Keep AC on during winter with AUTO setting?

[shanc]

This may be a silly question, but I couldn't find a definitive answer in the manual or related documentation. I keep the Climate Control on the "auto" setting, meaning it should stay at my selected temperature (let's say 70) inside the car. I've only had my Fusion HyTi since June, so it's only been used during warmer months. I've kept the settings on "auto" with the "A/C" button also selected. So primarily, the air conditioning has been running to keep the car cooler inside than the warmer temps outside the vehicle.

 

Now, we are entering Fall/Winter, where the temps outside have been in the 50s. So my question is this: Do I need to keep that "A/C" button selected when the Climate Control is set to "Auto" during the winter? Will the "auto" portion of the configuration keep the car warm inside (my selected temp of 70) when it is in the 40s or 50s outside, even if the "A/C" button is not selected/lit? Or is there some reason to keep the "A/C" on to maintain a stable internal temp?

 

Does it "hurt" to leave it on -- meaning, will the A/C run and take up more energy? Or, if the button is left on will the A/C simply not be triggered to run anyway if the outside temp is in the 50s and my selected inside climate control temp is 70?

[corncobs]

There might be smarter answers to your question but here is my take on it.

 

As far as I know the A/C help demoisturize the air even in winter which should prevent moist air freezing on the inside of the windshield.

 

As we are already know it's not very easy to actually turn off the A/C by simply pressing the button. Somehow the system likes to keep the A/C on with the lights off.

 

For the heat it will just run the engine to start with longer so that the set temp is reached as quickly as possible. This will also cut into your FE but that's personal preference.

[KLH]

As we are already know it's not very easy to actually turn off the A/C by simply pressing the button. Somehow the system likes to keep the A/C on with the lights off.

What? Seriously? The AC compressor runs even when the A/C light is off???

[corncobs]

Yes under certain settings you can still see the heavy load (indicating AC usage) on the power usage display as long it's sits on Auto and the AC light off.

[rjent]

It has been covered in other threads, but if you press the climate corner and turn on the upper and lower air flow, it will kill the ac compressor. this is what i do, it heats the car if a prestart is done and it holds the setting from the last time it was driven when you start it again. Kind of silly, but there it is... :)

[acdii]

AC is on whenever the front defrost is on, you cannot turn it off. If you go manual and select dash or floor, then AC is off unless the temp is warmer than the setting and calls for cooling, in which case you can shut the AC off. When set to auto the car determines which vent position to use based on cabin temps, outside temps, etc. and controls AC use as needed. In all my other hybrids setting the HVAC to auto was the preferred method for winter, but not sure yet for the FFH.