climate control in winter
 

its winter, i have a touring, heat set on 80, when i turn on climate control the heat comes on but also the AC comes on so i have to press 2 buttons each time to get heat working, wtf?

Welcome to Nissan climate controls fail. My Murano is the same. :shakes head:

80? Dang! I would bake in that car! :D

Nissan, in their infinite wisdom, decided that you need to dehumidify the cabin air when the heater is on (probably to keep the windows clear). The HVAC system also likes to change whether you are pulling in outside air or recirculating inside air when you switch modes. You get used to it.

I found that this is one of the single most annoying things about the Z. I'm used to it now but it's still friggin' annoying toggling the AC/circulation settings all the time.

Are you sure you're doing it right?
I'll only have the A/C come on if it was on last time or if I left the car in recirculate...


I have Nav too, so our system IS different

I understand the frustration, as it seems weird to run the AC in the winter. But I don't think this is unique to Nissan. I've owned a couple of Subarus, an Acura, a Saab, an Audi, and a couple of Volvos with automatic climate controls and, of course, my Z. On "full auto", they'd all run AC basically all the time, even in the winter. The Saab's climate control was the best - it'd cycle the AC as needed. But the rest mostly just apparently ran the AC all the time, based on indicator lights or displays. The idea is to control interior humidity levels. Humidity that's coming from passengers' exhaled breaths.

If you don't like this behavior (I don't either...), then don't leave the fan control knob on "AUTO". Control the fan speed manually and it won't turn on the AC automatically unless you select the full-windshield defrost mode (which every car with AC fires the AC in defrost). That's what I do in the winter, and what I've generally had to do with every auto climate control vehicle I've owned, because they've all (except the Saab), worked like that. :tiphat:

Hit the AC again you'll be fine. :icon17:

The button might be on, it doesn't mean the AC is engaged

its engaged, when you turn off ac the heat gets much hotter right the way

thanks for reponses, i wasn't sure if there was a setting for that

The compressor is running though robbing you of horsepower and fuel.

There is 330HP of them, doubt a little AC makes a dramatic difference. There is also a WOT AC bypass switch anyway.

There is a reason why they have AC clutches. It can engage and disengage as it is needed. Do you think the AC runs 24/7? If so, all your AC piping will burst from being too cold consistently.

thats 2hp you lose with AC off though

id rather be all sweaty then lose 2hp

Lol

i set the climate control to about 65F in the winter and 75F in the summer (driver window usually partially open) and just leave it. i dont mess with the a/c button.

the a/c needs to be cycled anyway. ive had cars where the a/c died due to infrequent use.

made it 80 to test it, i wanted to be sure that there is no reason for AC to work if outside is 40 and heat is set to 80

With our cabin being as small as it is, it's so easy to heat up / cool down / defrost / whatever.

Arnold Schwarzenegger - Stop Whining - YouTube

Why the Light???
 

I have been pondering this question ever since I bought my 370Z a year ago and finally have gotten up the courage at the risk of asking a stupid question. Throwing caution to the wind, here goes; Why does the little yellow light in the center of the temp dial come on automatically denoting that the AC is on when ever I turn on the heat temperature setting? It's mid winter here in CT and I want only heat, not the AC unless of course I need the defroster. I always have to push the button to turn the AC off when all I want is heat. Now....be kind to your Z brethren!!!

That used to annoy me. You have to turn the A/C off when you adjust that knob.

Another one of Nissan's engineering accomplishments!

Exactly.....I'm glad I'm not the only one! Thanks!:tup:

My Toyota Tacoma does the same thing... IDK why.

It's not just Nissan...many others do the same. And, a link to a recent discussion thread: http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...ol-winter.html

Thanks....I didn't think that there would be a previous thread regarding this since it seemed like a stupid question. Consider me informed!
:tiphat:

I think that means you're now on climate control, rather than manualy adjusted heat and that the a/c compressor is actually "on duty," even though since you're requesting warmth rather than chilled air, it won't kick in.

climate control works in mysterious ways.

i just set the temperature and let the thing do its thing.

I just turn the AC off everytime I jump in. At least I did till the temps started raising again.

In winter, my A/C light only comes on when I put the vent control knob in any of the defroster modes.

In the past was recommend to run ur AC during Winter. I do not know if that still hold true today....

Thats the big question how often do you let the compressor run to keep it from failure because of inactivity?

Until the laws of physics change for our planet, or we stop having AC work in the manner it does in cars today, it should hold true as being recommended.

It's designed on purpose and does this to dehumidify the air. It's not a fault or manufacturer defect. That's why almost every newer car runs the AC, whether it gives you an indicator or not, when you go into defrost. Or, in more advanced cars like ours which have barometers and read temps/air volume/etc, it can turn it on automatically when it thinks it needs to, no matter which blower you put the air through.

The people who turn it off in cold regions could probably tell you how much their windows fog up. Or, just look around at the cars where the windows are waaay fogged up; either they turned it off, or the AC pump is broken or missing. :confused:

:tiphat:

A little late in the season to ask but is it a good idea to run the a/c for a bit in the winter? I was reading it keeps the seals lubricated for my truck, was wondering if it's the same in the Z.

Damn, 80F.