AC on recirculate every time I start my truck

If you do have the techstream or a scantool that has advanced programming functions other than just OBDII reader, you'll find stuff that's not in the entune unit. Carista, which is the screenshot from my phone also allows a few extra functions that can be set. I remember the AC setting was part of the free settings available. Some other settings requires a subscription.

I normally don't care much about all these other settings, but was exploring some of the features and just set them since they were available to customize.

 

A/C Evap is constantly removing humidity from the air. On recirculate you are cooling and thus drying out recirculated air over and over again. I'm in just a slightly more humid location than yourself and allowing mine to operate using auto mode with recirc enabled, I have zero mold/mildew smell whereas our other vehicle which defaults auto mode to outside air smells terrible and I'm constantly fighting it with foaming cleaners.

 

Apparently a lot of people care because it's been a recurring topic to show up on this forum. If you don't care, why did you bother to come here type out the words and hit "post"

 

Recirculation is a problem. https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/why-does-the-air-coming-through-my-ac-vents-smell-bad

 

The mold/mildew problem has nothing to do with recirculating the air when the vehicle is RUNNING and everything to do with keeping it shut up when it's OFF. The moisture accumulated in the evap coils and housing, if left closed off to outside air while it sits, will have a tendency to grow mold/mildew moreso than a vehicle open to the outside air while sitting.

Based on the earlier screenshot of the setting for defaulting the venting to outside air when shutting off, are you certain your complaints of it defaulting to recirculate are warranted? Are you certain it's not venting back to outside when we shut down from the factory? Based on the lack of any mildew smell after the most humid summer I can remember, I'd bet it is.

 

Favorite thing about the truck. Hated my other cars that would turn it off all the time. I NEVER drive with outside air on. Too much funk coming through vents if you do. I just roll my windows down an inch every time I park. No problem with funk mildew smells or anything.

 

But this is interesting. Would like to know what everyone considers the proper way to maintain this. Never really thought much behind there being a science to it.

 

You have it backwards read the article

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BG-Frigi-Fr...ash=item4169d622ed:g:eNEAAOSwAuZX2r~-&vxp=mtr

This will take care of it. Turn a/c on high cool and spray 2 - 5 second blasts directly in the squirrel cage under the cabin filter. My new Tacoma's a/c smelled of cow manure until a TW brother told me about Frigi Fresh! Buy a can and you will thank me later!

 

If you left your windows cracked here in southeast Illinois the light breeze or wind will cover your interior with dust & grit. Not to mention spiders will get in a string webs inside your truck.

 

I think you need to read the article and apply some location based understanding to it.

If you live in Scottsdale where your exterior humidity is currently 23%, outside air may make sense as your breath may be more humid. However, if you live in a location like mine where the current humidity is considered fantastic at 50% (normally 60-70%), this is NOT the case. Introducing outside air is introducing a constant flow of humid air. Recirculate in this case is the better choice as it's slowly removing humidity from the air.

This logic is applicable if you're turning OFF your A/C Evap or are in a very dry location. If you keep your A/C going and go to outside air in a humid climate you're just increasing the moisture that will condense on the evap coils. If you shut down though and open it up, the moisture can evaporate off rather than be trapped in the closed off system which is preferable.

This isn't a black and white answer that can be made by telling someone to read an article.

 

So, can this be changed in entune or do I need to go into techstream? Too hot to go figure it out. Plus I'm lazy. Keeping it real.

 

I'll give this a shot on our genesis. I tried generic lysol and it didn't work at all. Then I used Kool-It and it's applied through the drain hose. The drain hose on that car has a kink at the firewall and I couldn't seem to get past it so wasn't successful with it either. Foam just sprayed out the drain line instead of going in.

 

WTF - I still do not understand the issue. I really do not use AC here in southern NH that often at all, like the windows open. Never had a funny smell, or noticed "annoying" recirculating. Easy, fire the truck up and drive it.

 

read the article. interesting. never had a problem. wonder if it has to do with being in Southern California and leaving my windows open an inch every time i park it. only time I used to get bad smells is when i would forget to take my wet wetsuit or wet surfboard out of the car or wagon i used to drive. now with the truck and it being in the bed, no more problems!

 

You will like it. Took me applying this twice but the 1st time I took the cabin filter out and sprayed the Frigi Fresh in thru the fresh air intake under the hood below the windshield on the passenger side. I come to the conclusion the Frigi Fresh did not reach the mold growing in the condenser box so I went close as I could get to it spraying directly into the squirrel cage. Glad it worked because I was close to trading my paid off Tacoma in for a Mazda CX-5.

 

Not on mine, as soon as I press the AC button the Recirculation is also on.

 

I have the Scooby guy on ignore but it sounds like he needs to read the article I posted.

 

Who's this scooby guy? If the funk is too much for someone, it's likely the evap core already getting moldy and growing the mildew funk. Key is to turn the AC button off and let the blower circulate (either outside air or recirc to help dry out the evap core fins for at least 3-5 minutes before the end of a trip. I'm sure living in some places, it would be difficult to do, but the bit of preventative measure almost 100% eliminates the likelihood of the smells. Sometimes the evaporator drain gets blocked by the moldy film or leaves that fall into the system and you'll get drainage into the vehicle. I've had to blow out literally hundreds of vehicles before when this happens as most vehicle owners are not aware of how the HVAC system works or how it's plumbed. In addition to the leaves and junk that can accumulate and fall into the HVAC unit with the open vents near the windshield cowl, causing drain blockage, the dust and lint from the cabin accumulated in the fins helps the fungus grow and thrive.



I think I've posted this before.


I think LarsonFan posted a thread about it in the past. I know he found a solution with the Frigi fresh he mentioned.

 

On my final trip of the day I always turn the AC off and let outside air dry it out, never had any bad smells from mine.