Where does the air go?

[ptgptg]

Not a philosophical question. I've had my climate control off for a month or so since the weather has been atypically beautiful here in the Northeast. Yesterday, with the weather cold and rainy, I turned it on. Didn't feel any air coming from the defroster, side pillar vents, footwells or passenger facing vents. I heard the air blowing though. When I hit the button to change the vent output, none of them was lit up, indicating that neither the defroster, the passenger vents nor the footwell vents were chosen. I pressed the passenger vent button and air flowed from those vents without a problem. My question is twofold. First, when you turn the climate control off, does it deselect all vent sources? And if so, where does the air go once turned back on since I clearly heard the blower but did not feel air from any source.

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[Brian_B]

ooo I've never been able to get the selector to show no lights... usually it just sits in whatever position it was last.

 

[Pops]

Ohhh!, and I thought this thread was going to be about Taco Bell bean burritos or something .....

Really though, if this helps any, I feel zero flow from the footwell in my '25 Badlands even though I can sense air valves doing stuff when I change settings.

Lights? I guess I have not been looking down at the controls too much while driving, other than the digital screen airflow choices.

 

[ptgptg]

@Pops, the digital screen airflow choices are exactly what I am talking about. Hit the physical button below and the digital choices pop up on screen.

@Brian B, turn the system off and see if it unchecks all the choices.

 

[DarthLincoln]

When I hit the button to change the vent output, none of them was lit up, indicating that neither the defroster, the passenger vents nor the footwell vents were chosen.

I noticed that also. I just assumed that no lights meant the system was in automatic mode and thus, using the vents it thought was appropriate for the temperature conditions. If I select a specific vent output, then it lights that vent up to indicate it was manually selected.

 

[DALOLA]

I noticed that also. I just assumed that no lights meant the system was in automatic mode and thus, using the vents it thought was appropriate for the temperature conditions. If I select a specific vent output, then it lights that vent up to indicate it was manually selected.

I believe this is true, and I'm pretty sure when you turn the HVAC off, all the vent doors stay in the last used position, for when the system is turned back on. If you want the HVAC truly "closed" while it's off, you would need to select recirculate first, to close the fresh air door, then turn it off.

 

[Ducati1098]

If you want the HVAC truly "closed" while it's off, you would need to select recirculate first, to close the fresh air door, then turn it off.

The air inlet door automatically closes when the system is turned off.

 

[DALOLA]

The air inlet door automatically closes when the system is turned off.

I always assumed that, but I can feel a small amount of air flow from the vents if I shut the HVAC off while utilizing fresh air. If I shut it off while in recirc, I don't feel any air from the vents.

 

[Ducati1098]

I always assumed that, but I can feel a small amount of air flow from the vents if I shut the HVAC off while utilizing fresh air. If I shut it off while in recirc, I don't feel any air from the vents.

That’s probably due to the cabin air refresh strategy built into the HVAC system.

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