A/C question

[Jacque Strapp]

It's been warm these past few days, and for the first time since I've had my 2001 Celica I turned the temperature knob into the blue area. I did NOT turn the AC on, though. However, after a few minutes, cool air started coming out of the vents! It was at least 5-7 degrees cooler than the outside air, so I can't imagine where it's coming from if not from the AC. But I haven't turned the AC on! So, does the AC in the Celi come on automatically if you turn the temp dial into the blue area, or is the Celi performing some kind of magic on the outside air that cools it down so much? I didn't get an owners manual (previous owner lost it).

[GTS LAID]

yeah the magic is in going 100 mph... were you sweating your ass off... cause even if that air was the same temp as outside having so much of it will feel cold if you have moisture on your body. and you dont really notice what air temp is like until you're moving.

[Jacque Strapp]

Nope, I was just driving around in Philly, probably didn't get above 50 mph the whole time. It was the same temp when I was going 20 as it was when I was going 50. Weird.

[MihoKiyo]

It is like that in all cars i believe. If you were to turn the knob to the red area on a cold day you will start to feel some heat. To stop that from happening just close the vents. To get more of the cold air through then just turn on the fan.

[Phil C]

Since no one else has pointed this out I guess I will. Whenever the direction selector is in defrost or defrost/floor mode the AC compressor is running, even if the heat is on the AC is running because it helps to de-humidify the air.

[GTS LAID]

aer you sure of that phil... does that mean that its parasitic power hog when the defroster is on?

[nxracer]

Yes the blue settings turn the a/c on, just like it say's in the manual.

(but the light stay's off)

[00 scrub]

wow, i better go back and read that part of my manual, my ac is on whenever my knob goes into the blue area????????? But I can't feel the loss in power even if I move the fan setting up. But if I turn my ac button on I can feel the loss in power. Why is this? IS the Ac with the button on drawing more power and making the alternator work harder?

[Maelfyn]

uh good question lol =)

[Jacque Strapp]

I don't have an owner's manual so I wasn't aware of that. Thanks.

[nxracer]

OO Scrub: Try this while the car is sitting at idle
Turn the music down.
Push the a/c button to ON
(see the Tach, hear the motor)
Push the a/c button to OFF
Turn the air selector knob to any "blue" position
(see the Tach, hear the motor)

Now RTFM and recalibrate you butt dyno. :chuckles:

[00 scrub]

damn, my trusty butt dyno has failed me. I'll go try that idle/RPM check sometime at a stoplight after my car is warm.