want to disable automatic switching between recirc and outside air mode

Same problem with the Gen2... It's pretty essential from a liability point of view that there is enough air circulating through the cabin and a default return from inside air to outside air without your control lessens that liability. The problem is solved by cultivating an unconscious habit of always switching it....

 

I think the recirc mode is limited due to your own safety. How long the acceptable level of oxygen you can maintain inside the closed car? Not to mention the windows fogging. The other thing is micro dust and pollen filter - I assume in 2012 is the same system as in mine 2010 - perhaps it is possible to hack it to keep it continuously ON.

 

It means the recirculation is not 100% I'm not allergic but also the fumes from other cars (in Poland still plenty of old scrap on roads) reminds me from time to time to push that button - I'm used to it.

 

If you use the Mode button to select where the air is directed and adjust the fan speed with its switch (taking you out of Auto mode) the car should stay in recirculate mode indefinitely.

 

I ran across this thread and got to thinking that MAYBE the liability issue could have something to do with the battery air filtration being in the back seat in the cabin??
Just pondering??

 

I agree it should be customizable since I live near dairy cows and farms where they are turning up stinky manure dust.

The manual suggest they do this to conserve power making the Prius more energy efficient. I would like to see the overall efficiency data on this, but since they put this automatic feature in the Prius, it must make enough of a difference in power efficiency.


GT-P7310 ? HD

 

I'm told if you select "eco" mode the car will stay in recirculate, though I haven't verified this.

 

I hate this feature too. My friends 2008 Camry does this as well.

I need to pull the dashboard apart to clean the HSI display. While I have that apart, maybe I'll unplug the vent redirector so it remains in the recirc position.

 

Just push the recirculation button to turn it on and it will stay this way until next engine start. This is part of the climate control and has nothing to do with liability.It brings in outside air if temperature outside is lower than the cabin in cool mode and if outside temperature is higher than cabin in heat mode, to improve efficiency.

 

I want to say that sometimes even though manually selecting recirc, the system automatically changes it to fresh air. I say this because I've sworn that I hit the recirc button manually and find later during the drive, after smelling exhaust fumes, that it's pulling fresh air again.

 

If you change the temperature setting latter on, it will reset.

 

Same thing happen to me. I find it annoying as well. It only happens when I run the heater and for some reason it is inconsistent. Around 80% of the time after about 5-10 minutes of the heat running it automatically switches to fresh air and once in a great while it will happen twice and I have to change it back to recirc for a second time.
I always leave my heater temp on HI @ 2 or 3 bars fan speed.

 

The newspapers regularly cover tragic stories of people in the snow sleeping in their car with the engine on and not enough air circulation combined with car exhaust getting in the car and everybody dies, so that's an extreme example, which may or may not be addressed with the car defaulting to outside air. And in general, I suspect the main risk is if your vehicle had an exhaust leak that got into the cabin you'd be more likely to survive if you had outside air coming in. If you don't have an exhaust leak it's probably not an issue.

 

Have you tried not driving so close to the vehicle in front, then you wouldn't smell their exhaust ;0)

 

My experience is, when maintaining the reasonable clearance ahead, the other smart guy from right OR left lane immediately fills the gap :/

 

If it switch to fresh air again, just hit the button again and it will stay until next start.