Is my A/C stuck on?

[coopns]

02 Grand Caravan. I don't drive it much and the wife can't tell (doesn't drive it a much either and the air is staying cool here in MA). It feels like A/C is blowing out when I turn on the unit. I don't have it on but it feels some chilly and it isn't that cold out. Any advice? Is that even possible?

 

[tom slick]

do you have the defog on?

 

[coopns]

I tried it at all different settings. I did have the defog on driving home and it was a/c like. It is suppose to be in the high 70's low 80's this week so hopefully will be able to tell.

 

['Tard]

Start the car, turn off the climate control and fan, open the hood, locate the A/C compressor, see if the compressor is engaged and spinning.
If not, engage the climate control to cool and look again to see if the compressor is engaged.

 

[kenw]

Defog runs the compressor just like the AC, it just directs it to the windshield.

 

[The_Jeff]

Dodges are funny in giving away AC that the drivers don't want. Wasn't it Neons that had the fan knob turn two seperate ways from "off" and the only way one knew they were using AC was the numbers were blue vs white?

I had that unwanted feature in my cutlass ciera defrost mode and I rigged an AC kill switch in the system.

 

[rpn453]

The A/C probably comes on when in floor, defrost, or any combination of the two. Check your owners manual. On many cars, it doesn't even light the A/C button to let you know it's happening. My buddy's new Dodge truck and my Mazda3 do that. It annoyed me so I took the HVAC control unit apart and modified the circuit board so A/C only comes on when I tell it to.

Go through all the settings while idling and watch the tach and/or listen for the fan to kick in. You should be able to see what settings turn it on.

 

[coopns]

I did have that on with the combo of floor defrost. Why the frig would they...anyway. Thanks, I bet that's it.

Thanks.

 

[mechtech]

My AC turns on automatically on various settings. Their logic seems random with vent positions dictating if the AC goes on or not.
Sometimes there is a cut off at temps below 45F, or so.

 

[JTK]

'Defrosting' the windshield sure is WAAAY easier with nice dry air. Why mess with a good thing on a modern car! Especially if it's under some sort of warranty?!?
G/luck
Joel

 

[rpn453]

quote:

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Originally posted by JTK:
'Defrosting' the windshield sure is WAAAY easier with nice dry air. Why mess with a good thing on a modern car! Especially if it's under some sort of warranty?!?
G/luck
Joel

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We have very dry air here in Saskatchewan, so it's not something I need. If I do, all I have to do is push the A/C button. If the A/C came on exclusively in the defrost only setting, I wouldn't have modified it. But why floor? And why doesn't it at least light something to tell me it's on?

As for warranty: on the off-chance that there's an HVAC control unit problem with my car, it's pretty unlikely that Mazda's electrical engineers are going to be doing a thorough examination of the circuit board. And if they do; the problem won't be due to my little mod!

 

[kenw]

Directing un-dry air over a windshield is an excellent way to immediately (and with expected results) fog your windshield, usually when you least expect it.