Explanation of the air circulation settings

djtroy · 6th August 2006, 01:46

When I have the heat or AC on what do the settings mean on that button with the A and circles on it. I figured it was cycling the air inside the cabin but there are two settings on that button.

ECB · 6th August 2006, 04:03

From the manual:

You can respond to unpleasant external odors by temporarily excluding the flow of outside air. The system then recirculates the air currently within the vehicle. By repeated actuations of the button, you can select one of three different operation modes.

>

Indicator lamps off: outside airflow operational

>

Left-hand indicator lamp on – AUC mode: the system recognizes pollutants in the outside air and blocks the

flow of air when necessary. The system then recirculates the air currently
within the vehicle. Depending on the air quality, the automatic system then switches back and forth between outside air supply and recirculation of the air within the vehicle

>

Right indicator lamp on – recirculated-air mode: the flow of external air into the vehicle is permanently

blocked. The system then recirculates the air currently within the vehicle.

djtroy · 6th August 2006, 04:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by ECB

From the manual:

You can respond to unpleasant external odors by temporarily excluding the flow of outside air. The system then recirculates the air currently within the vehicle. By repeated actuations of the button, you can select one of three different operation modes.

>

Indicator lamps off: outside airflow operational

>

Left-hand indicator lamp on – AUC mode: the system recognizes pollutants in the outside air and blocks the

flow of air when necessary. The system then recirculates the air currently
within the vehicle. Depending on the air quality, the automatic system then switches back and forth between outside air supply and recirculation of the air within the vehicle

>

Right indicator lamp on – recirculated-air mode: the flow of external air into the vehicle is permanently

blocked. The system then recirculates the air currently within the vehicle.

So it can tell if someone farted outside my car huh? Thats incredible.

ard · 6th August 2006, 05:38

Here is the real question:

HOW does the Automatic function work??? Does it look at the ionization potential of the incoming air to determine if it has particulates in it??? "automatic" sure sounds good, but only if it is effective

A

Beamer_usa · 6th August 2006, 06:42

I guess it kind of defeats the purpose if you drive with the windows and/or sunroof open

SoCalJD · 6th August 2006, 15:43

Left-hand indicator lamp on – AUC mode: the system recognizes pollutants in the outside air and blocks the

flow of air when necessary. The system then recirculates the air currently
within the vehicle. Depending on the air quality, the automatic system then switches back and forth between outside air supply and recirculation of the air within the vehicle>>>

So...this should be the default setting?

ECB · 6th August 2006, 17:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by djtroy

So it can tell if someone farted outside my car huh? Thats incredible.

Yes, and if you fart inside your car it will switch back to outside airflow operational. It's nose is more sensitive than my wife's, if possible.
Seriously, I'd be impressed if the system works as described in the manual. How can it sense polluted air?

djtroy · 6th August 2006, 17:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by ECB

Yes, and if you fart inside your car it will switch back to outside airflow operational. It's nose is more sensitive than my wife's, if possible.
Seriously, I'd be impressed if the system works as described in the manual. How can it sense polluted air?

I suppose if you lived in LA or a metro then that setting would always be on now wouldn't it?

Nabio · 6th August 2006, 18:22

I propose a test! It shouldn't be too hard, you could close the rear vents and turn the air on full blast, no recirc or AC, and turn on the sensing system. Then just open up to the microfilters and light up a cigarette (or whatever you like to smoke) and blow the smoke into the intake. You should probably take off the microfilters to avoid unecessary wear, but I don't know if that would be fair to the sensing system (maybe the microfilters are part of it, although I doubt it). Then you take a deep breath or two. See if anything changes. You could even see what kind of tolerance the system has (assuming it works).

I'll volunteer for this, although I won't have time to do it until later.

suprfknman · 6th August 2006, 19:18

I would think it would measure the outside air quality not the inside air. If you are in "A" mode then say it was taking in outside air and a bus in front of you let out a plume of diesel smoke, then it would sense it (after sucking a little in im sure) and automatically switch to recirc mode.
Will