cold just not as dry. I usually rock the econ unless it's rediculously humid out.

 

i always thought econ meant that it would recirculate cabin air rather than sucking in 100% fresh air from outside.

 

I think that recirculating in econ mode would be better too as it means you don't have to do as much work on the air since it already ran through the system once. But for some reason you can't do that. Anyone have an explanation why?

 

I took the car on a trip this Spring for a few days. I couldn't tell the difference between the Auto and Auto Econ mode. Either seemed just as cool. When I don't feel I need the AC I just turn it off but leave it in the auto mode. Works fine on the cooler days.

Although it says it can be left in auto mode year round I tend to go to manual and max out the fans during the cold Alberta months. I will make an effor this winter to leave the AC on during defrosting however.

 

+1. As stated in the 2005 sedan owner's manual:

Economical operation reduces some load to the engine to improve the fuel economy.

It allows higher humidity than normal operation.

This I can vouch for. I usually run on ECON as it's good enough. But when it rains, my windows eventually fog up a bit with ECON, at which point I go to normal AUTO mode (w/out ECON) and the windows clear up.

 

Truthfully on this car using the AC doesn't use anymore fuel than without it. I have done so much driving and measured this that I saw no change in my MPG in the winter time.

 

Mine "defaults" to recirc when using the ECON mode. (Tried it yesterday just to make sure.) I suspect it might have to do with the current temperature--which would also affect some of the "vent" comments discussed in this thread.

 

^^^+1
Anyone see the mythbuster episode where they compared the gas mileage between running with a/c and windows up with no a/c and windows down? Running with a/c and windows up actually got a little better gas mileage. Windows up reduces drag and compensates for the extra load due to the a/c and thus better full economy.