AC runs with it turned off

Just like the title reads, I notice the vents blowing ice cold air with the AC off. I do not use the auto feature either. Anyone else notice this? Funny thing is I found the same issue with my Wife's 23 Rogue from Nissan. In both cases I am certain of what I am experiencing. Nissan admittedly said they all work that way. Crappy thing is you need to turn it on then off again to shut the compressor. Have to play around with the Tacoma but I am certain the AC comp is running with no AC button depressed on the dash with inside or outside air selected. Would love to know if anyone is seeing this too with their 24 Tacoma. Most people would probably never even notice this.

 

There’s another thread on this issue. You aren’t alone.

 

There is a setting where this can be disabled. It works for some and not for others, seems like it is glitchy software. I suggest reading through this thread:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-is-the-ac-in-the-2024.831315/unread

 

It is a feature.

 

AC on 24/7 365 is perfectly fine in the south.

 

Yes, others have seen it.
Not all peoples trucks seem to do it.
And it has been confirmed with at least 3 different trucks side by side, not all do it with the same settings.

Either the people that know why it does it, aren't saying.
Or no one on this forum knows why. (I'm one of them).

 

I have had cars and trucks that engaged the AC when the selector controls were set to defrost or windshield/dash vents and the temps were above 40 degrees. My current 2014 Toyota does this. Purpose is to de-humidify the incoming air to help keep the windshield and other windows clear. No buttons pushed, no lighted indicator, but you can feel and hear the compressor kicking on and off. Probably not this issue here, but just throwing it out there. Every car I have had with automatic climate control did this, but you could always over-ride it if you selected manual control or on more recent models with separate a/c button: defeat/turn it off. It would still be in automatic climate control mode: but without the a/c compressor in the loop to help.

The a/c on/off (button) option came later allowing you to manually turn off the compressor while still allowing automatic system control of everything else. (vent/air outlets, temperature and fan speed) Selecting defrost or defog always turns on the a/c compressor. No over-ride to manually turn it off this feature, but it is automatically defeated below temps of 40 degrees or so.

 

Toyota probably equipped the 4th gen with an interior humidity sensor which will engage the AC for humidity, not just temp.
My Chrysler 300C has this and yes it’s annoying.

 

Turn on recirculate mode and it stops airflow from spinning the blower motor

 

Mine did this when I first got it. If you cycle the AC button it will stop.

Now my truck doesn’t do it. It learned I guess

 

Pretty sure my 2019 did this, and I’m 99p certain my 2014 does this when I run the defrost setting without the AC engaged.

 

Seems that when I shut truck off without turning off the ac the next time I start it up it goes to ac mode with no light lit on AC button on dash. I will read the link to the other thread posted above. Thanks.

 

"If the fan speed setting or air
flow modes are operated, the
automatic mode indicator goes
off. However, automatic mode
for functions other than that
operated is maintained."

Not sure if i'm reading this right but it seems if you use Auto, and change the fan speed not actually hitting the off button, the other things controlled are still in auto mode.

I just know I rarely have to turn on the A/C button, I just set my temp and it usually cools.

 

No I do not use the auto mode ever. I use fan manually and toggle the ac on or off as needed. Like I wrote above if I shut the ac then the fan then shut truck The system works like expected the next time I start the truck. There is no setting on my truck like the one that is referenced above in Plank Owners post.

 

Re: >>>It's a feature<<<

Maybe so: albeit one that will significantly reduce the overall useful lifetime of the $$$$/expensive compressor which is always in: "run all of the time" mode.

 

My 2023 Tundra does this. AC indicator in readout has "On", Off" or not lit up. I notice the compressor and cold air in either ""On" or "not lit up" modes. Cycling the button so that "Off" is indicated solves the problem and it does remain off even if the truck is shut down and restarted.

Not sure if your Taco has a similar setup but since a lot of your controls appear to be similar to the Tundra I thought I'd throw that out there.

And... my 2021 Altima with manual AC controls does this as well. "Feature not a bug "????

 

I thought I was the only one here but noticed mine was blowing cold air even with the AC button off.

 

Another thing I try and do is turn off my AC before I shut off the engine. No issues reported

 

I try to run mine 365 days a year.

 

Toyota taking cues from Microsoft...