A/C Recirc

[KarlFranz]

Every time I restart my V8V, the car insists on resetting the a/c recirculation switch to the mode that draws outside air. We used to have a Lexus that did this as well. Anybody have any idea why manufacturers insist on doing this rather than retaining the last setting? More importantly, is there a way to override this annoying behavior. I usually only realize that the recirc mode is off when I start smelling the exhaust of the rust bucket in front of me at a stop light.

[Murph7355]

I guess in most circumstances constantly re-circulating the same air inside the cabin is not a good idea. I can guarantee that most of the time it's not a good idea in my car

I don't believe there is any way to override it.

[KarlFranz]

Murph7355 said:

I guess in most circumstances constantly re-circulating the same air inside the cabin is not a good idea. I can guarantee that most of the time it's not a good idea in my car

I don't believe there is any way to override it.

Yes, but if you prefer to have outside air every time you start the car in order to avoid your odoriferous emanations , you can have that as that this the default operation. Things could be solved simply by retaining the last used setting. I don't understand why they insist on setting it back to the outside air mode for me.

[Murph7355]

KarlFranz said:

Yes, but if you prefer to have outside air every time you start the car in order to avoid your odoriferous emanations , you can have that as that this the default operation. Things could be solved simply by retaining the last used setting. I don't understand why they insist on setting it back to the outside air mode for me.

There's probably an EU law against it.

Or it's another case of the AM YTS lad in charge of electronics didn't think to include it

[Steve*B]

I've not checked but doesn't it do this when you have the setting on low, when first starting the car, to get the interior temperature down as quickly as possible?

Recirculating the air is the quickest way to reduce the interior temperature so try changing the setting to a higher temperature to prove/disprove my theory which is that once it's reached the required temperature it will automatically open the exterior vents and turn off the recirculation process.

[Rex Racer]

KarlFranz said:

Every time I restart my V8V, the car insists on resetting the a/c recirculation switch to the mode that draws outside air. We used to have a Lexus that did this as well. Anybody have any idea why manufacturers insist on doing this rather than retaining the last setting? More importantly, is there a way to override this annoying behavior. I usually only realize that the recirc mode is off when I start smelling the exhaust of the rust bucket in front of me at a stop light.

I've had the exact same thought regarding my V12, which operates the same way. Living in a warm climate, the first thing I do after starting the car is press the recirc button. A bit annoying to have to do this, but I don't believe there's any setting to override this. I just consider this another niggling quirk of the car, like the car's insistence on displaying "important" messages like being low on windshield washer fluid and knocking out the digital speedometer in the process.

[KarlFranz]

Rex Racer said:

I've had the exact same thought regarding my V12, which operates the same way. Living in a warm climate, the first thing I do after starting the car is press the recirc button. A bit annoying to have to do this, but I don't believe there's any setting to override this. I just consider this another niggling quirk of the car, like the car's insistence on displaying "important" messages like being low on windshield washer fluid and knocking out the digital speedometer in the process.

Haha. True. I never did understand why messages and the trip computer don't replace the odometer instead of the speedo. Or why the first press of the trip computer on the turn indicator stalk causes it to go off. If anyone (can't think of who) prefers the Off mode, it should probably be the last option before it cycles back to displaying the speedo again.

The recirc thing is not an Aston quirk, though. Like I said, Our old Lexus had it as well. Which makes me think there must be some reasoning for it. Living in hot FLorida, the logic escapes me. Also, if you put it in Auto mode, it starts off in recirc mode to cool things down, then switches on its own back to outside air.

[Jockman]

KarlFranz said:

I never did understand why messages and the trip computer don't replace the odometer instead of the speedo. Or why the first press of the trip computer on the turn indicator stalk causes it to go off. If anyone (can't think of who) prefers the Off mode, it should probably be the last option before it cycles back to displaying the speedo again.

AM would probably argue that on the speedo issue they are ensuring you read the message, though you can just shut it off immediately by pressing the Message button. As for the blank space on the trip computer settings - I have no idea. No other car I know of does this. Is it possible that some people might not like the digital speedo, and prefer to run off the regular one ??

If we work from the premis that internal air quality does deteriorate in quality over time (a very short space of time in sMurph's case) then I should imagine that the AM default settings - as well as those of the other manufacturers - are logical. You are returning to a cabin that has not been used for some time (overnight, shopping trip, work, holiday etc). The air quality in that cabin will be fine to the human nose (again, sMurph's cabin aside) but will be stale to the OBC's programming. Thus it will automatically seek to expunge the inferior air as a basic modus operandi. If you do not wish it to do so then it's probably one of those things you just have to get used to switching over once moving.

Either that or Mikey K will be along shortly to tell us which button to press to circumvent (no pun intended) this procedure

[JohnG1]

I suspect it's a bit like the way that the system does not retain state for the sport button. Once you switch off the engine the sport button resets to off.

One theory may be that in recirc mode the system uses more energy to operate and therefore it defaults to off for fuel economy testing

[Grant3]

I agree with you all, small points but they do occasionally frustrate, particularly loss of the digital speedo. Adding another one to the list - cruise control defaults to off every time you re-start the car. I use it to go past speed cameras, so have to remember to switch it on again.

[Rex Racer]

KarlFranz said:

Haha. True. I never did understand why messages and the trip computer don't replace the odometer instead of the speedo. Or why the first press of the trip computer on the turn indicator stalk causes it to go off. If anyone (can't think of who) prefers the Off mode, it should probably be the last option before it cycles back to displaying the speedo again.

That's funny that you are also annoyed by the speed indication not coming back on upon clearing the message. What is even more annoying is that for some messages you have to scroll through each option before getting to the speed indication, which clearly is the most important parameter to view given that the speedometer dial is so difficult to read! What were Aston thinking?

Grant3 said:

I agree with you all, small points but they do occasionally frustrate, particularly loss of the digital speedo. Adding another one to the list - cruise control defaults to off every time you re-start the car. I use it to go past speed cameras, so have to remember to switch it on again.

There are several of these little niggles. Minor issues I agree, but still annoying. I've actually been thinking of starting a "what would you change on your Aston" thread that addresses these small issues. Maybe Aston would listen to our ideas. Then again . . .

[peterr96]

KarlFranz said:

Or why the first press of the trip computer on the turn indicator stalk causes it to go off. If anyone (can't think of who) prefers the Off mode, it should probably be the last option before it cycles back to displaying the speedo again.

You never had the OH in the car?! You can't claim a paralax error with the digital one (I've tried but she's too smart for me). I think there should be an option for the digital one to turn off at 70!

[Jockman]

peterr96 said:

I think there should be an option for the digital one to turn off at 70!

There is Pete. At any speed. That's the whole point.

Just press the stalk once

[George H]

peterr96 said:

I think there should be an option for the digital one to turn off at 70!

Not that you ever drive above 70 on the public roads, I'm sure

[mikey k]

Jockman said:

As for the blank space on the trip computer settings - I have no idea.

If we work from the premis that internal air quality does deteriorate in quality over time (a very short space of time in sMurph's case) then I should imagine that the AM default settings - as well as those of the other manufacturers - are logical. You are returning to a cabin that has not been used for some time (overnight, shopping trip, work, holiday etc). The air quality in that cabin will be fine to the human nose (again, sMurph's cabin aside) but will be stale to the OBC's programming. Thus it will automatically seek to expunge the inferior air as a basic modus operandi. If you do not wish it to do so then it's probably one of those things you just have to get used to switching over once moving.

Either that or Mikey K will be along shortly to tell us which button to press to circumvent (no pun intended) this procedure

I'm afraid there is no button that I know of.
But I can shed some light

The blank screen may be a "throw back" to the Volvo Canbus system they had to adopt and modify to get the airbag system to work. My Volvo beater does it as well, might be a Scandinavian thing enabling displays to be turned off at night (I had an old Saab that switch ALL the interior lights of except the speedo) Frustrating when the %hit TPMS system blanks the speedo to tell you it's lying

BTW Jockman you must have better eyes than me to discern 30 mph on the analogue speedo

On the aircon I suspect it is set up to start like that to ensure you get some "fresh" air going through the system. If you constantly leave it in recirc you build up moulds and bacteria in the condensor. Have you ever had "smelly" aircon? That's exactly the problem. The other issue is on recirc the moisture levels build up very quick causing condensation.

The manual actually says

"Use the ‘outside air’ position in normal conditions. The ‘recirculated air’ position should be used temporarily when driving on dusty roads or for quick cooling / heating of the interior

On start up the default position is outside air selected. Use this position for normal conditions and demisting."

[mikey k]

Grant3 said:

cruise control defaults to off every time you re-start the car.

I'm guessing that's a safety feature!
Every car I've had with it did the same.

[peterr96]

George H said:

Not that you ever drive above 70 on the public roads, I'm sure

Me? never no

[peterr96]

Jockman said:

There is Pete. At any speed. That's the whole point.

Just press the stalk once

I meant automagically.
I'm always too busy checking for Astons coming the other way to wave at to notice the numbers anyway. In amongst that, trying to negotiate roads, watch out for revenue cameras and arguing with the satnav, that leaves the job of speed "management" to the OH.
Unless I'm passenger, when the job falls to me.

[steveatesh]

Mine does it the other way - I always drive with the air flow on and recirc off but it has frequently set itself to recirc on when starting the car. Mind reading this I'm delighted that it isn't just my car though after a series of minor niggles since new (all repaired under warranty of course) I was thinking my car was haunted!

Strange one is that on three occasions the trip counter has reset to 0 when refilling - dealer didn't have a clue why with that one!

[ockhamsrazor]

steveatesh said:

Mine does it the other way - I always drive with the air flow on and recirc off but it has frequently set itself to recirc on when starting the car.

Has it been hot inside the car when this has happened? If you have the HVAC on auto (and maybe even if you don't), it will automatically go to recirc on if the interior temp is much higher than the desired set temp, to cool the interior down as fast as possible. Once that temp is approached, it switches back to recirc off.