Any way to stop the AC from defaulting to recirculate setting?

Every time I start my truck, the AC system is set to recirculate. Is there any way to stop the system from defaulting to this setting? I get tired of having to push the button every time I start the truck to get fresh air circulating in the truck. Not a huge deal...just wonder first of all why it does it, and 2nd, if there is a way to change the default setting.

 

Did you try setting temp above MAX AC?

 

Temp is usually set to between 72 and 74.

 

If I remember right, the dealer can change the setting. The dealer gave me a customization list when I bought my truck, in it was a bunch of options for customizing the ac/heater settings. I believe that was one of them, but could be wrong it's been a while since I looked at it. So far, I haven't made any changes. Waiting to see what I would like to do after driving it a while longer, only been 6 months. So far, only changing lane blink from 3 to 5 is on the list.

 

The Truck will cool off quicker if the recirculate button is on.

 

While we're at it... Is there any way to have the auto function set along with face/floor vent combination instead of just face?

 

Its done to get the cabin to the temp you have set for quicker, than it will switch off.

 

Except it doesn't. It stays on recirculate for 30-60 minute long drives and never shuts off unless I turn it off.

 

There is no option that the dealer can change which will default the AC to fresh air rather than recirculate. This is annoying to me, especially since the owner's manual (page 374) recommends turning off recirculate before stopping the engine. Reason? It leaves the air duct open and reduces the likelihood of getting the musty smell in the cab which some people have complained about elsewhere in this forum.

 

I know I'm late to the party but I am also frustrated that the recirculate button is defaulted to ON when the A/C is turned on.

Recirculating air, as well as leaving your AC on all the time are what yields mold and musty smells in air systems.

I always make sure to clear out the system with fresh air after AC usage, but recirc by default is going to make my efforts more paramount and more important.

If anyone knows how to turn it off, please let us know.

 

Carista App can also change that in addition to the dealer. It has the option listed if want to change to the outside vent settings when you turn off the vehicle.

 

ac works by removing heat, not adding cold. so it makes sense to keep removing heat from the same air rather than trying to constantly remove heat from incoming air. when you heat or cool your house do you open the windows first or close them?

 

ac doesnt add a musty smell. the smell is coming from your cabin air filter which is only used on recirculate(which comes on with ac). easy to get to and cheap to replace

 

I'm not arguing it isn't efficient, I'm arguing it yields mold/bacteria if not properly used. Keeping very cold air in the system yields water condensation which yields bacteria and mold.

If you use your recirc, blast fresh air through it after you're done.

 

If you never let your cabin air filter get filled with bacteria and mold (i.e. by never letting water condense in the system), then the smell never arises. Water condensation anywhere in the system will yield bacteria and mold. It doesn't just happen in the filter.

 

My TRD Offroad park the truck with air off and temperature off the max cool setting then push the recirculate button to toggle to what ever condition you want it to stay in. then turn off the truck The max setting is what is locking you into recirculate on start up. That is the way it is on my truck. Other models like the limited may function differently.

 

You're not entirely correct about this. AC works by running air over cold tubes (conversely running air over hot tubes). The recirc works better than not because you're recirculating air that's already been chilled.

 

This.

 

Nah. Even off the max setting, the recirculation button automatically activates when one turns on the AC with the push of a button. I'd prefer to have to hit recirc myself.

 

AC does add musty smell. It's the mildew that grows inside the evaporator core in between the fins. A lot of moisture builds up in there and that's why we have the AC drain tube coming out the firewall. The same AC drip tube mod that people are doing to keep the frame from rusting.

The way to get rid of it is turn off the AC button at least 5 mins before the end of your trip if used heavily and the circulating air helps to dry some of it out from the evap core fins. If the smell is so bad, you need to pull the cabin filter from the G box and grab a can of Lysol disinfectant spray or something similar and spray into the fan area to get that stuff into the evap core unit to kill some of the bacteria and mold.

We used to use stuff at the dealership when I was a tech that didn't have aerosol propellant. Be careful when you do this if the stuff you're using has aerosol propellant as it can explode or cause fire if you spray directly onto the fan. The disinfectant came out of a tube that foamed. We can't get that through general public that I'm aware of. The other safer way is to dispense through the outside intake vent from below the windshield.