Question on A/C function.

Just bought a 2025 Sport.

The AC (single control) seems to blow cold air even though I don't have the switch on. I have the temp gauge set at 64. The book says "ambient" temp if switch off.

Is this normal for a 2025 sport?

 

What does Owners Manual say?

 

Mine also seems to blow colder than ambient air even with the A/C off. Couldn't find anything in the manual about this. I found this which seems to be relevant:

"The AC can be on without the light illuminated, it is in eco mode (not to be confused with eco drive mode). If the AC is going without the light and eco isn't cold enough, pushing the button to make the light come on will take it out of eco and give full cooling. Pushing it again will turn the AC off. If you turn the
truck off with the AC light on, it will start with the light off but with the AC on in eco, need to push it twice to turn it off."

And this is what AI says:

 

Welcome to TW...

 

Wow. Thanks Snakepilot. It doesn't make sense but it is what it is.

 

I was wondering about this and I have had my 2024 since last November.
Now I know two things.
How to turn off the AC (even though the light should be on but it is off!).
There are no dumb questions.
And yeah, thanks Snakepilot.

 

I always run with the AC button lit. Therefore, the temp is always what I have set. I never run auto or off.

 

Toyota tells me its normal. I dont use auto hvac. I can turn the a/c off before i turn the truck off and hours later when i return and turn the truck on the air is blowing cold. Hit the a/c button twice to tun on and then off and you can feel the air instantly getting warmer. So its turning on without my command, like i am using auto hvac. even have the hvac setting turned off for remote start and no change. Its tarded and its 100% not correct. but the dealer told me its normal twice. still need to file a formal with toyota corporate. but i was waiting on them to replace my compressor for the chirp first....

 

It is a questionable design. This usually comes up in cooler climates. Definitely a non issue in the hot states.

 

I'm in Texas so I usually run my A/C 95% of the time. I thought I was going nuts - is it on or is it off? Is it cooler with the light on or off?

I hate to knock Toyota but that is outrageous. If it was documented in the manual that would be another story.

It's like stored addresses in Navigation. You can't edit the name of an address unless it's that way when you do a lookup. My 2019 Tacoma Sport had way better functionally than my new 2025.

 

sooo. I turned off "auto a/c" in the climate settings of the head unit. its works as normal now it seems.... I feel i turned it off months ago and didnt notice any change. but maybe i exited out of the setting screen instead of backing out first. dont know if it would make any difference. but i backed out of it this time.
I havent tried hitting the auto button on the dash to see if it triggers the option back on. Ill screw around with it more the next few days and see if it now truly operating as a normal hvac system. but give it a try

 

While I agree that the switchology and the owner's manual information is lacking, having an "A/C eco mode" without being in eco drive mode is a nice option and something not available with "normal HVAC systems" (that I am aware of). You don't have to go through multiple screens to change the A/C setting, just an extra push of a physical dedicated button. The only problem I see is not being able to actively engage the "eco A/C" mode. If you turn the truck off with the A/C off, when you restart you get the A/C off light. When you turn the truck off with the A/C on, you don't have an A/C on or off light - that is eco mode. Colder than ambient air but not as cold as "A/C on". If you push the A/C button once you get "A/C on" and colder air. Push it again and you get "A/C off" and warmer air. You can't get back to eco mode without turning the engine off. I don't consider this a problem. I start driving and if the air is too warm, I push the A/C button once, too cold and I push it twice.

 

Its not an issue in the summer really. but i noticed it before summer. The way i see it if the a/c is running when i dont want it to (not in warm weather), it will be cycling the compressor consuming energy at the min.
It will affect gas mileage and thats what dosent make sense. To even have a hidden eco mode, when they are after MPG's
I dont really dont want to have a prefilght list to turn functions off or on to drive a vehicle, so turning off eco mode in the setting is what works for me at the moment. If it stays off i will be even happier with the truck

 

I lodged a complaint and Toyota just responded (basically) - Take it to dealer and have it checked out.
They are not saying or have no clue.

I left a scathing response and sent them what Snakepilot found.

Unbelievable.

Thanks again Snakepilot

 

Meanwhile, where the THI is 105F, it works fine.

 

Wouldn't work just the same if you could turn it on and off yourself? I still can't find a reason for an HVAC system that you can't completely turn off. Toyota must have a reason why they do this.

 

I live in Texas so I'm ok with it (kinda). Just document it in the manual. Problem solved.

 

That would be a start, Toyota could also add why they have this feature. I don't know why anybody needs auto air or eco air? You turn it on and you turn it off and use the thermostat to adjust the temperature. I guess all new Toyotas have this dumb ability which serves no purpose other than to annoy customers.

 

You don’t act like you were born there.