Air Conditioner - Fresh Air Button

12513 Views 36 Replies 12 Participants Last post by Rollin Thunder, Nov 26, 2007

miacom

Discussion Starter · Jul 28, 2007

The fresh air button reverts to OFF when you shut off the engine and you only realize this when you're driving the next time and you start smelling the fumes from the outside .
According to the manual this is the way it's suppose to work. According to the service department of the dealer that I purchased the Enclave from: there were some complaints from Acadia owners about leaving the fresh air button on, and that's why it was changed. Well, GM, you screwed up on this one. Every car I ever owned including the Pontiac Aztek left the fresh air button in the position you shut off the engine in.
Why take away the choice from us and force us to smell bad outside air. On occasion it shuts off when you bring the fan down from AUTO setting. Maybe GM is reading these forums and takes a look at our dislikes. This is a simple reprogramming task and it would satisfy everyone.
Would like to hear from others about this annoying issue.

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1 - 20 of 37 Posts

mrbuick

· #2 · Jul 31, 2007

I would like it to stay at the last setting I used it.

monstersinc1

· #3 · Jul 31, 2007

My trailblazer does this too. I believe the reasoning is that recirculating the air effects gas mileage since it causes the compressor to work harder. Use fresh air from the outside (default setting) does not burn as much gas. This button has the same effect as the old MAX position on manual air conditioning controls.

osli

· #4 · Jul 31, 2007

Why would recirculating the air cause the compressor to work harder? If anything, the typical situation is that the air inside the vehicle is cooler than the air outside, thus making it easier to provide cold air. But really, the compressor just compresses, wherever the source of air may come from.

gavine

· #5 · Aug 1, 2007

Recirc will save gas because the compressor cycles on and off according to the temperature setting and the ambient temperature in the car. On recirc, it takes less work to cool the air because it's already somewhat cool, especially compared to the outside air. This, of course, assumes you have the temperature set at a reasonable level. If you put it on the lowest temp, the compressor will run constantly.

miacom

Discussion Starter · #6 · Aug 1, 2007

I still want it to remain were I left it. Lately I noticed that the RECIRC shuts off whenever it feels like. Sometimes when I put the fan speed lower from AUTO setting and sometimes for no good reason at all in the middle of a ride. There is no good reason to keep an eye on the LED. I only notice when I start smelling fumes from the road.

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gavine

· #7 · Aug 1, 2007

It's probably because the windows will start to fog if you keep it on recirc for too long. Without any fresh air, you might even get a low level of oxygen (especially on a long trip) which could make you fall asleep at the wheel. I would guess that they make it automatically switch to fresh for that reason.

NOLA Saints

· #8 · Aug 1, 2007

gavine said:
Without any fresh air, you might even get a low level of oxygen (especially on a long trip) which could make you fall asleep at the wheel. I would guess that they make it automatically switch to fresh for that reason.

This makes absolute sense to me! I don't know if it's true, but I believe it! :cheers:

Mama2Girls

· #9 · Aug 1, 2007

Well, I have been on several long road trips in my accords and have never fallen asleep at the wheel while on re-circulate....I would more like die of asphyxiation from long-hauler exhaust!!

miacom

Discussion Starter · #10 · Aug 1, 2007

Lets hope GM is reading this........... :banghead:

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G

· #11 · Aug 2, 2007

NOLA Saints said:
This makes absolute sense to me! I don't know if it's true, but I believe it! :cheers:

i have always wondered that.

my yukon is the same way, you leave the rec button on and in about 1 hour it turns off by itself.

gavine

· #12 · Aug 6, 2007

Mama2Girls said:
Well, I have been on several long road trips in my accords and have never fallen asleep at the wheel while on re-circulate....I would more like die of asphyxiation from long-hauler exhaust!!

Apparently, you had your A/C on then because, if not, your windows would have fogged-up.

Mama2Girls

· #13 · Aug 6, 2007

Well, yes, with the AC on usually. Since most of my long drives are between phoenix and San Diego or LA, that would be the case. I had not thought about what it would be like if it wasn't on.

gavine

· #14 · Aug 6, 2007

Here in the North East (New Jersey) we only use the A/C in July and August. The rest of the year it's either windows-down or heater on.......

Mama2Girls

· #15 · Aug 6, 2007

Windows down...that is as bad as sucking down the truck exhaust with the fresh air button off!

BoyMom

· #16 · Aug 10, 2007

I read this post before and have been paying particular attention to the A/C settings. I have noticed that my fresh air button stays on all the time... my settings are always the same as when I turned the car off.

G

· #17 · Aug 10, 2007

Mama2Girls said:
Windows down...that is as bad as sucking down the truck exhaust with the fresh air button off!

i kinda like the fresh air, the smell of the salt in the air really feels good. driving down the coast is a real nice, refreshing time to have the windows down.

Mama2Girls

· #18 · Aug 10, 2007

Well, Thunder, isn't it lucky for you, living on the VA coast, to get to have all the fresh air....too bad I live in THE DESERT and have heat and pollution advisories all summer long!! hehehe... We are flying to SF tomorrow night for a wedding and driving PCH 1 for a nice long slow week without the kids...the fresh coastal air will be lovely!!!!

G

· #19 · Aug 10, 2007

Mama2Girls said:
Well, Thunder, isn't it lucky for you, living on the VA coast, to get to have all the fresh air....too bad I live in THE DESERT and have heat and pollution advisories all summer long!! hehehe... We are flying to SF tomorrow night for a wedding and driving PCH 1 for a nice long slow week without the kids...the fresh coastal air will be lovely!!!!

well i shouldnt say recently, it has been 115 with a heat index of 124, with no rain or end in site, i have not left the house in two days, and my local tv statons dont work due to the heat, so i hope it gets better soon or i will go nuts.

Mama2Girls

· #20 · Aug 10, 2007

I don't even have a clue as to what our heat index is. It sucks, that's what it is. Why do I live here again? My husband is from VA and SC. I am from OR. All much more pleasant...wait - I have been to VA, NC, & SC every summer for the past 5 years. The air is "sweaty" there as my daughter says. OR is the only pleasant of those in the summer! Oh, California will be nice for 9 days!

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