[connelly]

Interesting what they call automatic climate control...

On days over 75`F, the interior temperature remains comfortable with only rare adjustments to the temperature or fan selectors. The vast majority of the time I leave them both on auto.

70-75` days require more frequent adjustments to temperature and fan controls.

Anytime the outside temperature is below 60`, I am CONSTANTLY adjusting the temperature and fan controls. When the temperature control knob is on anything other than full cold (click below 65), the air is very warm to hot. On full cold, off course, it's ice cold. It will not blow out cool or luke-warm air.

Is there a fix for this? What about upgrading to the full manual controls?

 

[severe]

upgrading to the full manual controls?

huh it has both auto and manual settings, the manual settings work exactly like any other manual settings ive had in any other car.

i generally find that leaving position of air blowing in auto doesnt always work, i.e. my feet will be too hot. the fan speed i generally leave auto and select temp and just adjust where it blows manually and that works fine for me.

 

[connelly]

This morning it was 48` outside and I set the temperature control to 68`, I got very warm air and the cabin temperature went up into the high 70's in a hurry and it stayed hot. The only way I got cooler air is to put the temperature control on full cold. Every couple of minutes I was adjusting the temp control. It seems as though the system is keying off the outside air temperature, not the cabin temperature.

 

[USNSTI]

Yeah I have noticed the same. System seems to work fine when it is hot outside, but when it gets cooler it gets confused. I wonder where the temp sensor is?

 

[robotvoice]

When I use the heat I usually set the climate controls to bring in outside air too. For me, this helps keep the car from getting too hot too quick and reduces the amount of time I am fiddling with the knobs to get the right temperature. This also helps reduce moisture inside the cabin during the winter months which is a good thing.

 

[gvfs]

It behaves differently if the AC compressor is turned on. I try to keep mine off unless either a) the ambient temp is too high for moving air to cool down the cabin or b) the air needs to be dried to defog the windshield, such as during a cold rain.

 

[Sabrewings]

On cold mornings, after a while mine turns on the AC compressor for some reason. I turn it back off as soon as it does. No issues with maintaining temps.

What does bother me is that it seems no matter what vent position you select, the two closeable vents on the ends of the dash always have air coming out. When its cool out I get blasted in the face with hot air unless I close the one on the driver's side. The vents in the center do not do this. Kinda annoying. If I select floor it should be to the floor.

 

[RenoSTi]

As I recall, the owner's manual discusses this. The "Auto" setting is not fully automatic mode. It mainly controls the fan speed based on the various temperature sensor inputs and the mode (Vent, floor, defrost, etc.) For me and where I live, I find it works quite well. I generally leave the temperature control alone and just change the mode switch and turn the AC on or off for what I need.

 

[Paul B]

Did you guys know that if you hold in the A/C Button for a few seconds the light flashes to let you know its in auto mode? I only knew because I read the manual front to back, theres no indication in the car that tells you theres an auto feature for the ac unit. Anyway, it comes on only when it needs it. This feature is also built in the recirculate button. When the cars been baking in the sun, it turns on the recirculate button for the first few minutes of your drive to help cool the car quicker.

Also, in order for everything to work right you have to make sure the sunlight detector thingy isnt being blocked. It's in the middle of the dashboard, all the way foward where the dash meets the windshield. The temp sensor too shouldn't be blocked either, that sits to right of the steering wheel behind a random vent looking thingy.

Everything seems to work fine for me in the cold so far, I've set everything to auto way back in the summer and havent changed anything yet.

 

[Paul B]

On cold mornings, after a while mine turns on the AC compressor for some reason. I turn it back off as soon as it does. No issues with maintaining temps.

I also read the the manual that the A/C unit wont turn on untill the engine coolant temperature is up to temp,I guess to not stress the engine while its warming up. So I'm gussing that you just had the ac on when you shut your car off and it came back on, abit a delay, when you turned you car back on.

 

[connelly]

Thanks for the tip, Paul. I'll see what happens.

 

[Subpra]

I don't have any problems with it although it did take a while to get use to it. I set it to auto, adjust it to where I want the air to go, then I just move the temperature setting up or down slightly to adjust the temperature. It isn't the best system I have used but it is better average.

The AC is always on anytime you use the 2 defrost settings. This is a good feature because it dries the air, evaporating any moisture on the windows.

What annoys me is on Auto it will turn the fan off if the temperature matches the setting. I wish it left a bit of air circulating instead of full off, especially in the summer.

What I really like is how quickly this car warms up. I can defrost the entire car in about 3-4min at -5C.

 

[connelly]

Holding the button in until the AC light flashes does the trick. Maybe, just maybe I should think about reading the manual....nah.

 

[MechEE]

Holding the button in until the AC light flashes does the trick. Maybe, just maybe I should think about reading the manual....nah.

How's it working now?

 

[connelly]

It's working much better, just like an automatic climate control is supposed to work.

 

[MechEE]

It's working much better, just like an automatic climate control is supposed to work.

Is your AC compressor turning on automatically without pressing the AC button now?

 

[connelly]

Yep, and cabin temps are much more consistant.

 

[Miss2.5RS]

Is there a fix for this? What about upgrading to the full manual controls?

Not to be rude but you drive an STi..it's a performance car..not a luxury car hahaha. I'm a woman and am super sensitive to temperatures and I love the auto settings..:lol:

 

[gargleblaster]

Not to be rude but you drive an STi..it's a performance car..not a luxury car hahaha. I'm a woman and am super sensitive to temperatures and I love the auto settings..:lol:

QFT... If you think the STi climate is bad, try the Outback's dual-zone travesty.

I had forgotten about the push and hold trick on the a/c and recirc buttons. :tup:

 

[07yzfr1]

Did you guys know that if you hold in the A/C Button for a few seconds the light flashes to let you know its in auto mode?

anyone know if this works for the '04? Doesn't say in the manual.