AC question

[Bob902]

For those smarter than me, which is not difficult, is the AC tied somehow to the outside temperature? Last week if finally started to cool off some at night here. Going to work in the late afternoon the temps were around 80 and AC worked fine. Nice and cold. Leaving to come home, temps in the low 50's and AC would just blow air. If I turned the max AC on, nice and cold. Back to regular AC set on 69, and just blows air.

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[Squatchranger]

For those smarter than me, which is not difficult, is the AC tied somehow to the outside temperature? Last week if finally started to cool off some at night here. Going to work in the late afternoon the temps were around 80 and AC worked fine. Nice and cold. Leaving to come home, temps in the low 50's and AC would just blow air. If I turned the max AC on, nice and cold. Back to regular AC set on 69, and just blows air.

So i think it does monitor the temp of outside air and the air temp inside. Is your recirculate on during this? Because if your inside temp is already close to or at the temperature you are set at it will probably just blow regular air to maintain said temp, but ofc turning max on overrides those settings. But yeah if your internal temp is what you set it too it will adjust the blend door and just send you regular air. So TLDR These are set to reach and maintain a temperature so the ac system will automatically adjust the air temperature to reach said temperature and then maintain it. I have mine always set to 69 like you (nice) and on the 3 cold days we get per year where it goes below that temp my ac will actually blow hot even when its set to 69, the only exceptions are max ac and max defrost or adjusting the temps all the way to the extremes.

 

[Bob902]

So i think it does monitor the temp of outside air and the air temp inside. Is your recirculate on during this? Because if your inside temp is already close to or at the temperature you are set at it will probably just blow regular air to maintain said temp, but ofc turning max on overrides those settings. But yeah if your internal temp is what you set it too it will adjust the blend door and just send you regular air. So TLDR These are set to reach and maintain a temperature so the ac system will automatically adjust the air temperature to reach said temperature and then maintain it. I have mine always set to 69 like you (nice) and on the 3 cold days we get per year where it goes below that temp my ac will actually blow hot even when its set to 69, the only exceptions are max ac and max defrost or adjusting the temps all the way to the extremes.

I will have to check with recirculate on. Thanks

 

[Squatchranger]

I will have to check with recirculate on. Thanks

Recirculate is mostly useful for cooling, when heating I think it tries to turn it off, but yeah I would also check your cabin air filter and if you can the blend door. is there anything blocking the air intakes below the windshield?

 

[Bob902]

Recirculate is mostly useful for cooling, when heating I think it tries to turn it off, but yeah I would also check your cabin air filter and if you can the blend door. is there anything blocking the air intakes below the windshield?

Nothing blocking and the cabin filter is two months old. AC has been working great. Just never noticed this until the other night. That's what leads me to think it is tied to the outside temperature somehow.

 

[Squatchranger]

Nothing blocking and the cabin filter is two months old. AC has been working great. Just never noticed this until the other night. That's what leads me to think it is tied to the outside temperature somehow.

Yeah I think you are right, it does look at the temp of the air going into the system ie outside air vs the temp inside the vehicle to determine what temp and intensity to blow the air at. I would be curious to see what the temp inside the cabin is, that would be the quickest way to confirm my theory

 

[Tom_C]

I think the AC temp is based on internal temp. If it's 50 outside, and the climate control temp is set to 68, then it may not blow cold air since the cabin may be 65 degrees. If you want to blow cold air, turn the AC temp down

 

[Squatchranger]

I think the AC temp is based on internal temp. If it's 50 outside, and the climate control temp is set to 68, then it may not blow cold air since the cabin may be 65 degrees. If you want to blow cold air, turn the AC temp down

This, though it will also look at the air temp outside for blend purposes.

 

[Bob902]

Just an update. I ran to do some errands. I left the truck showed 61 degrees outside. The AC was cool but not cold. On the way back, truck showed 65 outside. AC was cold. I'm thinking outside temperature definitely plays a role.

 

[airline tech]

Yes, the OAT ties into the AC Clutch, engagement.

 

[Bob902]

Yes, the OAT ties into the AC Clutch, engagement.

Thanks!

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