Re: Why do vents default to outside air?
 

Might be a function of the climate control temperature setting. Put the
temperature at minimum (60) and see if the recirc light comes on. I have a
2000 Accord V6 and that's what happens.
MLD
"Jeff" <jeff@invalid.net> wrote in message
news:jeff-EC6298.00511822092004@news.east.cox.net...
> Just wondering--whenever I use the AC, my Accord keeps defaulting to
> outside air (as do most newer vehicles, I've noticed). I drive mostly
> in traffic and don't like to breathe exhaust fumes filling the car, so
> I'm continually resetting it to recirc. But I'm curious as to why
> outside air is the default setting. (?)
>
> 2000 Accord v6 sedan
>
> Jeff

Re: Why do vents default to outside air?
 

Might be a function of the climate control temperature setting. Put the
temperature at minimum (60) and see if the recirc light comes on. I have a
2000 Accord V6 and that's what happens.
MLD
"Jeff" <jeff@invalid.net> wrote in message
news:jeff-EC6298.00511822092004@news.east.cox.net...
> Just wondering--whenever I use the AC, my Accord keeps defaulting to
> outside air (as do most newer vehicles, I've noticed). I drive mostly
> in traffic and don't like to breathe exhaust fumes filling the car, so
> I'm continually resetting it to recirc. But I'm curious as to why
> outside air is the default setting. (?)
>
> 2000 Accord v6 sedan
>
> Jeff

Re: Why do vents default to outside air?
 

Howard Lester wrote:
> "Rob" wrote
>
>
>>recirc works great to cool a steamy car initially, because it is not
>>only throwing cold air at you, but is taking away the hot inside air.
>>but once the car has cooled you want to switch back to outside air
>>(unless a situation like behind a bus, etc., as you mention).
>
>
> This is all backwards to me

Right. Backwards. It's easier to make already cool air colder, or to
keep it cool--there's less heat to remove to the cooling coils. Also,
same goes for humidity. If you keep pumping super humid air from outside
into the car, the air won't necessarily get as dry as it would if you
use the recirc setting.

I'd guess it's switching back to outside air for safety reasons--these
newer cars are so airtight that one needs a fresh supply or air to
prevent CO poisoning if there were a problem with your exhaust system,
for example. Or as others have suggested, the climate control could be
doing it based on air temp.

Re: Why do vents default to outside air?
 

Howard Lester wrote:
> "Rob" wrote
>
>
>>recirc works great to cool a steamy car initially, because it is not
>>only throwing cold air at you, but is taking away the hot inside air.
>>but once the car has cooled you want to switch back to outside air
>>(unless a situation like behind a bus, etc., as you mention).
>
>
> This is all backwards to me

Right. Backwards. It's easier to make already cool air colder, or to
keep it cool--there's less heat to remove to the cooling coils. Also,
same goes for humidity. If you keep pumping super humid air from outside
into the car, the air won't necessarily get as dry as it would if you
use the recirc setting.

I'd guess it's switching back to outside air for safety reasons--these
newer cars are so airtight that one needs a fresh supply or air to
prevent CO poisoning if there were a problem with your exhaust system,
for example. Or as others have suggested, the climate control could be
doing it based on air temp.

Re: Why do vents default to outside air?
 

"Jeff" <jeff@invalid.net> wrote in message
news:jeff-EC6298.00511822092004@news.east.cox.net...
> Just wondering--whenever I use the AC, my Accord keeps defaulting to
> outside air (as do most newer vehicles, I've noticed). I drive mostly
> in traffic and don't like to breathe exhaust fumes filling the car, so
> I'm continually resetting it to recirc. But I'm curious as to why
> outside air is the default setting. (?)
>
> 2000 Accord v6 sedan
>
> Jeff

With the cab of the vehicle preasurized with outside air, exhaust fumes
cannot enter the car. As a default outside air ensures carbon monoxide free
air.......................

dale P....................

Re: Why do vents default to outside air?
 

"Jeff" <jeff@invalid.net> wrote in message
news:jeff-EC6298.00511822092004@news.east.cox.net...
> Just wondering--whenever I use the AC, my Accord keeps defaulting to
> outside air (as do most newer vehicles, I've noticed). I drive mostly
> in traffic and don't like to breathe exhaust fumes filling the car, so
> I'm continually resetting it to recirc. But I'm curious as to why
> outside air is the default setting. (?)
>
> 2000 Accord v6 sedan
>
> Jeff

With the cab of the vehicle preasurized with outside air, exhaust fumes
cannot enter the car. As a default outside air ensures carbon monoxide free
air.......................

dale P....................

Re: Why do vents default to outside air?
 

In article <44a41d1c.0409220700.28e167e1@posting.google.com >,
onerpm@yahoo.com (Rob) wrote:

> Because once the inside air has been dehumidified through the process
> of a/c, the a/c will struggle to cool that air again.
>
> recirc works great to cool a steamy car initially, because it is not
> only throwing cold air at you, but is taking away the hot inside air.
> but once the car has cooled you want to switch back to outside air
> (unless a situation like behind a bus, etc., as you mention).

Ummmmm......no, not at all.......

It will ALWAYS be less efficient to dehumidify the outside fresh air
than the inside recirculating air.

Really. Honestly. Truly.

Re: Why do vents default to outside air?
 

In article <44a41d1c.0409220700.28e167e1@posting.google.com >,
onerpm@yahoo.com (Rob) wrote:

> Because once the inside air has been dehumidified through the process
> of a/c, the a/c will struggle to cool that air again.
>
> recirc works great to cool a steamy car initially, because it is not
> only throwing cold air at you, but is taking away the hot inside air.
> but once the car has cooled you want to switch back to outside air
> (unless a situation like behind a bus, etc., as you mention).

Ummmmm......no, not at all.......

It will ALWAYS be less efficient to dehumidify the outside fresh air
than the inside recirculating air.

Really. Honestly. Truly.

Re: Why do vents default to outside air?
 

In article <cis5hd$7i9$1@oasis.ccit.arizona.edu>,
"Howard Lester" <hlester@mmto.org> wrote:

> This is all backwards to me, unless it's because I live in a hot, dry
> climate. When first getting into the car, the temperature inside the car can
> be 40 degrees hotter than outside; therefore, here one first needs to use
> fresh a/c.

That's correct, and also open the windows so that the fresh a/c is
blowing the stale inside air out.



> Once the interior starts to cool off, *then* switch to
> recirculate.

That's correct. Once the inside and the outside have equalized, you
roll up the windows and hit recirculate. Now the inside will stay much
cooler than the outside, and will stay much cooler than if it had to
cool and dehumidify the outside air.

Re: Why do vents default to outside air?
 

In article <cis5hd$7i9$1@oasis.ccit.arizona.edu>,
"Howard Lester" <hlester@mmto.org> wrote:

> This is all backwards to me, unless it's because I live in a hot, dry
> climate. When first getting into the car, the temperature inside the car can
> be 40 degrees hotter than outside; therefore, here one first needs to use
> fresh a/c.

That's correct, and also open the windows so that the fresh a/c is
blowing the stale inside air out.



> Once the interior starts to cool off, *then* switch to
> recirculate.

That's correct. Once the inside and the outside have equalized, you
roll up the windows and hit recirculate. Now the inside will stay much
cooler than the outside, and will stay much cooler than if it had to
cool and dehumidify the outside air.

Re: Why do vents default to outside air?
 

In article <4151b764$0$2652$61fed72c@news.rcn.com>,
Abeness <news@nada.x> wrote:

> I'd guess it's switching back to outside air for safety reasons--these
> newer cars are so airtight that one needs a fresh supply or air to
> prevent CO poisoning if there were a problem with your exhaust system,
> for example.

Cars aren't like modern buildings. ALL cars bring in some fresh air,
even on recirculate.

Re: Why do vents default to outside air?
 

In article <4151b764$0$2652$61fed72c@news.rcn.com>,
Abeness <news@nada.x> wrote:

> I'd guess it's switching back to outside air for safety reasons--these
> newer cars are so airtight that one needs a fresh supply or air to
> prevent CO poisoning if there were a problem with your exhaust system,
> for example.

Cars aren't like modern buildings. ALL cars bring in some fresh air,
even on recirculate.

Re: Why do vents default to outside air?
 

Howard Lester wrote:

>
> This is all backwards to me, unless it's because I live in a hot, dry
> climate. When first getting into the car, the temperature inside the car can
> be 40 degrees hotter than outside; therefore, here one first needs to use
> fresh a/c.

even easier is to just roll the wondows down and drive for a mile. that
gets the 140+ degree air out.

Once the interior starts to cool off, *then* switch to
> recirculate. The a/c won't have to work so hard, cooling air that is already
> temperate, not at inferno-grade.
>
>

Re: Why do vents default to outside air?
 

Howard Lester wrote:

>
> This is all backwards to me, unless it's because I live in a hot, dry
> climate. When first getting into the car, the temperature inside the car can
> be 40 degrees hotter than outside; therefore, here one first needs to use
> fresh a/c.

even easier is to just roll the wondows down and drive for a mile. that
gets the 140+ degree air out.

Once the interior starts to cool off, *then* switch to
> recirculate. The a/c won't have to work so hard, cooling air that is already
> temperate, not at inferno-grade.
>
>

Re: Why do vents default to outside air?
 

On 9/22/04 10:25 AM, in article cis5hd$7i9$1@oasis.ccit.arizona.edu, "Howard
Lester" <hlester@mmto.org> wrote:

>
> "Rob" wrote
>
>> recirc works great to cool a steamy car initially, because it is not
>> only throwing cold air at you, but is taking away the hot inside air.
>> but once the car has cooled you want to switch back to outside air
>> (unless a situation like behind a bus, etc., as you mention).
>
> This is all backwards to me, unless it's because I live in a hot, dry
> climate. When first getting into the car, the temperature inside the car can
> be 40 degrees hotter than outside; therefore, here one first needs to use
> fresh a/c. Once the interior starts to cool off, *then* switch to
> recirculate. The a/c won't have to work so hard, cooling air that is already
> temperate, not at inferno-grade.
>
>

From another resident of a hot climate - you will get better (read faster)
results if you let it go into recirc and crack the windows several inches
for the first couple of minutes. The AC will cool faster and convection
(warm air rises) plus whatever breeze there might be will draw the
superheated air out the windows.